A Man of Influence by Melinda Curtis

Author:Melinda Curtis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

MONDAY MORNING, LEONA set Chad’s breakfast in front of him at 8:05. “You aren’t taking care of yourself, Mr. Healy. I can see that by the look on your face.”

Chad blamed the mattress. He scowled at the small plate and the trio of small powdered donuts—the kind that came from a box. He tilted his head, but the donuts were still as small as silver dollars. Maybe he’d hit his noggin too hard yesterday. That would explain his inability to write last night. He had one more day to send Marty something that would knock his socks off. “What is this?”

“Martin’s is closed today.” Leona stood with her hands clasped piously. Too bad her expression was that of a serial killer gazing down on her naïve and unsuspecting prey. “I thought you had a sweet tooth.”

He wasn’t naïve or unsuspecting. He was angry. “Bacon, Leona. I like bacon.” He pushed the plate away.

“That’s bad for your heart.” She whisked his plate away, along with the mug of coffee. “El Rosal serves breakfast with bacon.”

He stood so fast his head spun. “This isn’t a bed & breakfast.” He clung to the table for balance. “This is a bed, no breakfast.”

He headed for El Rosal, muttering the entire way about sadistic bed & breakfast owners.

Once more, the restaurant was packed, and not just with overwhelming color.

“Does everyone have a ride who needs a ride?” Mayor Larry was saying as Chad came in. He glanced Chad’s way, and then did a horrified double take, pointing to Chad’s forehead.

Chad waved his concern off. The large purple lump on his forehead made it look as if he had a third eye, but he wasn’t dead.

Felix, the big, burly man who always seemed to have cat hair on his shirt, nodded a greeting to Chad, unable to pull his gaze from Chad’s third eye. “You here for the cemetery run?”

It wasn’t a polite query. It was a question of disbelief.

“No. I’m here for the bacon.” He could smell it and all its greasy goodness.

The Asian man they called Takata sat in his walker seat and rolled his dark eyes. “It’s not a race. We’re doing a remembrance in the cemetery today.” He gave Chad a piercing look that never strayed from his two actual eyes. “Are you afraid of ghosts?”

“No.” He was afraid anyone who stayed at the Lambridge B&B would starve.

Tracy walked by on her way out with her dad.

Chad caught her arm. “Nobody told me about this...event.”

“You didn’t tell him?” The mayor moved closer.

Tracy slipped from Chad’s hold, only to take his face in her hands, turning it back and forth. “What happened to you?”

“I introduced myself to Nina Valpizzi’s sink.” He hadn’t gone out to dinner last night because of the way he looked. This morning he didn’t appear much better, but he was starving.

Behind Tracy, her father chuckled.

“The cemetery run?” Chad said through gritted teeth. “Is it something my readers would enjoy?”

“No. It’s private.” Tracy hesitated and then said, “We go to remember our loved ones.

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