02-A Book to Die For (2014) by Richard Houston

Author:Richard Houston
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Mystery: Cozy - Golden Retriever - Denver
ISBN: 1497329116
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2014-08-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Julie’s state owned SUV was in my driveway when I got home. She was playing catch with Fred using a stick. I stayed by my Jeep and watched the show. I know they saw me, but they were having too much fun to stop. She gave the stick one last throw and came over to greet me.

“He never gets tired of chasing sticks, does he?” she asked.

I tried to think of a funny reply and came up short. She had been all I had thought about coming up the mountain and now here she was. “He’s better than a boomerang, if you don’t mind it coming back wet and slimy.” It sounded so stupid once I said it. Why couldn’t I come up with something witty that would make her fall head over heels for me?

She wiped her hand on her pants and smiled. “I’m glad I caught you, Jake. I came up to check on my cameras. The one by the road has stopped talking to the server, so I thought I’d stop by. You’re not mad at me about our date, I hope?”

“Not if you show me those pictures from your camera. Why don’t you grab your laptop and come on in? I promise we won’t bite.”

“I know he won’t,” she said. “It’s you I worry about, Jake,” she answered with a big smile before going to fetch her computer.

I gave her the deluxe tour of the place when she came back with Fred on her heels. That took all of two minutes. She could see everything except the bedroom without moving a foot.

“For some reason my fridge won’t run without electricity,” I said when I saw her looking at the kitchen. “Hope you don’t mind your beer warm? It’s all part of an article I’m writing.”

“I didn’t know you were a writer, Jake. What’s the article about?” she asked while taking a seat at my table. “And as wonderful as that warm beer sounds, I’ll have to pass. I’ve got a long drive home.”

“Living off the grid; I’ll have the lights turned back on once I finish the article. It’s the reason for all the candles and camp stove.” I paused when she looked over at my stove.

“I’m sorry I missed our date. It’s been a while since I’ve seen anyone cook on one of those.”

“Actually, I sort of had it catered. You missed a great gourmet meal, but I did save some of the wine I bought. It’s not often I spend half my life’s savings on wine, so you’ve got to try it,” I said and went to the cooler to get it.

She laughed at what sounded like a bad joke. Little did she know I wasn’t joking. At least she didn’t object when I poured the wine in one of my few clean coffee cups. I had already returned Bonnie’s crystal.

“So that’s why the router is named Bonnie. You’re hijacking your neighbor’s router.”

I could feel my cheeks burning. “Only until I get my lights turned back on, but I’m not really stealing.

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