Reading Between the Lies by Lynn Cahoon

Author:Lynn Cahoon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Published: 2024-02-27T19:16:45+00:00

Chapter 14

As soon as Archer arrived to walk Rarity home, the final few members of the sleuthing club left. Rarity wouldn’t say they were rude to him, but they had been quick to leave. He stacked chairs after Jonathon offered to walk Sam home.

Archer had brought Killer to the bookstore with him and the dog got more attention than he did.

When Rarity joined him in the club area, he tucked the chair holder into the closet. “I take it they’re all mad at me?”

“Your alibi came up,” Rarity clarified. “I thought it was better that they know the truth than even think you might have killed Jackson.”

“You told them about Calliope.” Archer blew out a long breath.

She picked up a cookie and broke it in half, sitting down on the couch. “Have a cookie. This might be a long conversation.”

He sat next to her and took the cookie. “It’s a yes or no question.”

“Actually, yes, I told them, but I also told them that you’d let Calliope stay there before when she’d been drinking. That I knew about it and that I believed you didn’t do anything with her.” Killer jumped on the couch and sat for a bite of cookie, but she shook her head at him.

“I’m either a murderer or I’m cheating on you.” he sighed, eating his cookie. Then he made an all-gone motion with his hands so Killer would know he wasn’t getting a bite from him either. “So much for just being a kind person.”

“Calliope made no bones about her interest in you. Everyone except you knew how she felt. Because of that, her staying over, well, it looks bad.”

“Except I was her boss.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Man, you should have heard Drew yelling at me when I told him. He said I was either stupid or lying.”

“He’s a good friend.” Rarity rubbed Killer’s head.

“To you,” Archer mumbled, but then he shook his head. “No, that’s not true. I expect my friend to be up-front with me about how my actions look. I guess I just assumed everyone knew that I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“They’ll get there. Right now, they are dealing with it.” Rarity shrugged. “You’re just going to have to prove yourself to them.”

“No, I can deal with them being mad at me.” Archer stood and pulled Rarity up into his arms. “As long as you believe me. Do you, Rarity?”

She stared into his eyes for a long time, wondering what exactly to say. Then she nodded. “I do believe you were just being kind. However, in the future, if Calliope or any other single female who is interested in a relationship with you, or not, needs a place to stay, drop them off at my house.”

He laughed and hugged her. “I should have thought of that. Of course, Calliope would have sobered up quickly if I’d given her that option.”

“Or smothered me in my sleep,” Rarity mused as they walked around and finished closing up the bookstore. “I guess I need to remember to push the dresser in front of the door if that scenario occurs.

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