Death in the Choir by Murray Lorraine V

Author:Murray, Lorraine V. [Murray, Lorraine V.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Tumblar House
Published: 2010-03-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Francesca had never seen this particular waitress before in the Italian restaurant. She definitely wasn’t working the night I was here with Randall. The girl, who looked about 18, sported a shaved head with her one remaining lock of hair dyed chartreuse. She also wore a silver ring in one nostril, and had an array of colorful tattoos snaking up her bare arms and encircling her neck.

Francesca noticed Tony looking at the girl quizzically. How will the next generation outdo this one? she wondered. Maybe, 20 years from now, kids will be nailing spikes through their heads. Of course, in my youth, I was prancing around in teeny-weeny bikinis and miniskirts and smoking cigarettes, and I turned out fine – I think.

“What’ll ya’ll have?” the girl drawled dully.

“Why don’t you tell us about your specials?” Tony asked politely.

While the waitress glumly recited the list, Francesca took a sidelong look at Tony. He was every bit as handsome as she had remembered. Her eyes rested briefly on the ring finger of his left hand. His hands were well-tanned, but there was no telltale white mark like you might expect on the finger of a man who’d removed his wedding band for the evening. But maybe he doesn’t wear a ring at all.

The waitress, yawning widely, took their orders and disappeared into the kitchen. Suddenly, Tony reached across the table and took Francesca’s hand. “You look lovely tonight.”

When he touched her hand, a shock of surprising energy jolted through her. She wondered if he’d felt it too. What’s happening to me, if even a simple touch is enough to make me melt? It’s been a long time since you’ve had a really romantic evening, one of her mental voices warned, so be careful.

Then he gave her hand a gentle squeeze and her heart began racing. The nagging little voice whispered: He’s handsome, sexy, and he’s employed, which means he’s too good to be true.

She wondered if he could feel her pulse pounding in her hand. “Tony, do you have...family in the area? I mean, are you from Decatur originally?”

He gently released her hand. “I was born in Elmhurst, New York, but my parents moved down to Decatur when I was seven. So I guess I’m almost a native.”

What lovely eyes he has. And good strong eyebrows. Very masculine.

He paused as the waitress arrived with a bottle of Chianti and two glasses. After a short struggle, the girl managed to uncork the bottle and pour them each a glass. She’d added a large wad of gum to her mouth, giving the impression of a cow chewing its cud, nose ring and all.

After they toasted, Tony continued. “My parents passed away about ten years ago, but I have two sisters in Florida, plus some nieces and nephews.” He took a sip of wine.

“I never married. I dated a woman for five years, and I thought we were going to tie the knot, but it just didn’t work out. The kind of work I do, the whole homicide thing, well, it’s hard on relationships.

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