Page 91 of Fake It Till You Make It

“I shouldn’t have to. This is my business. If she printed the contract, where is it? Without a contract they won’t release the funds. Bosses don’t wait on employees.”

“Amarie is more than your employee, Eli. If she said it’s here, then it is. We just wait until Amarie gets back.”

“Mom, what is it that you don’t understand about the timeline?”

“Eli Calvary, what it is that you don’t understand is that you are not too big for me to swat your backside. Now I’ve had enough disrespect from men in this house in the last twenty-four hours.”

“I’m not taking advantage of Amarie, so don’t lump me in with Dr. Russell Feldman.” Eli loaded every syllable with the contempt he felt for the man. “What did she ever seen in him?” he murmured.

“The way you’re snapping and carrying on, I’m wondering what she sees in you. Now you get it together.”

“Mom, this is it. Our ninth life. Without that contract, we’re done. The house. The cabins. The land. The clinic.”

“Listen to me. I knew Cara coming into town would put you on your ear. That woman had you in a perpetual bad mood for years, now it’s back. You’re barking, and I’m here trying to help you. We have time.”

“This ain’t got nothing to do with Cara. Amarie had one job and she didn’t do it.”

“Well, I say she did. Now focus and keep your head on straight.”

“The only thing wrong with my head is I’ve allowed too many hands in the pot.”

“Well, no work gets done with hands in pockets, Eli. It took the family working together and Amarie to get here.”

“Hereis relative. Without that money, we’re all going to be homeless and unemployed.”

“I’ll call your brothers.”

“Why?”

She hit Eli with that mother stare. “If they have found Amarie, she’ll come back and take care of everything.”

“And that’s what I hate. I don’t want her to take care of my business.”

Just that moment, Cara, Russell, and Lourdes Pendleton walked into his establishment, laughing and giggling.

“Eli.” Cara beamed. “Look who I bumped into at the little restaurant in town!”

Cara and Dr. Russell Feldman were still in town… and they’d found Lourdes, the great white hunter. Just what he didn’t need, an attack from three sides.

“Hey Eli.” Lourdes smiled. “You looked stressed? Guess you saw the demolition equipment on the side of the road this morning.”

“Lourdes, go spread your venom somewhere else,” Eli spat.

“Oh honey,” Cara cooed, walking up to him and cupping his cheek. “She’s right. You’re flushing beet red.”

He pushed her hand away. “Were you messing with my desk?”

Amarie and her mom walked in the door, big smiles on their faces. Tobias and Noah on their heels.

“Found Amarie,” Noah called. “And the construction equipment.”

Eli ignored that last part. “The Kitty Kibbles contract. Where is it, Amarie?”

“Good morning to you too, grumpy. It’s on the printer.” Amarie bypassed Russell and Lourdes without a word. She peeked around Cara. “It should be right—”

“Not there, sunshine,” he rumbled, voice dripping with sarcasm. “I have exactly seven minutes to get the contract signed and scanned.”

“I’ll grab my computer. We can get it done.” She turned to head for the house. “Oh, shoot.”