Dog Collar Knockoff by Adrienne Giordano Read Free Book Online Page B

Frankie’s apartment, a place she’d spent countless nights watching television, having dinner, making love . Each time she’d wonder what was going on inside. Whether he had a woman in there. Whether he was making love to someone else.
    Oh. My. God.
    “You’re moving into Frankie’s?”
    “Oh, boy,” Ro said.
    Joey shrugged. “Why not?”
    Mom stared up at him, her mouth partway open and her hazel eyes more than a little stricken. Lucie hadn’t seen this look since Dad got convicted.
    But she knew from conversations with Frankie that the only reason Joey still lived at home was because he didn’t want Mom to not have a man around to help with the household stuff. That and, well, she always had a meal ready and his laundry done. That didn’t matter though. Chances were, she’d still do the cooking and laundry for him wherever he lived.
    But make no mistake, Joey had unintentionally just broken their mother’s heart.
    Lucie tore her gaze away from Mom and went back to Joey. “When did you decide this? I just talked to him today and he didn’t say anything.”
    “I asked him not to. I wanted to tell you guys. Luce, you’ve been a little—” Joey waggled his hand, “—whackadoo lately. I wanted to be sure Dad was coming home before I said anything.”
    Mom held out a shaky hand. “Joseph, I was kidding. You don’t have to move out.”
    “I know, Ma. But it’s time. I’m twenty-nine years old and I can afford it. I gotta go. I’m sorry.”
    Being the trooper she was, Mom waved that off. “Don’t you dare apologize for living your life. If this is what you want, then you should do it.”
    “It is.”
    Finally, she stood, held her arms out, and her mountain of a son hugged her, holding on for a few seconds while Mom sniffled away unshed tears. “I’ll miss you.” She backed away and nodded. “You drive me crazy, but I’ll miss you.”
    Joey hit her with the Joey smile that always got him out of trouble. “I’ll still come by to eat.”
    And probably bring his laundry.
    “Of course you will.”
    As she always did in times of crisis or heartbreak or just about anything that rocked her world, Mom lifted her chin, tugged on the hem of her shirt and faced Lucie and Ro. “I’m off to poker. You three behave.”
    “Will do, Mom.”
    Mom left and Lucie, desperate to be rid of the idea of Frankie having other women in his bed, turned to Ro. “Back to the issue that started this whole thing. Are you okay?”
    “Yeah. I just needed to get it out of my system. You know me, I’ll survive.” Ro gestured to the laptop. “What are you working on?”
    “I’m researching Gomez paintings.”
    “Who?” Joey asked.
    “Gomez. The artist who did the painting the Lutzes bought from the gallery.”
    “That’s an ugly-ass painting.”
    Her brother. The art critic. “It’s a matter of taste.”
    “Bad taste.”
    Ro snorted. Great. Now she was encouraging him. “Don’t start, you two. This is important.”
    “Why?”
    “Well, you know our new dog walker?”
    Ro nodded. “Lauren, right? How’s she working out?”
    Lucie held her crossed fingers up. “So far so good. She’s a little nosey though. Yesterday she was all over Mr. L.’s painting. Today, we overheard Bart Owens arguing with an artist. Lauren couldn’t stop speculating on what the argument was over.”
    “Something good?”
    “I don’t know. They were going at it though. It sounded like Bart lent someone named Robert’s paintings to a gallery and now can’t get them back.”
    “Luce,” Joey said, “you gotta stay out of this crap. It’s not your business.”
    In a way, it was. Her brother just didn’t know it. “Just hang on with me for a second. Lauren said she kinda remembered something weird about how the Gomez paintings were sold.”
    “So?”
    “ So , after hearing him argue with this artist today, I figured I’d research Gomez paintings. Last thing I need is Mr. Lutz getting swindled after I hooked him up with