Love Can Be Murder

swore to me that you were a doormat."
    Penny recoiled as if she'd been slapped. She stumbled, then stepped up on the curb beside Sheena, mere feet from what used to be her own driveway. That crack in the concrete—she had pulled weeds out of that crack more times than she could count. "Excuse me?"
    Sheena glared, then leaned over to scoop up her shoe. "You've got Deke snowed—he thinks you're a meek little mouse without the backbone or the brains to retaliate." She shook the shoe, wielding the stiletto like a blade. "You jealous little bitch —you can't stand the thought of me marrying Deke, so you tried to kill me!" She shoved her face close to Penny's. "You're going to pay, Granola Girl."
    Penny's body flamed with humiliation, both at the knowledge that Deke so thoroughly ridiculed her behind her back, and at the woman's vicious tone.
    "Is everything alright, Miss Penny?" Jimmy asked as he loped up next to them.
    Penny turned, floundering for words. "F-fine, Jimmy. There was a little accident, but everything's under control."
    "Accident, my ass," Sheena said with a snort. "Did you see her push me in front of those cars?"
    Jimmy narrowed his eyes at Sheena, then spat on the ground. "No. I didn't see a thing."
    But when he looked at Penny, she had the feeling that he was lying to protect her. "Jimmy," Penny said calmly, "please...leave us."
    He frowned, but nodded and waited until two cars went by before crossing the street, thankfully distracted by Henry, who had escaped from the truck bed and looked as if he might run after Jimmy. Penny turned back to Sheena, fighting desperation. "Sheena, I'm sorry. I was angry, but I didn't mean for you to get hurt."
    "Right." Sheena lifted her dirty foot—did the woman ever wash her feet?—and shoved it into her shoe. "I'm calling Chief Davis to have you arrested for assault."
    Penny's stomach bottomed out. Jail...prison. So after a lifetime of scrupulous behavior, she had finally succumbed to her family destiny. All of her well-kept secrets would be revealed....Deke would be extra glad he'd left....
    "It'll be my word against yours," Penny said on an exhale.
    "Not when you fail a polygraph."
    Penny felt the blood drain from her face.
    The blond looked triumphant. "Then I'll file a civil suit for every piddly dime that Deke let you keep!"
    Penny's throat constricted. Not only had she pushed a woman in front of a car but she'd also pushed a woman who would sue her own mother in front of a car.
    Sheena adjusted her neck brace with a savage twist. "You attacked an injured woman—a jury will give me anything I want." She emitted a harsh laugh. "Just wait until Deke hears about this."
    Penny's mind raced. God help her, the thought of Deke and everyone in town believing that she was so jealous that she would try to kill his mistress made her ill. She could lose her freedom, her business...not to mention what was left of her tattered pride. Sweat beaded on her hairline. But what could she do? She was guilty, and she had nothing to bargain with, no way to convince Sheena to keep quiet.
    Then a memory chord stirred. Or did she?
    Penny pulled herself up and summoned strength while giving Sheena her most level stare. "Speaking of Deke, wait until he hears about your visitor this morning."
    At the stiffening of the woman's spine and the panicked look in her eyes, relief zigzagged through Penny's chest—leverage. Thank you, God.
    "What visitor?" Sheena asked lightly.
    "You know—tall, dark, and handsome, brown leather jacket. Driving a green sedan. I assume you were good friends since you answered the door in your nightgown." Penny angled her head. "Oh, and you weren't wearing your neck brace then."
    Sheena's jaw dropped. "You were spying on me?"
    "I, um, just happened to be looking out the window."
    Sheena's red mouth tightened, and Penny steeled herself for a verbal onslaught. Then magically, Sheena's mouth curled into a repentant smile.
    "Maybe I overreacted just a tad." She emitted a hollow little laugh as she smoothed her hand over her stiff platinum hair. "After all, no one was hurt when you accidentally stumbled and pushed me off the sidewalk." Sheena studied her nails. "So maybe I'll just forget this little episode happened...if you forget I had a visitor this morning."
    Entering into a pact with the woman sent a finger of unease up Penny's spine, but she had no choice. "Agreed."
    Then Sheena's eyes narrowed. "Just so that we're clear—this doesn't mean that you and I are