Stranger Danger
Page 16
“Lucy was fake-dating,” says Travis. “I was dating for real.”
I whip around to face him. “But now that you’re going to join the FBI, it doesn’t make sense to date for real.”
“The FBI? Travis is joining the FBI? Does that mean you’re going to move?” Mom looks crestfallen. I can practically see all her wedding plans for me crumbling in front of her face.
“I’m not joining the FBI,” Travis says firmly. “That was Agent Billings’s idea. Not mine.” He looks at me. “I left Dallas to move to Whispering Bay to be near my dad. If I wanted big cop excitement, I would have stayed put.”
“You’re staying? For real?” How do I feel about this?
“Yep,” he says. “And that’s not all. It hasn’t been announced yet, but Zeke Grant is stepping down as chief of police. Between Mimi’s job as mayor and taking care of the two babies, they’re overwhelmed. He’s going to be a stay-at-home dad. And I’ve been offered his position.”
“That’s wonderful!” Mom claps her hands in glee. Looks like her imaginary wedding is back on.
“Now there’s no reason for the two of you to not date for real,” says Brittany. “Right?”
Travis pushes his chair back from the table. “If you all don’t mind, I’d like to speak to Lucy alone.”
“Mind?” Mom practically cackles with glee. “Yes! By all means, speak to her alone.” She motions for Travis to sit back down. “You stay. We’ll go.” She nudges my dad’s shoulder and starts barking off orders. “George, start clearing the table. Brittany, you and Will need to take out the garbage. Sebastian … find something to do. Now.” Everyone hops to do as they’re told. Even Paco starts to get up.
“Not you,” I say to my dog. “Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of Paco,” I tell Travis. With a smug look on his face, Paco settles back down at my feet.
Travis waits until everyone has made their mad rush to the kitchen and the three of us are alone. “Have you had your talk with Cunningham yet?” he asks.
I could play coy and pretend I don’t know what he’s talking about, but why? “Will and I decided that we’re better off as friends.”
He nods. “Glad that’s settled. So how about it? Want to go out next weekend?”
I pull out my new iPhone 11 (thank goodness I thought to get the first one insured) and open up my picture gallery to find the photo of Travis in drag. “First, tell me about this.”
“Halloween party. I did it on a department dare.” He grins sheepishly. “I was trying to channel Reba McEntire.”
I laugh.
Travis waits for me to answer. He doesn’t believe I’m a human lie detector or that Paco is a ghost whisperer, and for some reason I can’t figure out, it appears that I can’t lie to him anymore. He’s annoying. Opinionated. And he sees everything in black and white. But he makes my breath catch. And he comes running when I text 824 to his cell phone (hey, that’s what you get when you blind-text).
Maybe, just maybe, it might work out between us.
“Sure. Why not?”
Paco looks between us and wags his tail. I think he approves.
Thank you for reading! Lucy’s adventures will continue in the next mystery, TWO SEANCES AND A FUNERAL. To always know when I have a new book out and for exclusive content, such as cover reveals, sneak peeks, occasional muffin recipes, corny jokes, and my monthly giveaway, please sign up for my newsletter HERE.
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Also by Maria Geraci
Whispering Bay Mystery Series
Beach Blanket Homicide
Whack The Mole
Murder By Muffin
Stranger Danger
Two Seances And A Funeral
(coming February, 2020)
Whispering Bay Romance Series
That Thing You Do
Then He Kissed Me
That Man Of Mine
The Best For Last
This Can’t Be Love
Can’t Stop The Feeling
Acknowledgments
First off, thank you to all my wonderful readers! I had a lot of fun writing this book. It was hard for Lucy (and me!) to choose between Will and Travis, but I think in the end, it all worked out for the best. I can’t wait to share Lucy’s newest adventure in her next book and in all her books to come.
I want to thank my wonderful production team: My editor Rhoda McDuffey, cover artist Kim Killion, and the awesome Chris Kridler for her copyedits and her friendship.
A huge shout out to my Facebook reader group Maria’s Tortillas, who put a smile on my face everyday. I appreciate all of you!
And last but not least, to my fabulous assistant Stephanie and to my husband Mike. I couldn’t do it without you!
About the Author
Maria Geraci writes quirky, fun, romantic women’s fiction and cozy mystery. She’s a two-time RITA® Finalist, as well as a finalist in the National Readers Choice Awards and Romantic Times’ American Title Contest.
Her romantic comedies feature strong women, dreamy heroes, lots of laughs and a little bit of heat. Her cozy mysteries are full of humor, a little romance, and of course, lots of dead bodies. She lives in central Florida and is always on the lookout for the perfect key lime pie recipe (but not the kind they served on Dexter).
Maria loves to hear from her readers! Please write her at mariageraciauthor@gmail.com.