Page 43 of Theirs to Treasure

What the hell was going on?

Dane saw him and gave a nod before he made his way back to the kitchen.

Sick of waiting in line, Chance beelined for the back. He found Ian Ransom mixing batter and Dane picking up more cupcakes from Elise and Josie. It took everything he had not to ask what in the hell was going on, but then Ian shot him a sly grin. Thank God he did, because it enabled Chance to keep his shit together when he realized they were all yanking his chain.

Josie was looking pretty tired, and come to think of it, so was Elise.

“Hey Gentlemen! It looks like you have a handle on this. Do you mind if I take my two best girls over to Hart’s for a break?”

Ian’s face broke into a warm smile. “I think that would be an excellent idea, Chance. It’s good to see you.” Chance turned to Dane, who nodded in agreement.

While Elise and Josie cleaned up and provided instructions to their helpers, Chance texted Sam to meet over at the diner. By the time the drinks arrived at the table, Sam walked through the door. Chance had some fun with his friend explaining how Josie had a new team of helpers over at the bakery, and Elise caught on and enjoyed torturing Sam as well.

Watching Sam simmer, Josie finally put a stop to it. “Don’t worry, Sam. Apparently, Betty has put the word out that the three of us are an item, and she told those guys they were to keep their hands to themselves.”

She put Sam immediately at ease, but Chance noticed that Josie still looked a little uncomfortable about the whole situation.

Jace approached the table, a big smile on his face. “Josie, my savior!” He leaned across the table and kissed Josie on the cheek, and then winked at Elise. “How are you enjoying carnival week?” he asked.

“I’m wiped out, mentally and physically, and I’m almost out of inventory,” Josie said with a laugh up at the big man. Chance liked how Josie got along with everyone in Fate Harbor. He didn’t like all the kissing and the hugs from the different men, but he did like that she felt so at home in the small town he considered his home.

“Dinner’s on the house for the ladies,” Jace offered. “I suggest the grilled halibut. I was going to bring some over this afternoon and tomorrow, anyway. I know what you’re going through, believe me. Gotta run.” Chance watched him head back to the kitchen.

“It looks like you’re doing good enough business to hire a helper,” Chance said.

“Right now, any extra profits are going to my sisters. I want to make sure they have everything they need for their first year. They were talking about getting jobs, but I don’t want them to put their scholarships at risk.”

Elise just rolled her eyes behind Josie’s back.

“Zee, didn’t you and Betty figure all this out before you moved here?”

“Yeah, we did.”

“Aren’t you doing a lot better than you anticipated?” Chance motioned Lola over and they all placed their orders.

“Yeah, the shop is doing a lot better, especially with the deal I worked with the Harts. But I just want to make sure that the girls are covered. I might not send them all the money. Some of it I’m putting into a rainy day fund.”

“Honey, you’re working a lot of hours,” Chance began.

“Chance, how the hell do you know so damn much about my business? Did Betty and Butch tell you about my finances?”

Uh-oh, I’d better figure out how to back out of this, and fast.

“Josie, don’t you remember telling us how surprised you were at the good luck you were having?” Sam asked innocently. Now Chance remembered why this whole threesome thing was such a great idea. “You had said that with the Hart’s business, it was almost an extra twenty percent more profit than you anticipated,” Sam continued smoothly.

“You could use more than one day off a week, Josie,” Elise chimed in. “What’s more, when people get a load of the cake you’re doing for the firehouse, you’re going to get another stream of business coming in, mark my words.”

“What cake?” Chance asked, glad to change the subject. Josie looked over at him. There was a glimmer in her eye, and he realized that she was only allowing the subject to be changed for now. They would be coming back to how he knew so much about her finances.

Chance stifled a grin. She was never going to let him get away with anything. Life was going to be so much fun.

After walking Elise and Josie back to the bakery, Chance drove over to Betty and Butch’s. He wanted to talk to Betty about her putting the word out that Josie was taken. It was fine by him, but he was worried that it might be too much too soon for Josie. When he got to the house, he found Butch puttering on the motor home.

“Hi, son.” Chance smiled at the greeting. It never failed to warm his heart to be considered this man’s son. “If you’re looking for Betty, she won’t be back until probably midnight. She and Yolanda went over to the Indian Casino.” Butch and Chance grinned. Betty loved her nickel slots.

“Yeah, I was looking for her, but I’m thinking I might have found a better deal.”

“Well, I do have some of that Belgian beer that you like over here in the cooler.” Butch handed him a bottle and they sat down in the patio chairs and stared out over the yard into the trees.