"So? Greta's my friend and I'm curious what's going on. Plus, you arrest her and I'll be back to square one in terms of regular customers. Don't take her away from me, please."
He shook his head. "If she killed him, I won't have a choice."
"Do you think she did?"
"I don't know. We're still working on it. So far she seems to be his only connection to the valley, and where the body was left seems awfully suspicious."
"How so?"
"Well, why bury a body in the middle of town if you don't have to? Unless there's some personal reason to do so. Like wanting to drive by it every day while on the way to the café."
"Oh, that's vicious. I don't think Greta's that kind of person. Do you?"
He shrugged. "Hard to tell. Did you think she was a killer?"
"No."
"Well, then."
"Don't you have any other suspects?"
He frowned at me. "Maybe. Kristof has quite the record."
"Was he a thief?"
"What makes you say that?" Matt leaned forward, that intense interrogator look on his face.
"Nothing. Just…"
"Maggie."
"It was something Greta said. Made me think that before she married her second husband she might've been involved in some not exactly legal ways of procuring jewelry for herself."
"That's one way to put it."
"So I was right?"
He shook his head. "She's your friend, Maggie."
"Yeah, I know. Doesn't mean I can't be curious about what's going on."
"What if I didn't already know that about her? What if you telling me that had just clued me in to something about your friend I never would have known otherwise?"
"Ummm…." I hadn't really thought of it that way. I figured if she really had been a jewel thief that there'd be some sort of record. Then again, not every criminal gets caught, do they?
"See? Maybe it's best you keep out of it this time."
I wanted to fire back with some witty retort, but the fact of the matter was he was probably right. Sure, the murder seemed to involve my friend and the body had been buried awfully close to the barkery, but at the end of the day I was an honest business owner who needed to keep my eye on my own lane and focus on my business.
"Fine. I'll keep out of it. But if I'm going to keep out of it, we're going to play a game tonight that I can actually win instead of letting you both beat me at Scrabble again."
My grandpa frowned at me. "And what game would that be?"
"Cribbage?"
"Three-handed?" He grimaced.
"It's possible." I used to play with him and my grandma in the summers when I'd visit when I was growing up. He's always seemed to be just fine with it.
Matt looked back and forth between us. "I've never played cribbage before."
"Good. Gives me a chance to win for once. Hope your math isn't as good as your vocabulary."
"Oh, it is. You're not going to beat me that easy."
My grandpa stood and stretched. "I think I might just leave the two of you to it. I have a few more pieces I want to place on my latest miniature before Lesley comes over tomorrow."
I opened my mouth to call him back, but I knew there was no point. He had that glint in his eye. Honestly, grandparents should keep their noses out of their grandkids' love lives…
Matt was watching me closely so I just shrugged it off and grabbed the cribbage board from the hall closet and set it on the table. As he shuffled the card deck I grabbed us each another beer.
"Best not," he said. "I have to drive home, remember?"
"Are you sure? You'll probably be sober by the time we're done. And you're always welcome to crash on the couch if you really need to."
"Thanks, but…" Was Matt blushing? Why? "Best not."
"Alright. Fine. More for me." I took a swig of my beer before walking him through the basics of the game. I also gave him the Hoyle guide with all the rules because I always forget something (like nobs) until it comes up, and I didn't want him to accuse me of making the rules up as I went.
Unfortunately, he was a quick study. We played three games and I won each one, but not by near as much as I should have given the fact that he'd never even played the game before.
You know, I always say I want a man who's my equal, but I gotta tell ya, it's downright annoying sometimes to be around a guy who's as good at things as I am.
(Or, even worse, better than I am.)
I had fun, though. Maybe too much fun. I did not need to be distracted that way. I had…other things to do.
Chapter Ten
You'd think that spending a night at someone's house having a good meal and good conversation might soften you towards them a bit, right? Yeah, well, not Officer Tightass.
(Language, I know. But…Ugh.)
The next day I headed into work at an hour that should be illegal, and I let my speed creep up just a little bit, you know? Not the twenty over Matt had busted me for previously, but probably ten over.
Can you blame me? It was just me on the road at that hour. (And, yes, I know, there are deer and elk and things to watch out for, too, but I'd swerve if I saw one of them. I didn't need to drive slower than an old granny to do that.)
So, yes, I was speeding. Because I'm human and humans speed just a little.
And I rounded that stupid curve in the road and there the cop car was, waiting, the officer inside pointing a speed gun right at me.
This time I did slam on the brakes, hoping to throw the measurement off. But it did me no good. As soon as I was past him, he pulled me over.
I glared at Matt as he sauntered up to my window and leaned in.
"Here." I shoved my driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance at him.
"Why, thank you, Miss Carver." He smiled at me but I just glared back at him. If he wanted to give me a ticket, fine. I was not going to play all nice about it, thank you very much.
As he strolled back to his police car I struggled not to cry (I do that when I'm angry). I also silently called him every single name I could think of. What kind of man repays someone's hospitality by giving them a speeding ticket? I mean, really. Weren't speeding tickets in small towns reserved for out-of-towners?
He came back in a few minutes and held my documents out to me. I was under control by then, but just barely. Plus, Fancy was crying up a storm in the back and it was getting on my last nerve. There were only so many treats I could shove in her face to keep her quiet and I'd just run out.
I took the papers without even looking at him.
"Maggie…"
"What?" I snapped.
He held out one more piece of paper and I snatched it away from him with a glare.
He leaned closer. "It's just a warning, Maggie. A written one, yes, but it's not a ticket."
"Good to know. Thanks." I found myself staring into those too-blue eyes of his as he leaned closer so that we were only inches apart.
He held my gaze, enunciating each word slowly. "Next time, even if you're going only one over the speed limit, I will give you a real ticket. Do not test me on this again, Maggie."
"Fine," I muttered and looked away until he left.
Chapter Eleven
Later that morning I was busy restocking the barkery display case when a man walked through the door. For a split second I thought it was Matt. He was about the same height and build and had the same dark hair, but this man had a certain swagger that Matt doesn't have.
He strutted towards me and as the sun glare faded I saw that he had what my grandma would've called a shit-eating grin.
(I know, awful imagery, but that's what it was—that sort of cat got the canary, devilish sort of look that just spells trouble.)
I swallowed heavily as I watched him come closer because it was like someone had taken Matt and all his tall, dark, and handsome sexiness and mixed it together with a double dose of Lucas Dean's mischievousness.
This man wasn't the type to suggest running of
f behind the bleachers for a quick kiss like Luke was. No, he was the type to suggest jumping in a car, driving to Vegas, and blowing your life's savings on a single roll of the dice at the craps table. You'd find yourself dead broke, alone in a strange city, and all you'd want was another round with him.
Which is why I promptly walked over to the café counter and asked Betty—our latest shop assistant who had to be at least ninety and was a grandmother of ten—to please help the gentleman who'd just walked through the door.
Me, I kept on walking right past her and into the café kitchen so I could not only keep myself away from that kind of trouble but shield Jamie from it as well. If I was tempted, she'd be sucked right in the minute she saw him.
(I know. You're probably wondering why I could easily resist a man like Matt who was by all measures a pretty perfect guy and yet I felt the need to walk away from this random stranger. Well, here's the deal. Most men, Matt included, are safe because most men need a pretty good amount of encouragement to make that final move. Oh, they'll flirt or they'll hang around, but to actually put themselves out there and risk a "No"? Yeah, not gonna happen, not without a good dose of encouragement.
And with the guys like Matt I know exactly where the line is in terms of how much encouragement they need to actually act and I just don't give it to them. Keeps my life simple. But with a guy like the one who'd just walked through the door…
Oh no. There'd be none of that hesitation. He'd ask for what he wanted. And, well, turns out I'm kinda impressed when that happens. And tempted. So I just avoid men like that like the plague. Works pretty well if I may say so myself.)
Anyway. I hustled away to hide in the kitchen while Betty went to deal with Mr. Too Hot to Handle.
Jamie frowned at me as she tucked a stray bit of hair behind her ear, leaving a smudge of flour behind. "Maggie, what's up?"
"Just checking in, that's all." I sniffed the air. Jamie was hard at work on yet another batch of cinnamon rolls. I still loved them, don't get me wrong, but I could see the day fast approaching when I was going to have had my fill of them. I leaned against the counter. "So what did you get up to last night?"
She smiled a dreamy sort of smile. "Mason had me over for dinner. He made homemade gnocchi and this amazing pesto cream sauce…And…" She blushed and shook herself a little.
"Wow. You are really crushing on him, aren't you? Do you think he's the one?"
She laughed. "It's too early for that. Isn't it?"
The smile said it all. My friend was head over heels.
I heard the deep rumble of the guy out front's voice as he talked to Betty and her answering giggle.
Oh my. It seemed the man had enough charisma to charm any woman, even a little old granny who'd been happily married for sixty years. This man flirted the way other men breathe. Definitely trouble with a capital T.
"Who's out front?" Jamie asked, moving closer to the doorway.
I shook my head and moved to block her. "No one you want to meet."
No matter how far gone she was over Mason, I wasn't going to risk letting her cross paths with this guy. He'd be like catnip to her. No need to mess with a good thing for some guy who'd probably be gone before the week was out.
The front door jangled and I heard a set of footsteps I wished I didn't recognize. I leaned out the doorway just in time to see Matt walk up to the dangerously gorgeous stranger and pull him into a man hug, both of them thumping one another on the back like long lost…
Brothers.
Of course. The stranger must be the evil half of the Barnes Brothers. My grandpa had convinced Matt to enlist and straighten out his life, but he'd failed with Matt's brother who'd been in and out of jail or criminal mischief since he was fourteen.
Matt caught sight of me before I could duck back into the kitchen. "Maggie. Come over here and meet my brother." He was grinning ear to ear, his arm thrown around his brother's shoulder. I'd never seen him so happy.
Reluctantly, I walked towards them. Fancy was barking up a storm now that Matt was there, but it was his brother who quieted her down by going over to her cubby and shadow boxing with her a bit. She loved it.
I shuddered. Of course he'd have the magic touch with dogs, too.
Jamie trailed me out of the kitchen. "Hey, Matt. Did I hear you say your brother was here? Jack? Is that you?"
Jack turned around, leaning his hip against the edge of Fancy's cubby. "Jamie Green. As I live and breathe."
"You two know each other?" I asked, wanting nothing more than to grab the sexy fool leaning next to my dog and frog march him out the front door before he destroyed everything.
Jack nodded, eyeing Jamie up and down with a sexy appraisal. "We crossed paths a few times back in the day. Unfortunately, Jamie was a bit too young back then for anything else. Not anymore, though." He flashed Jamie a look that almost had me swooning at his feet and I wasn't even the target.
I moved between them. "Yeah, well. Bad timing again. Jamie's happily dating Mason Maxwell these days. Aren't you, Jamie?"
She mumbled a yes but her gaze was fixed on Jack and his oh-so-well-formed body.
Deprived of his first choice, he turned his intense blue gaze on me. "And you? Are you dating someone dull and boring, too?" He stepped closer, his eyes never leaving my face.
He had the same blue eyes as Matt and I wondered for just a second if Matt's eyes ever looked like that—full of a deep sexual intensity that could suck you under in a moment.
I knew that with a man like Jack my usual "I have better things to do with my time" line wasn't going to fly. That would be like waving a red cape in front of a bull. And if I mentioned some fictitious out-of-town boyfriend he'd probably follow up with some line about how what my boyfriend didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
So I did something crazy and desperate.
I walked over to Matt and took his hand, squeezing it hard in hopes he'd back up what I was about to say. "Dull and boring? I certainly don't think so. You're not dull and boring, are you, honey?" I gazed up at Matt, willing him to play along.
He pulled me close, draping an arm possessively around my shoulder. "Nope. Not at all." He leaned close so his mouth was almost touching my ear. "What the hell are you doing?"
I just squeezed his hand and kept a fake smile plastered on my face.
His brother narrowed his eyes at us. "So it's like that, is it? My baby bro's finally found himself a woman worth envying. Huh. By the way, I don't think we've met. I'm Jack."
Before I could speak, Matt did. "And this is Maggie May Carver. You remember her, don't you, from when we were little?"
Jack laughed. "The girl who wrote your name on the wall?"
"That's the one. Been in love with me ever since, haven't you, honey?" He nuzzled my ear.
"Don't you know it," I answered, promising myself I'd make him pay for that later.
Jack nodded. "I remember that. Your grandpa was livid. Did he ever manage to remove it?"
"Nope. It's still there to this day. Maybe we'll cut it out of the wall and frame it for our wedding day."
Jack looked at me for a long, long moment. "That's great."
He slapped Matt on his arm. "I'm happy for you, bro. Glad you finally found someone." He looked towards the café side. "You hungry? Let me buy you lunch?"
Matt nodded. "Sure. Why not? Love to hear what brought you to town." He squeezed my shoulder one last time and stepped away. "You ladies mind giving us two of the special?"
"Sure thing," I said. "Coming right up. You guys make yourselves comfortable."
I herded Jamie into the kitchen as the brothers seated themselves at a table near the front of the café. Before I could deliver my "stay far away from that man" lecture, she turned on me. "You and Matt? Since when? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Oh no. That was just panic. I knew I couldn't tell that guy I was single and get away with not going out for at least a drink with him."
"And what would be so wrong with that?"
I l
aughed. "It never ends with just a drink with a guy like that."
"And what would be so wrong with that? Not like you're in a relationship. Have a little fun every once in a while, Maggie."
"Thanks for the suggestion, but one night in jail was enough for me for a lifetime, thank you very much."
"Jack isn't that bad…" She peered out the door, watching him with a little smile on her face.
"He's worse. Trust me. Stay away."
She pressed her lips together as she studied him. "I bet he'd be fun to have a drink with."
"Jamie…You've got a good thing going with Mason. Don't mess it up for a guy like that."
She turned away with a huff. "I know. But if he'd walked through the door before I met Mason…"
"I would've tackled you and tied you up in the office before I would've let you go out with him."
"He's not that bad is he?" She pulled two sandwiches out of the walk-in and put them in the sandwich press, stealing another glimpse of Jack along the way.
"Oh, Jamie. He's like Lucas Dean on steroids. Can't you see that?"
But, no, of course she couldn't.
I grabbed her by the shoulders. "Trust me on this one. Stay away. Stay far, far away."
She stuck her tongue out at me, but at least she didn't try looking out the door again.
Me, I couldn't help but watch the two sitting together and talking. Matt might look relaxed, but I knew him well enough to know he was tense as tense could be. Jack was trouble. And I'm sure Matt was wondering the same thing I was:
Was he really going to be able to arrest his own brother if (or when) it came to that?
Chapter Twelve
It would've been easier for Jamie (and me) to stay away from Jack if he hadn't decided to hang out at the café after Matt left.
At first I couldn't figure out what he was up to. Was he trying to hone in on Jamie? Was it just a convenient place to access free Wi-Fi and decent coffee? But when Greta showed up at her usual time and Jack casually moved to join her, I realized she must be what had brought him through our door in the first place.
A Buried Body and Barkery Bites Page 4