2 Lady Luck Runs Out by Shannon Esposito Page B

a feeding. Thank heavens the door opened and another man sauntered in. I heard Mallory make a noise deep in her throat.
    This man stood in stark contrast to McGillis's Bermuda shorts and sleeveless t-shirt. Mid-thirties and tanned, he wore khaki pants and a pink polo shirt, his sandy blond hair cut stylishly. He oozed confidence and charm.
    "Hey, Sammy." McGillis waved him over and introduced us. "This here's Darwin and Mallory Winters."
    "Nice to meet you." Sammy shook our hand, holding Mallory's hand longer than necessary. I noticed she didn't mind a bit. "You ladies don't strike me as the reptile type." His tone was teasing, but his eyes were sharp.
    Funny, he did strike me as the reptile type. The way his hooded eyes were glued to my little sister. I looked back at the rattlesnake. She was less intimidating. At least she was behind glass.
    "Hey Sammy, any of the guys keep a rattler that you know of? Jamison maybe?"
    "Last time we talked, he was planning on acquiring some." He put the word acquiring in air quotes. "Why? What's up?"
    I snuck a glance at Sammy. His attention was still completely on my sister. I wanted to throw my body between them. I shifted my glance to McGillis. I also nudged Mallory and when she turned to me, I shook my head in warning. She was staring back at Sammy like it was her feeding time. I didn't like this at all. Mallory had never even been on a date. This guy had probably dated every girl on the planet.
    "Well, Darwin here thought maybe this gal was being kept and escaped. That would explain how she was so close to a populated area."
    I would have preferred McGillis not throw my theory out there for the world to hear. Wouldn't want it getting back to the killer that I was suspicious. Thanks for throwing me under the bus, McGillis.
     Sammy just shrugged. "I can ask him if he lost one next time we talk."
    "Just a thought," I mumbled. Thank heavens a group of boy scouts came in the door at that moment. Their energy and voices were a welcome interruption. "Well, thank y'all for the tour." I grabbed Mallory's elbow. "We'll get out of your hair now."
    "See y'all later." Mallory waved, smiling at Sammy as I pulled her through the door.
    "Hope so." Sammy threw a thousand watt smile back at her.
    "No, Mal." I pulled out my cell phone to call a cab but kept walking to put some distance between us and the snakes, especially the human one.
    "What?" There was more than a little irritation in her tone.
    "He's too old for you, and too slick." I asked for a cab and then sat down on a bench.
    Mallory plopped down beside me, her face flushed with irritation and probably a rush of hormones. "He was hot. You need to stop being so overprotective. I'm an adult now, you know."
    "Barely." I sighed.
    "And why do you think he's slick anyway?" She scowled at me as she said the word 'slick'. “We've only known him for like five seconds. You're such a hypocrite, Darwin." She crossed her arms and stared out at the cars going by. "You don't want people judging you but you judge someone after five seconds."
    Wow. This guy really got to her. I knew Mallory well enough to know I had to back off. The more I protested the more determined she was going to be. "All right." I took a deep breath and let the negative energy go with a long exhale. "You're right. I shouldn't be so judgmental. But you know I just don't want you getting hurt."
    She made a little half laugh sound, which was her white flag. "You don't want me to have any fun." She turned and grinned at me. Her green eyes practically glowed in the sunlight.
    "Yep, that's it. I'm the fun police."
     
     

 
    CHAPTER FOURTEEN
     
    Wednesday afternoon I sat at a small table beneath Cassis's olive colored umbrellas, waiting for Will. With his work schedule, we had to sneak in time together whenever we could and Mallory had enough of a handle on the boutique now that I didn't feel guilty about taking a lunch.
    A cold front had brought in cooler weather so I sipped a hot tea