Faux Vows, True Desires novel Chapter 509

Darlene felt her forehead twitch in frustration. "Keith's at it again?" she sighed, turning to her assistant, John. In their detective agency, Keith was like a perpetual thorn in their side.

They'd been trying to shake him off, but Keith just wouldn’t take the hint and kept coming back. John thought maybe they hadn’t been making enough offerings to Lady Luck lately, which was why trouble had sought them out once more.

"He came back to Skywatch just this morning," Darlene grumbled. Keith was supposed to be the big brother, yet here he was, trailing back to Pinehurst instead of spending time with Lucy, his sister, who had just returned home. Sure, Skywatch was where the Blue family hailed from, but Lucy had grown up in Pinehurst, and her heart was firmly rooted there. Keith’s presence in Pinehurst only stirred up Lucy’s longing for the place.

"Boss, he hasn't shown up in person, though. Just contacted me, placed an order, and wired a hefty sum to our account. The deposit he sent was ten times what he usually gives."

Darlene cursed under her breath, "He's got more money than he knows what to do with."

John instinctively quipped, "So he's decided to let you spend it for him."

Darlene shot him a look. "John, you're treading on thin ice."

"Boss, you're overreacting a bit. What do we do now?" John expertly shifted the focus to avoid further scolding.

"Send me his request. I'll head upstairs and boot up my computer," Darlene said, hoping Keith wouldn’t throw a wrench in her plans this time.

"Got it," John replied and quickly ended the call. The boss wasn’t the only one in a sour mood—Keith was a headache for all of them. The Blue family was no ordinary household, and Keith wasn’t someone who should need their agency’s services. It felt like a provocation, maybe even a form of payback, or perhaps something else entirely.

Just as they hung up, Darlene heard the front door creak open. Her sister was home, and she decided to greet her rather than go straight to her office.

Ike Moore had given Belinda Bishop a ride back. In Pinehurst, Belinda was somewhat of a local celebrity, typically not the kind to need a ride. But since she and Ike were an item, they took every chance they could get to spend time together.

"Darlene! Ike!" she called out as she stepped outside. The first to disembark was one of the bodyguards, who nodded respectfully. "Evening, Miss Darlene."

"Thanks for your hard work. Go grab some supper and get some rest," she said warmly, leaving the guards feeling appreciated. Darlene was a sweetheart, treating everyone with kindness and respect.

Once Ike and Belinda were out of the car, Belinda dismissed the bodyguards. They were her personal protection, and she had the final say on when they could clock out.

"Darlene, I told you not to wait up. You should get some rest," Belinda chided gently.

"She's doing great. Lucy might be easygoing, but she's no pushover. Plus, Mr. Coleman is with her, so no one’s going to mess with her," Darlene assured him.

Ike nodded, "I don't really trust Lucy to look out for herself, but I do trust Stefan to look after her."

By now, Ike had to face the facts: Stefan was actually a great match for his sister. All that initial disapproval and outright opposition? Long gone.

Funny enough, he was the one who played matchmaker for those two lovebirds in the first place. It was his constant bragging about having an amazing sister that piqued Stefan's curiosity. Slowly but surely, Stefan started paying more attention to Lucy, and now, here they were—doting on each other and making Ike and Keith, Lucy's brothers, feel like third wheels.

"Darlene, here's a little something I got for you. Hope you like it," Ike said, handing a gift to his soon-to-be sister-in-law.

"Thanks, Ike. Anything from you, I know I'll like. My sister loves what you give her too," Darlene replied with a grateful smile.

Although she appreciated Ike's gesture, Darlene was careful not to flaunt his gifts. After all, her sister's happiness was tied to Ike, and she had to be mindful of that.

"Hey, Sis, Ike, midnight snack's ready!" Darlene called out, cutting through the moment with a practical invitation to the kitchen. Once they were fed and tucked in for the night, she could finally tackle the latest puzzle Keith had handed her.