Murder at the Bookstore by Sue Minix

Author:Sue Minix [Minix, Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2022-10-31T12:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Marcus pulled away in his Mustang as Russell joined me at my Nissan. He put his hand on my shoulder. “Nice car.”

The Mustang was cool, but I patted my Sentra instead, just to mess with him. “I kinda like it.”

“I can see how attached to it you’ve become. Have you ever considered getting a new one?”

“Are you kidding? This is the new one. The old one? Now, that was a beautiful car.”

“Never mind. I give up. You’re incorrigible.” He mussed my hair, a gesture I despised but forgave with reluctance as I smoothed it back down again. I suspected that would turn into a new normal for me when it came to Russell.

I stifled an urge to stick my finger in one of his dimples. “Nope. I can’t even spell that.” I sat on the side of the driver’s seat with my tiptoes on the ground.

“Why’d you go running off, Jen?”

The sun’s rays framed his face. A devil in an angel suit. “I wanted to check on Marcus. Make sure he was okay.”

Russell cleared his throat and swallowed. “What did he say?”

“Not much.”

He inspected his unsullied manicure. Russell had about as much chance of dirt under his fingernails as I did of cleaning out my hall closet.

“So, what’s your take on all this?” I asked.

“I don’t know what to think.”

“You must have a theory. Everybody else does.”

He tapped his fingers on the car. “Did I tell you Aletha called me that Saturday morning to tell me she was going sailing with Tim? Talk about a big surprise. I didn’t think she’d ever get on the boat.”

Russell knew about the planned excursion. Who else did? “What time was that?”

“I don’t know, eight or so.” He squinted into the sun. “It was the last time I ever spoke to her.” His voice came out soft and low.

“Did she always update you on her plans for the day?”

“She needed me to let Lacey in and leave her a key to lock up when she closed.”

“I wish we could think of something to help us figure out who did this.”

“I told the police everything I know. They were waiting for me when I got home Saturday night.”

He took my hand. “I need a distraction. What are you doing for dinner tonight?”

“Eating. What’d you have in mind?”

He brushed a hair off my forehead. The spot his finger touched tingled. “How about something romantic? You know, a candlelit dinner for two at your favorite restaurant.”

“They don’t allow candles at McDonald’s. Something about fire codes.”

Russell pulled me up to him. His amused gaze brought fire to my face. His dark eyes sizzled. I held my breath. He leaned toward me until my lips trembled under his gentle kiss.

I stepped away. “Okay, how about my second favorite restaurant then?”

“That depends. What is it?”

“My place. I make a mean cheese omelet.” The instant the words came out, doubts took their place.

He smiled. “Now we’re talking.”

Nausea twisted my stomach. I scrambled for a way to revoke the invitation without a messy scene.

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