“Gran! You know we don’t talk bad about Blake. Even when Hailey isn’t here. It makes a habit.”
“This isn’t talking bad. This is talking real. And he really has no interest in being a large part of that child’s life other than being the ‘fun dad.’ He doesn’t want to parent. So, go find someone else who will.”
“I’m confused. So now I’m dating for Hailey? Or the town?”
“And yourself. And any other babies that might come along.” Ding, ding, ding. We had a winner.
“You want more grandchildren.”
“Great-grandchildren.”
For the love of pancakes. I sighed.
“Who’s pregnant?”
“Sally Mae’s granddaughter. With her second. I mean, I still win because I have mine right here and hers are down in Los Angeles, but it would be nice to have another.”
Sweet cheese and crackers.
“Go bother Janet. She hasn’t had any.”
“Goodness, no. Just think of the man she might bring home.”
“I brought home Blake! The cheating, demeaning asshat that—”
“Tsk, tsk. I thought we weren’t insulting Blake even when Hailey isn’t home.”
Insane. Everyone in this town was insane. I rubbed my face, trying to hide the reality that was my family.
“Maybe if I hang around my house and ask nicely, the murderer might kill me, too.”
“Oh! That’s a good idea. You go there right now. I’ll distract Zach.” She turned to go back to the front door, leaving me gaping in her wake. What just happened here? I expected her to call me crazy. Or a drama queen. Not help me follow through on a plan that even I admitted was ridiculous. Was she trying to make fun of my over-the-top melodrama?
Nope. She was out the door. What’s happening here?
I ran after her.
“No, Gran. I am not letting you bully Zach into buying your tea. Even as a distraction. And why were you distracting him?”
“So, you could sneak out. Although, we should have a better story for Brecken when I call to tell him.”
I was going to regret asking this.
“Why are we calling Brecken?”
“So he can save you! It’s so romantic.” She sighed, and her eyes lost focus as she planned out my imaginary rescue.
“One day I’m going to learn to stop being sarcastic.” I was getting a headache. A grandmother-sized headache.
“That’s not going to happen, dear. Just like Janet’s never going to pick a good man for herself. It’s just not in your nature.” She gave me a pat on the arm and then dragged us both back in the house.
“I feel like I should protest that last statement.”
“Don’t bother. I have the facts on my side.” She released me when we walked into the kitchen. “Do be a dear and finish the cookies over there. Alice is bringing some of her own, and we have to show her who’s the better baker.”
“Olivia is,” I mumbled under my breath while I obediently went to the counter where all the ingredients were laid out. Chocolate thumbprint cookies with walnuts. I knew this recipe by heart, and it was my culinary masterpiece. I sensed matchmaking here. I debated refusing, but one glance told me that fighting Gran on this would just make her resort to another scheme. At least in this one I got cookies.
Two hours and one guard change later, we were getting ready to leave for Judy’s house when Brecken drove up.
“Can I give you ladies a ride?”
“Is that an offer or a request?” I asked him.
“Lark! Where are your manners? That would be lovely, Brecken. Thank you.” Before I could protest, Gran gave me a glare that started in her eyes then traveled to her chin, which jutted out. Message received. Get in his freaking car. I saluted her like a soldier and opened the door to the backseat. “No! No. Lark, you should take the front seat.”
Chocolate and wine. Chocolate and wine. One short little drive and I would have chocolate and wine.
“Have you ever had chocolate thumbprint cookies, Brecken? My Lark made them from scratch today.” Brecken looked over at me with a grin as he helped Gran put the cookies in the trunk with her other food.
“I can’t say that I have, but I look forward to the experience.”
“Oh! Are you staying for the Sewing Circle? How wonderful,” Gran added, beaming at him.
Laying it on a little thick over there, Gran. Back it up.
“Yep. I volunteered to be Lark’s protection at the Sewing Circle.”
Oh no. He obviously meant something by that. And I’m pretty sure it wasn’t him wanting to be there for a bunch of old women gossiping… That sly dog. He was using me to interview the gossip queens without them being suspicious!
“You’re using me to talk with the Sewing Circle!” I hissed at him while we waited for Gran to get in the car. She was taking forever to… sigh. This was the last straw. I was never dating in this town again. Not that we were dating.
I was in so much trouble.
Brecken just smiled back at me before turning his attention to Gran.
“Elise, is there anything I can do to help you? I know that getting into such a small car can be hard. I groan every time I get in. Here, let me help you.” He rushed over to assist her, carefully helping her in like a gentleman from a Victorian-era movie.
“Oh, please,” I groaned as she sat down, beaming up at him.
“See, Lark! Some men have manners. They know how to treat a woman,” Gran commented from the back seat.
“I’m going to stick with ‘oh, please.’”
Gran and Brecken talked most of the way there. She dug into his past, his parents, where his sister was living. How she liked it there. Did he think she might like small-town living better? Subtle, Gran, real subtle. Halfway through the trip my head dropped to my hands to escape and stayed there until we reached John and Judy’s house. Sally Mae and Alice were already there, waiting by the door for us to show up. I glanced over the seat at my grandmother in time to see her slipping the phone in her pocket. Sneaky old bat.
“Lark! Elise! Come in! Come in!” Sally Mae said as she walked towards us. It wasn’t even her house, but she was acting like the hostess. “And who’s this charming addition? It isn’t often that men have the gumption to take on all the old biddies.”
I winced but introduced him anyway. It was too late for him to run now. “Sally Mae, Alice, this is Brecken Wilson. He’s the detective that has been working with John on Bryan’s case.” Sally Mae stepped in front of Alice to reach her hand out, palm down. Did she really think he was going to kiss it? Oh, please! She wasn’t old enough to expect that. I was pretty sure that she was born after 1900.
“Pleasure to meet you, Sally Mae.” Brecken took her hand and kissed it. Just like in the movies. Did they bring back The Twilight Zone and not tell me they were filming it here? This was getting ridiculous.
Also, how did I get a kiss on the back of my hand? Or other places…
“What a gentleman!” Sally Mae tittered. Yeah, yeah. Everyone knew Brecken was chivalrous.
“Alice.” Brecken turned to her and took her hand, giving her the same kiss. “It’s nice to see you again. I can’t wait to catch up later.” She swallowed hard and ripped her gaze from his chest to his face. I couldn’t judge. He had been ridiculously handsome when he was glaring at me before this. Kissing hands and giving compliments with his dreamy eyes? Devastating.
“Shall we go in?” I threw out. I was over this. He was hijacking my idea, and I was not happy about it.
“Sure.” Alice and Sally Mae led the way, Gran tucked in between them as they gossiped. About me, no doubt.
“What the fish sticks! What are you up to, Casanova?” I hissed at him.
“Fish sticks? Is that in place of hell? Or the F-word? Your non-swearing is different.”
“Does it matter?” I said it a little too loud; the older ladies turned around to look back at us, and I waved at them with a tight smile. Nothing wrong over here. Just m
e going crazy. “Why are you kissing their hands?”
“Because it makes them like me.”
“So?”
“If they like me then they’ll share their bounty of knowledge.”
“And John just can’t ask Judy because—”
“She doesn’t know anything. And she won’t bring it up because they don’t talk about John’s work at home. It’s a rule in their marriage that they keep their home lives and John’s job separate at all times. No exceptions. I think it’s stupid, but it’s their rule.”
From what John had told me, it was a genius rule. It was probably why their marriage was still working.
“So, they sent you in as a spy.”
“John guessed they would be more interested in setting us up than caring why I was here.”
John had a point.
“Fine. Let’s go.” I took one step before swinging back. “But get this straight—I don’t need a man. I don’t need to date. I’m a successful, independent woman who has priorities that don’t include men.” There, I told him. Except that he was smirking at me. “Why are you smiling?”
“Because I get to you, don’t I?” He stepped into my space and I could smell his cologne. Nope. Just because he smelled like sandalwood and citrus, did not mean my legs should go weak. Bad knees.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” I even lifted my chin a little to show him how serious I was about my denial. Then I instinctively licked my lips, which didn’t help my point. But his lips were right there. And they were so red.
“You know, as a detective, I am trained to notice things.”
“Oh, please. I heard this speech on the TV. Now you are going to tell me all the ‘little tells’ I have that you’ve decided mean I’m attracted to you.” I rolled my eyes. I was faking it well tonight.
“Nope. I was going to tell you that you say some of your thoughts out loud when you think. It’s a common trait among people that work alone. They start talking to themselves.”
Oh, fudge buckets.
No. That couldn’t be a real thing. I would know if I said something.
“No, I don’t!” He had to be bluffing. It was a good bluff, though.
“Hmm, no denial that there were thoughts about me.” He gave me a wink and stepped away, causing me to take a sharp breath as he brushed against me on his way inside. His voice floated towards me as he sauntered to the door. “I’m going to take that as confirmation I was right. You think about me. Thoughts you don’t want anyone to know.”
“I do not talk to myself out loud!” I squeaked at him. “Oh, and there were no thoughts. Hear that? NO THOUGHTS!” None that were out loud, anyway. And I wasn’t missing his body heat right now. Not at all. I was just cold. And he was hot. So hot.
“Well, you are being honest about one thing. You don’t talk out loud. I was just saying it to see what you would deny.” He entered the house, leaving the door open for me to follow. Eventually. As soon as I picked my jaw up and figured out what had happened.
Still a little dazed, I stood there for a while, staring at the open door.
“Are you going in? Or can I join you as we stare at the door? We have all been a little nervous about joining the Circle.” I turned to look over my shoulder and saw Dorothy standing there.
“I’m not joining. Just thought I might hang with you guys tonight, since, well, I just thought some company would be nice.”
“That’s how it starts. Then, suddenly you are here every week, bringing food and complaining about men.”
“No, really. I’m not joining. I just—wait. Is the complaining about men obligatory? Who do you complain about?”
“My late husband. My ex-boyfriend. My current boyfriend. Whoever is more relevant to the conversation.”
Wow. I had been out-cooled by an 83-year-old. I was pathetic.
“I don’t have anyone to complain about.”
“Don’t be silly. You have that ex of yours, right?”
“We try not to complain about him because it sets a bad example. I don’t want anything to get in between Hailey and her dad.”
“Complaining about him here won’t do that.”
“Habits. I get in the habit here and then it happens at home.”
“Then go get someone new to complain about.” She smirked.
“Not you, too.”
“I heard something about you and a police officer,” she prompted, her smile widening.
“Yeah. He came in to help with Bryan’s case.”
“Did we need help? I thought that’s why we bamboozled John into staying.”
“No.” I smiled at her as she wrapped her arm in mine. “He has personal reasons. John is letting him assist.”
“And is he as cute as they say?”
“Yes.” It came out in a long, breathy sigh. Way to be subtle, Lark. Dorothy just raised her eyebrow at me but didn’t comment. “I mean…” I had no idea how to save this. “... yes. Yes, he’s gorgeous.”
“And saves dogs.”
The rumor mill in this town was out of control.
“And saves dogs.”
“Tough situation. Perfect man, and yet here you stand. Afraid.”
“I am not!” Geez Louise. What was it with people saying I was scared? I wasn’t scared. I was smart. I was protecting my child. And, I was terrified.
“I can see you need some time with your thoughts. You want me to stay with you?”
“No.” I wasn’t a coward. “Let’s go in.” She nodded her approval and we entered the house.
Brecken was sitting in the center of the group, buried in food and little old ladies. Gran sat beside him, glaring at Sally Mae, who was telling him about her ‘wonderful, single granddaughter.’
“—she lives right there in San Fran, like you!”
“Sorry, I don’t think we’ve met. San Francisco is a big place—”
“No, no! Two people who live so close should meet!”
“The city is huge. We probably don’t even live that close,” he protested again, but she still persisted.
“I will text her right now! Give her your number.”
“No, really! Please don’t. That would be… too much. After all this food, I wouldn’t want to take advantage of your generosity.”
Ha! Nice try. Not going to work.
“No, no. You just moved there! It would be rude not to put you two in touch!” He moved to San Fran years ago! It was time to rescue him.
“Sally Mae, how’s Maria doing? What is it that she does, again? Or should I say now? I know she was struggling finding somewhere that appreciates her… unique personality.”
She glared, her lips pursing as she took a deep breath and pulled herself up. “She’s a sales clerk. At Macy’s. She’s been there for two months already.”
“Ahh.” I met her eyes and challenged her to keep going. I had more. The gossip from the Sewing Circle had its uses. Oh, god. Dorothy was right. I would probably have to join. God have mercy on my soul.
Sally Mae backed down, muttering something about needing to help Judy in the kitchen. Gran followed, but not before giving me an approving look. Brecken had his smirk back, but didn’t say anything, handing me a beer as I took the seat Gran had just left.
“You owe me.” I took a sip of beer and looked around, trying to ignore my awareness of where our thighs met.
“No argument here. She was relentless,” he whispered, his breath tickling my neck. I let out a chuckle and relaxed into my seat, trying to act like I didn’t want him to do it again. A change in topic was needed now.
“Where did you get the beer? I thought they only had wine at these things.”
“Judy just handed two beers to me and winked.”
“Fudge buckets. This better be worth it.” I can’t believe Judy was siding with Gran. That was disappointing. Expected, but disappointing. He grinned. I was starting to miss grumpy Brecken. Grumpy Brecken was easier to resist. But I had a daughter to get back. I had to get down to the
business of solving this murder.
“Let’s talk to Dorothy. She could at least give us the manager’s name.”
“Who is Dorothy?”
“Owner of the resort. Lives on my street a few doors down.”
“Lead the way.” We both got up, and I caught Dorothy’s eye as we walked over.
“Hello, Dee. This is Brecken. He’s a detective with the Sheriff's department. Brecken, this is Dorothy Watts, owner of the resort and savior of our town.”
“Oh, please, Lark. Don’t be so dramatic. I only saved, like, half the town at most.” She gave Brecken her most charming smile then drew in a sharp breath as she got a good look at him.
“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” Brecken said politely. I expected more hand-kissing and rampant flattery, but he stayed back, quietly studying her. I waited for him to start talking again, but he just stood by my side, contemplating Dee with narrow eyes. On her part, she was just as puzzling. Gone was the warm, nurturing woman that I knew, and instead was the businesswoman. She had pulled up to her full height, her face taking on a haughty, neutral expression that was tight enough around the edges to indicate disapproval.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, flipping my gaze between them as the standoff continued.
“I didn’t know that you owned the resort out here. Or that Bryan was so close to you,” Brecken told Dorothy quietly. I fell silent, hoping to find out the back story.
“My husband is dead, and so are his grudges. It’s over and done with.”
Husband? Her husband knew Brecken? But he had been dead for years.
“Not everyone feels that way.”
What was happening here? That sounded threatening.
Her jaw clenched before she pushed her head back slightly to make herself look even taller. “I didn’t know Bryan was related to your family. He had nothing to do with us.”
Who, or what, was ‘us’?
“And the drugs he was passing through your hotel? That didn’t make you upset?” Wow. He just went for it. I stared at him a second too long, alternating between being impressed and horrified. But I lingered too long, and when Dee started to speak I had to swing my head around so fast that I almost gave myself whiplash.
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