Page 75 of The Mountain Man's Mail-Order Mafia Princess

I smiled.

Talia reached up and straightened the open collar of my olive work shirt. Her fingers brushed my throat.

“You look good too,” she said.

The touch ended before I could cover her hand with mine.

“Thank you.”

“That was a complete response. You’re improving.”

She stepped away.

I walked the perimeter with the fireworks professional while Talia remained on the public side of the markers.

The ground was dry but clear, with no fresh brush piled along the edge.

The other man pointed toward the far side. “I’ll have one of my crew walk that section after setup.”

“I’ll check it before the crowd fills in and stay after the display.”

“Good.”

When I returned, Talia stood beside Mabel near a folding table stacked with bottled water, paper fans, and small flags.

Mabel wore denim overalls over a red shirt, with a tiny silver star in her piled blue hair.

Her eyes traveled over me. “You both look like you swallowed something sour.”

Talia accepted a bottle of water. “We had a difficult breakfast.”

“It must’ve been terrible. You’re usually louder.”

“I’m conserving energy.”

Mabel turned to me. “What’s your excuse?”

“I have work.”

“You always have work.”

Talia twisted the cap off the water. “He’s using it as an emotional support activity.”

“I’m inspecting a field.”

“That’s what makes it practical.”

Mabel leaned toward her. “You should charge him for the analysis.”

“I’m not his therapist.”

“I’m standing here,” I said.

“We noticed,” Mabel replied.

Talia met my eyes over the bottle.

Mabel carried a stack of paper fans toward the food stands.