Real Men Will (Donovan Brothers Brewery 3)

Beth walked them out, but her relief was premature. Before the door closed behind them, she heard Simone Parker call, “I’ll meet you at the station,” and turn back around. Beth almost groaned.

“Here,” the woman said, holding out a business card. “I forgot to leave you this.” But the woman stayed where she was after Beth took the card. Her eyes shifted over the store and her gorgeous brown skin turned suspiciously pink along her cheekbones.

“Detective?”

She cleared her throat. “I saw the sign on the door that you do bra fittings. I just had a baby a few months ago, and…”

“Yes!” Beth said, relieved to be back on solid

ground. “Absolutely. Most women wear the wrong size for their whole life, and certainly after having a child, everything changes.”

Simone nodded.

“I should warn you that we don’t have a selection of sports bras or everyday underwear.”

“Right.” She bit her lip, her pretty face turning even pinker. “The truth is that someone asked me on a date. It’s nothing serious, but it’s the first one since…” She waved a hand over her body. “And I’d really like something that isn’t cotton or absorbent or just…sturdy. But I’m so big now!”

Beth grinned. “I understand. Believe me. And I make a point of buying lines that have pretty bras in larger sizes, because sometimes they seem impossible to find. Do you want to do this now?”

“No!” She looked toward the parking lot in horror.

“I think he’s gone.”

“I’ll come back when I’m off duty,” Simone said. “Thank you.”

After the door closed, Beth found herself standing there smiling. Then she remembered why Simone had been there in the first place.

“Damn,” Beth whispered.

If Roland Kendall found out that Beth had told the police about that phone call, he’d never forgive her. The man took good care of his friends and brought ruthless power down on his enemies. But what could he do to her?

“Besides organize a boycott of the store,” she murmured. God, what had she gotten herself into? What if her scruples put the White Orchid at risk?

Then again, they’d been boycotted when Annabelle had expanded the building and modernized the store-front. The protests had only increased sales. And Beth couldn’t just ignore something illegal because it might cause a blip in sales.

The stress burned in her chest. She tried to close her eyes and let it go, tried to focus on the steady white noise of rain hitting the roof. She was doing the right thing. She knew she was. She just needed someone to tell her that.

She retreated to her office and pulled up Eric’s number on her phone. By the time it rang for the fifth time, she was regretting the impulse to call him. She’d forgotten that this was the morning-after call. It could be awkward.

A loud hum suddenly burst through the line. “Hi,” Eric said.

“Oh, hi! Are you…?” The hum grew to a drone so loud she winced and eased the phone farther from her ear. “You’re busy, so I’ll just—”

“No, just a second.” The drone faded. A loud metallic bang rang through her ear, and then there was silence. “Sorry,” Eric said. His voice echoed.

“Where are you?”

“I was in the tank room, but I’m in the bottling room now. It’s quiet when the line isn’t running.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s no problem. Really.”

Beth rubbed a nervous hand against her skirt again. “Detective Asher came by. He wanted to talk about Monica. I told him everything she said, so hopefully it will help.”

“I’m sorry,” Eric said.

“Oh, it’s no big deal. It’s the right thing to do. Isn’t it?”