Death Rub

by Ashantay Peters

  Ginger pursed her lips. “We weren’t there, we can’t know what happened. Let’s remember friends the way they were.”

  “Put your minds at rest,” Katie said. “That’s the final news I have. Dirk said I could tell you because a press release will be issued later this afternoon.”

  We huddled together, even though we were in Cam’s house and no one could hear us.

  Katie continued. “Travis made a full statement before leaving with the feds. He fingered Brad for both murders, in exchange for not getting hit with an accessory after the fact charge. Apparently, Travis taped Brad. Brad not only admitted killing both women, he threatened Travis with the same end.”

  “So that’s how Travis planned to prove my innocence.” I felt a full inhalation enter my lungs for the first time in days, then my temper rose. “But why hadn’t he stepped forward earlier instead of leaving me hanging?”

  Ginger rubbed my blanketed foot in sympathy. “I expect it had something to do with the mob types. Travis had to secure his own future before he could help you.”

  Katie snorted. “That sounds like Travis, all right.”

  “He lied to me. Right before he was shot, he told me he didn’t know the murderer’s identity.” I shook my head. “It’s a good thing he’s out of reach.”

  “I feel sorry for Mrs. Crosby.”

  “She’ll probably leave town,” Katie said.

  “Too bad,” Ginger said. “She has friends here. Talk will die down.”

  I knew the healing power of friends, but figured Katie had her situation pegged. Gossip would send Mrs. Crosby looking for a new life. We leaned back, sipped our drinks, and munched cookies.

  “I’d say there are so many loose ends to all this, we’ll be wading through the crap for months.” Katie gave a satisfied smile. “Including electing a new mayor.”

  I understood her pleasure. The mayor had publicly been on Dirk’s back more than once after Nicole’s murder. Seeing Mayor Polk leave office would give Katie the best gift she’d had since Dirk entered her life. In fact, Katie would probably drop off packing boxes at City Hall on her way home. That’s what I loved about her. She could twist the knife when needed.

  Thank goodness she was on my side.

  “I’ll tell you one thing,” Ginger said.

  Katie countered. “What’s that?”

  “I’m withdrawing my name from the twentieth class reunion planning committee. No way I want anything to do with that event.”

  Katie and I looked at each other and visibly shivered.

  “Girlfriend,” Katie said, “I’m with you.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Cam and I were enjoying an Indian summer day picnic. Deep Carolina blue skies were punctuated with wispy white clouds. Sporadic leaf color covered the hills. The sun’s heat lessened the effect of the nippy breeze that helped make the day comfortably beautiful.

  We lay beside each other on a plaid wool blanket, our shoulders touching. A glass jar with fall flowers was tucked into a corner of the picnic basket. Besides the flowers, a selection of delicacies from the upscale market, and Mona’s chocolates, Cam had surprised me with a bottle of my favorite wine. I was thirsty but too lazy to refill our glasses.

  I tipped my head back to catch the sun and pondered how my life had changed. The sensation of lying under a guillotine had disappeared.

  My massage business had hit a new high, featuring an almost full regular schedule with steady clients. I hoped the notoriety had less to do with my business uptick than my massage skills. After all, if I couldn’t massage my way out of a paper bag, they’d stop coming. The publicity surrounding the murders hadn’t hurt though.

  Many of my new patrons were from the country club set, so in one sense, I had Nicole to thank. I hoped she’d finally found peace. After I’d had time for thought, I recognized Nicole had led a troubled life. She deserved release. She’d sure been a better friend than anyone knew.

  Nicole had left her entire estate to Dolores. Her will declared Dolores a “faithful friend.” Gossip had run rampant about her leaving her estate to a friend rather than her father. I wasn’t surprised. Dolores had cried then opened a bottle of champagne in Nicole’s memory. I’d even had a sip. Just seemed right.

  My thoughts continued wandering as I absorbed nature’s heat. I roused myself and asked Cam’s input when I couldn’t get past a worry.

  “Cam, do you think Ginger had anything to do with Tom Jenkins taking my case on as pro bono?”

  He stirred and rolled onto his side. “Nope. I think he told you the truth. You faced down two felons, helped save a man’s life, and along the way fed him information that his investigator could use to prove your innocence. You put more work into your case than he did.”

  “Ginger said Tom returned her retainer. Do you think that’s true? I’d hate to owe her money.”

  Cam selected a flower from the jar and brushed it over my cheekbone. “She wouldn’t lie to you, Mags.”

  “Maybe I’ll send him a gift certificate for a free massage. Do you think he’d like that?”

  He leaned over, his head blocking the sun from my eyes. “I would.” He kissed me. “Yeah, I think that’d be nice.”

  That decision sat well with my conscience and my sun-warmed body. “Good.”

  I figured the day just couldn’t get any better. I was wrong.

  Cam straightened and rubbed his neck with one hand. “You know, the last time I did this, I almost posted my question on an advertising billboard over on I-40.” Cam smacked his forehead with his palm. “Damn it. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. I don’t know why that statement came out of my mouth.”

  I sat up blinking. Cam’s words about a billboard had my heart pumping like I’d just walked out of a too-hot sauna. Katie had related Cam’s story when he and I began dating. Not that everyone in town hadn’t already known about his proposal and failed engagement in detail. An electronic billboard featured as part of the proposal story.

  He faced me. His serious mien scared me while sending excited tingles down my spine.

  He took my hands in his. “Mags, you know I love you.”

  I nodded, too shaken for words.

  “You know I’d do anything for you.” He licked his lips and cleared his throat. “I want you with me.” He squeezed my hands. “Always.”

  “Cam,” my voice broke. “I don’t—”

  “You don’t what? Love me?” He leaned away, my hands still enfolded in his. His pupils darkened. “I know you do.”

  My gaze searched his face. I knew I loved him to distraction. If nothing else had come from my brush with murder, I had that awareness. Cam would always be the love of my life. But what about when my body sagged and he still had almost seven years of youth more than mine? Could I keep his interest or would he leave me when life got serious?

  Like the other male who had? No, not Cam.

  Because he knew me better than anyone, he answered my unspoken apprehension. “I won’t get tired of you. I don’t see our age difference as meaning anything at all. I love you. I will always love you. Through thick and thin. Murderers included.”

  My lips kicked up a smile at his last phrase. His hands relaxed his grip when he noticed. “Besides, you’ve been living with me for almost a month. We may as well make a perfect situation permanent.”

  That’s Cam. Practical to the nth degree. And in a hurry I didn’t totally share.

  “You’re mine, Mags. And I’m yours.” He dropped my hands and reached into his shirt pocket. He enfolded a small object in my right palm. “Marry me?”

  I opened my hand. A ring sporting an emerald surrounded with small diamonds glittered there. My breath took a hiatus and my heart beat triple time.

  “To match your eyes.” His Adam’s apple moved. “The emerald, I mean.”

  I couldn’t help myself. I smiled. “I figured that’s what you meant.”

  Cam wasn’t just practical.

  “So? What do you think? I’m in t
his, us, for the long haul.”

  Decision time. Either I trusted his love or I didn’t.

  Nerves had pulled the skin taut over his high cheekbones. His face held a light blush and his blue eyes looked black with desire. He swallowed.

  Almost as a reflex, I swallowed too. Then I licked my dry lips. Our gazes met and held.

  “I can’t think of anything I’d like more.”

  Giddiness competed with certainty when he lifted the ring from my palm and gently placed it on my left hand. Tears gathered in my eyes.

  “Woo-hoo!” Cam’s voice seemed to echo around me, or it could be that he’d yelled in my ear. Either way, his exuberance made me laugh.

  We kissed for what seemed like hours, but couldn’t have been long. When we broke apart, the sun still hit me at the same degree as it had before.

  “When I bought the wine, I hoped we could use it for a toast.”

  “Then let’s get to it.”

  Cam poured wine into both glasses and handed me one. “To us.”

  I echoed his words and we tapped rims, the crystal ringing true. Yes, he’d outfitted the basket with crystal, china, linen, and the aforementioned flowers. If I hadn’t already known he was all man, I might have worried. He caressed my cheek with his fingers. “So, let’s not have a long engagement, okay? Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Let’s get married then.”

  This decision would change my life for the rest of my years. Although I knew I’d made the best—the only—choice agreeing to marry Cam, I still needed some processing time. My thoughts whirled. Engaged. Who’d have thought? Not me, that’s for sure.

  I held back more out of habit rather than lack of desire. “Thanksgiving? That’s only two months away. Don’t you think that’s kind of soon? Unless you mean Thanksgiving next year? That would be better.” I cleared my throat and ended my babbling.

  “Am I pressuring you?”

  I turned that idea over for a moment. “No, you’re not. I wouldn’t have said yes if I didn’t want you, us. It’s just that you may change your mind. Maybe we should keep this to ourselves for a while.”

  The ring, now decorating my left hand, caught both our attention.

  He captured my gaze. “I think keeping anything to ourselves in this town is impossible.” He pushed a lock of hair behind my ear. His voice rang low and deep. “I won’t change my mind, Maggie. That’s you being scared, not my truth.”

  I believed him, but another fear broke free. That had to be the reason I kept throwing up roadblocks to commitment. “I haven’t even met your family. What if your parents don’t like me? I mean, I graduated school with your older brother for cripes sake.” I cleared my throat again. “It’s a good thing your brother was out of town on business during the reunion weekend. That would have been too strange.”

  Cam kissed me. “I don’t give a rat’s ass what they think, but I know they’ll be happy because I love you.”

  I pulled from his embrace. “Yes, what your family thinks does matter. We can’t build a life if the people you love most won’t talk to us. What about holiday dinners?”

  His thumb rubbed over my lips. “Holiday dinners aren’t the point. My family loves me, warts and all. All it’ll take is one look at us together and they’ll know what you mean to me. Any other excuses? ’Cause I want to start celebrating.”

  Dread waited, coiled within me like a sleeping snake. But Cam waited for my answer. We could work this out another time. I shook my head.

  “Good, enough said.” He kissed me again, hotter this time, demanding. “Let me show you how I feel about you. Just in case you’ve forgotten.”

  Laying me flat out on the blanket, he covered me partially with his weight. His erection pressed against my lower half in just the right way. My juices flowed.

  Cam nipped my earlobe. His teeth scraped the soft area behind my ear. “Feel what I mean? It’s all yours, Megs.”

  He made an excellent case on his own behalf. “I see your point.”

  His lips moved across my temple to lightly kiss my eyelids. His head blocked the sun, and I opened my eyes to gaze into his darkened pupils.

  “However, I think I may need a more persuasive argument.”

  He smiled. “I’m just getting started.”

  Cam made a controlled roll to his back, keeping me in his arms. Bracing my hands on the rough blanket, I felt the warm sun along my spine. The aroma of crushed leaves and dried grasses rose to my nostrils.

  One hand caressed the nape of my neck, while the other teased my nipple between his fingers. Heat unconnected to solar power shot through my body. I heard panting. My own with a bass accompaniment from Cam.

  I ran a finger across his eyebrow. “You can be very convincing.”

  We exchanged hot, wet, open-mouthed kisses.

  His breath sawed unevenly. “I’m glad you said that. Let me show you more.” His hips rose from the blanket. “Just in case you still have doubts.”

  I let my doubts go hang themselves.

  ****

  Katie’s lips straightened. “A cape is a unique fashion statement.”

  Ginger raised an eyebrow. “A black vinyl cape at a wedding is not a fashion statement, it’s a disaster. Especially considering where that thing has been before.” She pursed her lips. “Besides, Maggie doesn’t need our version of a good luck charm.” She looked me over. “New, old, borrowed, blue, all in place. Check.”

  “I’ve told you before,” Katie said. “This cape is a collectible. Hey, you could fold and wrap my cape around her waist. No one would notice.”

  “Are you nuts? Don’t bother answering that, Katie. I asked a rhetorical question.”

  I tuned out their squabbles designed I knew, to lessen my wedding day nerves. Katie and Ginger didn’t believe me when I told them I had no dry throat or upset stomach. No adrenaline spiked my veins. Calm assurance flowed through my bloodstream.

  I don’t remember the exact moment I’d accepted and forgiven the past. A specific date and time didn’t matter. Facing the future with the man I loved? That’s what counted. We’d already committed to each other. The show today, well, my mom would’ve loved it.

  Cam’s family rallied and helped us pull together our wedding. I hadn’t known I craved a warm family atmosphere until I’d walked into his parents’ house for the first time. His siblings and their kids had been there, and my stomach cramped when I saw my old classmate, Red Darrow. He joked about his kid brother getting lucky and scoring the woman his teen-aged self had wanted. We all laughed, including Red’s wife.

  Then he said it didn’t matter which Darrow I married as long as I joined their family. That’s when I stopped worrying about his family’s support. As Cam said, we didn’t need their okay, but I felt better.

  Ginger’s hand on my shoulder interrupted my thoughts, bringing my attention back to the room.

  “It’s time.”

  We swept from the room in our last official appearance as the T-Cubes, although without Katie’s cape. Marrying Cam made amulets superfluous. As far as crime fighting went, well, I still couldn’t bring myself to watch mysteries, much less action movies. I’d leave that excitement to Katie and Ginger.

  Katie whispered in my ear. “Cam’s one lucky guy. Be sure he shows you what the guys at work bought him for your honeymoon.” She smiled.

  A momentary flicker of worry fluttered in my stomach. Aw, heck, I’d faced more than a construction gang’s gag gift and come out the winner. Instead, I walked in to the small church’s foyer the day before Thanksgiving wearing an ear-to-ear grin.

  Even though I swore my nerves were unaffected, the procession and minister’s short sermon passed in a blur. I didn’t register sights or sounds besides Cam from the moment I saw him waiting for me. Until the time to repeat the vows we’d written arrived. Each word filled my consciousness and became etched on my heart.

  After the declaration that we were joined in holy matrimony, Cam brought my hand to his lips and kissed each finger one by one. Hi
s gaze didn’t leave mine. Then he lowered his head and brushed my lips with his.

  His caress. I’d be grateful for his touch every day of my life.

  Marriage. The best promise we’d made each other. So far.

  A word about the author...

  Ashantay Peters loves escaping into a well-written book. Her reading addiction also has her perusing magazines, newspapers, Internet articles, and even food labels. The last is usually feebly excused as an attempt to maintain health, however.

  She lives in the mountains of western North Carolina, a happy transplant from the much colder (and flatter) Midwest. Gardening, reading, photography, and walking are her favorite activities.

  Please contact her at ashantay.peters@gmail.com or check out her website: www.ashantay.com. Be sure to ask her about her progress on her next book, Death Crop.

  ~*~

  Other Ashantay Peters titles

  available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.:

  DEATH STRETCH

  DEATH UNDER THE MISTLETOE

  Thank you for purchasing

  this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.