The Emma Wild Mysteries: Complete Holiday Collection Books 1-4 (Cozy Romantic Mysteries with Recipes)

by Lin, Harper

  “What else do you know about him?” I asked.

  “He works as a mechanic. Martha kept badgering for him to quit his job and work at the inn, saying how if he did, business wouldn’t be down. She sure did lay a lot of guilt on him. He ate fairly fast and seemed like he was in a hurry to get out of there.”

  “So eating dinner with her was just a duty to him,” I said.

  Nick nodded. “Probably. If I was being treated that way, I’d be fed up as well.”

  “Fortunately, everyone worships the ground you walk on,” I teased.

  “Well, not everyone.” He walked closer and put his hands at my waist.

  He pulled me in closer until his nose touched my cheek. Nick smelled amazing too. While Sterling smelled like the ocean, Nick smelled more woody, like the forest.

  “Dinner’s ready,” Dad called. He walked out from the living room and saw us. I jumped away from Nick.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  Dad turned and walked right back into the kitchen.

  “That was awkward,” I said to Nick.

  He wasn’t as fazed. Nick was always cool, never letting anything ruffle him. He was never at a lack for confidence, a trait I’d always admired.

  “Listen, Emma. Why don’t I help you?”

  “Help me set the table?”

  “With the case. I know I’m not a detective, but I am an actor. We study character and we are more conscious of human behavior than psychologists because we embody different personalities. Motives are the key to acting. Plus, I already know Craig Owens. I can talk to him for you.”

  “Oh, that’s nice of you, but—”

  I did promise Sterling that we’d work together. He wouldn’t be so happy to have another amateur sleuth tagging along with him, especially not my ex-boyfriend.

  “Come on, Emma. I’m cooped up all day reading bad movie scripts. Let me help you. I can go talk to Craig and draw him out for you.”

  I raised my eyebrows at Nick. I wasn’t sure how well he could read people. Sometimes I felt like he took people at face value. He liked everyone, probably because he was used to people liking him. He certainly wasn’t able to read me and my discontentment with the relationship for the last few months of our relationship.

  But he was a talented actor. His ability to embody characters was more than impressive. Maybe he was right. Maybe he did have the ability to figure out a person’s motives. It was his job.

  Maybe he had more in common with Sterling than I realized.

  “What would you say to him?” I asked.

  “You know me. I can make friends with anyone. I’ll ask him to have a beer, talk about his mom, and see what he says.”

  I considered this. Nick certainly had a charm that could make most people open up. Even Martha liked him. It wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.

  “All right,” I said.

  Nick hugged me and kissed me on the top of my head since I was so short.

  I was nervous. Sterling wasn’t going to like this.

  CHAPTER NINE

  In the morning, Nick and I set off for Sterling’s office at the police station. Although the walk was only ten minutes, it was so cold because of a nasty snowstorm that we both couldn’t take the sharp wind cutting our skin. We were lucky enough to hail a cab and we jumped in and huddled each other for warmth.

  “We’re supposed to get six inches of snow by tonight.” Nick sighed. “I wish we could go skiing.”

  We went skiing every year, just the two of us. We’d ski in different resorts around the world - Switzerland, British Columbia, France. If we were still together, we would’ve gone to Aspen this month. Nick was practically a pro, while I was still trying to make it down the bunny slops on a snowboard without falling on my rump.

  “I feel bad that you’re stuck in this town,” I said. “And, you know, suspected for murder.”

  Nick groaned. “Say it loud enough for everyone to hear.”

  Then he leaned forward to address the cab driver with a smile. “I’m not a murderer.”

  “I sure hope not,” the cabbie said.

  “Sure I could be living it up somewhere,” Nick whispered to me, “but I want to be with you. If that means being suspected of murder, so be it.”

  He had his arm around me, even though the heat of the cab had long warmed us up.

  “You know, Nick. Have you ever considered that you only want to marry me because of the chase? I know that men enjoy the chase, but once they get what they want, they get bored. How would I know that you really mean it?”

  Nick frowned. “Emma, have I ever flaked on you before?”

  I thought about it. “No.”

  “So why don’t you trust me?”

  Nick had never lied or cheated, but the truth is I expected him to because he had beautiful women surrounding him all the time.

  “Because you’re…Nick Doyle,” I finally said.

  “And you’re Emma Wild. It took losing you to realize what I had, and I’d be stupid to risk losing you again.”

  “But I want to have children someday,” I said. “Maybe not immediately but within the next five years. If I do, I want to take some time off from music. You’re so busy with your career. I hardly even see you as your live-in girlfriend, so I don’t know, Nick. I’m not sure if you’re ready for such a big commitment. And I also don’t want to hold you back from your career.”

  Nick shook his head. “Emma, you’re so stubborn. What do I have to do to show you that I’m willing to do what it takes? I don’t have to work back to back. I don’t need to prove myself anymore. Maybe when we first started going out, I wasn’t ready for marriage, but I’m in my thirties now. I do want to have kids someday too. When you left I realized what a big hole you left. I’m ready now.”

  I was silent for a moment. I thought about the family life we’d lead, about how much more the paparazzi would hound us.

  “We’ll figure it out together,” said Nick. “Who knows, maybe in a few years, my popularity will take a dive. Nobody might care. Would you still love me then?”

  The cab pulled up at the station. I didn’t know what to say to Nick. Maybe he did mean it, but he also had a way with words. Sterling, on the other hand, was solid. He always meant what he said. The problem with him was getting him to say it.

  We went in and I knocked on Sterling’s door. He was happy to see me, but his face fell when he saw Nick.

  “What’s he doing here?” Sterling asked.

  “He wanted to help.”

  “How?” Sterling said. “He’s a murder suspect.”

  “Am I really still a suspect?” Nick said.

  “Yes,” Sterling said.

  “He’s spoken to Craig,” I explained to Sterling. “We thought it was a good idea for him to take him out to lunch and have a long chat.”

  “I wouldn’t be talking to him as a detective,” Nick added. “I’d be talking to him as a friend. Plus, I have a way of getting people to reveal information.”

  Nick smiled in his self-assured way that some people thought charming and others thought egotistical. Sterling was in the latter category. He scowled.

  “I’m not sure you’re up for this type of field work,” Sterling said.

  “Come on,” said Nick. “I’ve jumped off seven story buildings. Danger’s my middle name.”

  “Is it?” Sterling asked dryly.

  “No. It’s actually Emmett.”

  Sterling sighed, unamused.

  “I had a chat with the mayor’s wife,” he said. “It’s true. They’re having an affair. Edward Herman’s off the hook.”

  “Okay,” I said. “So what do we know about Craig Owens?”

  “I checked and he doesn’t own a pickup truck. He owns a silver Honda civic. That said, he does have a record for beating a guy to a pulp in a bar fight when he was in college. He had to pay $5000 and do community service to avoid jail time.”

  “So he does have a history of aggression,” I stated.<
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  “That’s a surprise,” said Nick. “He didn’t seem the type to get into fights. In fact, I thought he was a complete pushover.”

  “It’s always the quiet ones,” said Sterling.

  “So should we all go pay this guy a visit at the car shop?” I said.

  “I want to talk to Craig alone first,” said Nick.

  Sterling opened his mouth to protest, but I cut in.

  “If it doesn’t work, you can always interrogate Craig after,” I said.

  “I’m not an Oscar nominated actor for nothing,” said Nick. “Plus, I’m very good at improv and adapting to different situations.”

  Sterling let out a big sigh. “Fine. But I’m giving you the questions to ask. This guy is our closest lead. He may not own a pickup truck, but he works in a car shop - maybe he has access to one. Are you even sure you can get him to go to lunch?”

  “Trust me,” said Nick. “He won’t be able to say no.”

  “I guess your charm works on guys and girls,” Sterling said.

  “It’s a power I only use for good,” said Nick.

  Sterling shook his head. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  We drove Nick around the corner from Craig’s car shop and dropped him off. After we watched him walk in, we parked on the street and waited at the restaurant nearby. If all went to plan, Nick would have lunch in here with Craig soon. We picked a booth where Sterling had his back to the other tables so that Craig wouldn’t recognize him.

  In the meantime, we ordered lunch. Sterling ordered a cheeseburger while I resorted to a Caesar salad. Lately, I’d been packing on the pounds. Living at home meant eating all of Dad’s finest dishes. The man should start his own restaurant. I wouldn’t mind all the weight gain if it didn’t all go to my stomach. My job required that I wore these slinky dresses so I had to start eating healthy and exercising again.

  It did make me sad to think that I couldn’t stay in Hartfield much longer. My manager Rod would soon get over his weeklong hangover and call me at a moment’s notice to tell me about some booking for a magazine interview or talk show appearance or other to promote my third album. It was going to be released soon and I had to do the rounds later in the month. While my first music video was in the can, I had to shoot the video for my second single, but I didn’t know where that would take place yet. It was all tiring, but fun. For some, it was a fantasy life, but for me it was getting back to reality. Fantasy was staying in my hometown and settling down with family. As much as I loved travelling, I was a homebody at heart.

  As if he could read my thoughts, Sterling asked, “So how long are you planning on staying in Hartfield?”

  “I know I can’t stay in my parents’ house forever,” I said. “Maybe I’ll move back to New York.”

  “Oh.” Sterling looked disappointed.

  “For work,” I said quickly. “I’m based there for work. It’s not too far from Hartfield.”

  Sterling played with the handle of his coffee mug. “You didn’t exactly visit often before.”

  “I know. But that was because I was scared of running into you all those years.”

  He gazed into my eyes with tenderness. Thick lashes framed those stormy grey eyes.

  “Well you don’t need to be anymore.” He looked down at his coffee.

  Last month, I was single and feeling as if I had failed at loved Now I had two strong prospects to choose from and I didn’t want to mess it up. Could I really see myself settling in Hartfield with Sterling? Making him coffee in the mornings as he went off to work and help him with cases on the side while I composed songs at home? I could. Being a stepmom to his little girls sounded nice as well. I could see myself taking a hiatus as I raised children for a while. Now that I was heading into my thirties, my priorities were changing.

  But I also knew I couldn’t stop myself from working for long. I loved singing and making music too much to give it up completely. In an ideal world, I would be able to do both. It would probably be difficult for Sterling to get too much time off. If I kept up my career, there would be months where I wouldn’t see him because I’d be touring.

  “I’ll support you in whatever you do,” said Sterling. “If that means traveling to New York on the weekends or taking time off to follow you halfway around the world to visit you, I’ll do it. I’ll always give you the freedom to do what you want.”

  I smiled. Sterling was the type to sacrifice anything for the people he loved. I squeezed his hand on the table in appreciation.

  “I know you would,” I said.

  He knew how much of a worrywart I was, but he didn’t press on the issue any further. I didn’t want to think about it either and I was glad when our food arrived so I could perform an action to dig myself from my slew of nagging thoughts.

  Just then, Nicked entered with Craig. Craig looked deflated and lifeless, and Nick was trying to cheer him up.

  “Don’t look back,” I whispered to Sterling before I took a bite of my salad.

  Craig slid into the booth next to ours and sat with his back to Sterling. Nick spoke loud enough for us to hear.

  “Lunch is on me,” Nick was saying.

  “That’s nice of you,” said Craig.

  “It’s the least I could do,” said Nick. “I’m just sorry about your loss. Your mom was really gracious and hospitable when I was staying at her inn. How are you doing, anyway?”

  Craig sat with his shoulders hunched. He spoke in a listless voice. “I’m okay, considering.”

  “She treated me like a son,” Nick said. “She was nice, wasn’t she? Nicer than people think.”

  Craig nodded slowly. “People do find her unbearable, but she’s misunderstood.”

  He began to cry. I couldn’t tell at first, but his whimpers got louder. Nick handed him a tissue, then clapped him on the shoulder.

  “Let it out, buddy.”

  Craig blew his nose out loud that the waitress and the folks at the counter turned to look at him.

  “I miss her,” Craig said.

  “I know.” Nick nodded sympathetically. “Do you need help with anything? Are the funeral arrangements taken care of?”

  “My dad and his family are flying in from Vancouver tomorrow. They’re going to take care of it.”

  “You don’t have any other relatives in this town?”

  Craig shook his head. “No. Mom was an only child, and both my grandparents have passed.”

  “Wow,” said Nick. “I guess she was pretty lonely when you moved out, huh?”

  “She didn’t take it well,” said Craig. “She doesn’t have too many friends.”

  “What about all those knitting group ladies?”

  Craig blew his nose again. He had stopped crying.

  “No. Mom used to complain about how they were all using her for her space. She didn’t like them, but Mom didn’t like anyone. I think she only kept them around because their company was better than no company.”