Paperback Perjury: A Shelf Indulgence Cozy Mystery by S.E. Babin

Author:S.E. Babin [Babin, S.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thornwilde Press
Published: 2022-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

I never put the No Hardy sign up, but I don’t think it would have mattered. He strolled in right as I was poised to lock the door, not saying a word. Hardy brushed past me, leaving the scent of faint cologne and anger. I didn’t bother to stifle my sigh. I turned the lock so no one else would come in and leaned against the door, arms crossed over my chest.

If we were in a western, this would be a standoff. Tension crackled in the air between us.

“This needs to stop,” Hardy said.

“This?”

He waved a hand around in frustration. “This anger we have between us. Whatever this is.”

“Hardy, the only anger I have is not being accepted.”

He ran two hands through his hair, leaving it standing straight up. I chewed my lip to keep from laughing because he looked like he was about to scream. “I accept you just fine!” His face went red and he scrubbed a hand over his chin as he turned away. “I just don’t want you at my crime scenes!”

“Or in your investigations. Or anywhere near you and your job.”

He spun back around. “Yes! You are not a police officer.”

“We’ve established this many times. I’m a bookstore owner, so I should just stay in my lane?”

He nodded, relief sparking in his eyes. “Yes. That’s it.”

“Do one thing I’m good at and nothing else?”

He blinked. “Erm.”

“Just stay here, filling out my inventory sheets, selling books to tourists and then go home each night without asking any questions?”

“Dakota,” he growled.

“Just wait for my friends to get arrested and wait for them to get convicted?” That statement was probably a tad overdramatic, but my annoyance at him wouldn’t go away.

“That isn’t what I’m saying. You have to trust me.”

“But you don’t have to trust me?”

He took a step forward. “I do trust you. I just don't–”

A knock on the door startled me.

Hardy’s face went tight and his jaw clenched.

“Dakota?”

Daniel Jensen’s voice came through the door. I squeezed my eyes shut for a brief moment before I turned and unlocked it. He breezed through carrying a bottle of wine and a bag from a great cheesesteak place down the road. It didn’t matter what Daniel ate. He always had to pair it with a good wine. The smell wafted up from the bag, and I inhaled for a second.

“Everything okay?” he asked, his gaze flicking from me to Hardy.

“Perfect,” I said. “Hardy was just leaving.”

I eyed him. Hardy opened his mouth to say something before he snapped it shut and stalked past us, throwing the door open so hard the bells jangled together in a harsh cacophony.

I watched him all the way until he made it to his cruiser. When he slid in, our eyes locked, but neither of us gave anything away.

“So…” Daniel drawled. “That seemed intense.”

“He’s angry at me.”

Daniel snorted. “Again?”

I had to laugh. “Again.” I took the bag from him and walked over to the seating area. “I’m supposed to go to Harriet’s this evening, but I have time for a bite.

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