“Know what?” I asked, leaning forward, my curiosity getting the best of me.
“Mallory sold the store. I guess she had been sort of seeing another guy while she was with Tripp. Well, not really seeing him. They knew each other. Had a past. It’s rumored she was sleeping with him, but you know how small towns are. Karen claims her sister walked into the store once after closing. The sign was still turned to open and the door was unlocked. She heard a noise in the back and tried clearing her throat. Mallory called out a man’s name and it wasn’t Tripp. A few minutes later, Mallory came walking out and claimed she was in the back with a sales rep.”
It felt like a rock had settled in my stomach. “What?”
“Some guy she knew from her hometown. He had come to Oak Springs a few times to do ‘consulting’ for her.” Julie used air quotes around consulting. “Guess he had stayed a few times at her house, but Tripp never knew about it.”
“Wow.” That was all I could say. I wasn’t one to get into the gossip mill, and I certainly wasn’t going to gossip about Tripp’s ex.
My phone rang, saving me from the present conversation.
“Hello?”
“Harley? It’s Steed.”
“Steed? Hi! What’s going on?”
He let out a chuckle. “Are you busy? Do you have time to come to Tripp’s office?”
I pulled up the schedule. “I’ve got a clear schedule for the rest of the day. Is everything okay?”
When he laughed again, I did too. I couldn’t help it. I had no idea why I was laughing, but I did.
“Yep. Everything is great. Tripp just needs your help with something. And I’m pretty sure Karen is fixin’ to get fired.”
I stood up quickly. “Oh my gosh. I’m on my way!”
Hitting End, I pulled my desk drawer open and grabbed my purse. “Julie, I hate to do this to you, but I have to leave.”
She stood. “Don’t worry about it.”
“If anyone calls needing an appointment, tell them it will have to wait until tomorrow. If there’s an emergency I’ll have my phone. Just call me.”
“I will. Don’t worry, I can hold things down here.”
Rushing out the door, I walked to my car. I pulled up Tripp’s name and hit it.
“Hello?”
“Hey, is everything okay? Steed called me.”
“Did he tell you I’m about two seconds from letting Hemi out the door and wishing her good luck in life?”
I gasped. “Oh no, what happened?”
“Karen happened.”
I frowned. “Okay, now I’m sort of confused.”
“She didn’t put Hemi in her crate when she left for lunch. Do you know what happens when Hemi wakes up from a nap and wants to play? And is left out?”
I pressed my lips together. I didn’t dare tell Tripp I had found out this past weekend when I ran to the store and left a sleeping Hemi in the game room. When I came back she had chewed both of Tripp’s remotes. The one to his giant screen TV and the one for DirectTV. Luckily, it only took me one phone call to Trevor to order two new ones quickly.
“Um, I can only guess.” I braced myself to hear what damage she had caused.
“Then I’ll let you be surprised. Like I was.”
By the time I pulled up and parked in the driveway of Tripp’s office, I had already come up with three different ideas to get him to forget about Hemi. They were all sex-based, and involved a new outfit from the lingerie store that had opened on the square.
I walked into the office, and Karen sat behind her desk. The look of fear on her face spoke volumes.
“What happened?” I whispered.
She went to talk when Tripp’s voice boomed from down the hall, causing us both to jump.
I started for his office when Karen grabbed my arm. “If I get fired, I just want you to know it was worth it. That dog was the only one who was able to get rid of those God-awful dress shoes Tripp insisted on wearing all the time.”
I covered my mouth to hide my laughter.
“Good luck,” Karen said as I headed toward Tripp’s office.
The door was partially open, and the smell hit me first.
“Oh no,” I whispered.
Pushing the door in, I took one look around the office and bit down on my cheek to keep from laughing. Tripp was near the windows and I had to do a double-take.
“You’re seeing this all correctly,” Steed whispered from beside me. “He’s wearing a ski mask while cleaning up dog shit.”
I tried holding it in, and failed. A burst of laughter broke out, and Tripp turned to face me.
“Oh thank God! Your dog pooped!”
Rushing over, I grabbed the paper towels and the cleaner from his hand and cleaned up the mess Hemi had made. I noticed how he had called her my dog. I’d let that go…for now.