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The VW driver was in a fliht skirt and two thin camisoles layered over each other Mallory hadn’t been the only one caught by surprise Though the woh a big, fat brownie thather mind "That was the last one"
"Just as well" Mallory wasn’t here for herself anyway Dead on her feet, she’d only stopped as a favor for her mother "I just need to pick up Joe’s cake"
Joe was her baby brother and turning twenty-four to he wanted was a fa shop, and flying to Vegas with his friends hadn’t panned out since he had no otten involved and tasked Mallory with bringing a cake Actually, Mallory had been tasked withwater so she was cheating "Please tell me that no one from my crazy family has seen the cake so I can pretend Ito her ood girl" Mallory Okay, fine, so in all fairness, she played the part But she had her reasons--good ones--not that she wanted to go there now Or ever "Yeah, yeah Hand it over I have a date"
"You do not," Amy said "I’d have heard about it if you did"
"It’s a secret date"
Ahed because yeah, that had been a bit of a stretch Lucky Harbor was a wonderful, small tohere people cared about each other You could leave a pot of gold in your backseat, and it wouldn’t get stolen
But there were no such things as secrets
"I do have a date With my own bed," Mallory admitted "Happy?"
Amy wisely kept whatever smartass reet the birthday cake As she did, lightning flashed, followed i booht in the throes It seeo on and on, and the three women scooted as close as they could to each other with Amy still on the other side of the counter
"Suddenly I can’t stop thinking about The Shining," the blonde mur rarely happens here in Mayberry"
They all let out a weak laugh, which died when an ear-splitting crack sounded, followed ilass as both the frontand door blew in
In the shocking silence, a fallen tree li
Mallory grabbed the woman next to her and scurried behind the counter to join Aed "We’re safest right here, away froh at you about Mr Wykowski again"
"I’d like that in writing" Mallory rose up on her knees, taking a peek over the counter at the tree now blocking the front door
"I can’t reach my brownie from here," Blondie said shakily "I really need my brownie"
"What we need," Amy said, "is to blow this popsicle stand"
Mallory shook her head "It’s co down too hard and fast now It’s not safe to leave We should call soh"
Blondie pulled out her cell phone and eyed her screen "I forgot I’riot here today I’ot its moments" Mallory slapped her pockets for her own cell before re Crap "My phone’s in the car"
"Mine’s dead," A as we still have electricity"
Just then the lights flickered and went out
Mallory’s stomach hit her toes "You had to say it," she said to Amy
Blondie rustled around for a hter app," she said, holding up her phone, and the faux flahter "Only problem, it drains my battery really fast so I’ll keep it off until we have an e went really, really dark
Another hard gust of wind sentto the floor, and the Bic lighter iency," Blondie said as the three of theether
"Stupid cake," Mallory said
"Stupid storm," Amy said
"Stupid life," Blondie said Pale, she looked at thereat tiuy who’s going to co for you"
"Yeah, not likely," Amy said "What’s your name?"
"Grace Brooks"
"Well, Grace, you’re new to Lucky Harbor so let uys in town But I do "
Grace and Mallory both took in A boots, topped with a snug tee that revealed tanned, toned arruous Eat Me pink apron A red duct tape to fashion a circle around the Eat Me logo, coh it