Secret Lives and Private Eyes by Heather Weidner

Author:Heather Weidner
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781633932562
Publisher: Koehler Books
Published: 2015-01-17T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

DELANIE WOKE TO chicken noises and the sun peeking through the white sheer curtains. She took note of John’s room for the first time. It had a queen-sized bed with a navy comforter. A tiny dresser and mirror were between two narrow windows, and a side chair sat alone, covered with a pile of laundry. The room looked like something in a 1960s sitcom with the sliding closet doors. No remnants of an ‘80s rock ‘n’ roll life appeared anywhere.

She slid out from under John’s arm and grabbed a shirt and underwear. After collecting her shoes, she slipped into the bathroom.

For a bachelor’s bathroom, the absence of clutter was striking. The floor-to-ceiling pink ceramic tile reminded Delanie of the bathroom in the house where she had grown up. She washed up in the old-fashioned, pedestal sink. Checking the medicine cabinet, the PI in her rarely rested. Delanie chided herself for being here at all. She had spent an incredible night with John, and she hoped it would lead to more time together.

She ignored John’s brush and toothbrush that were lying on the shelf above the toilet. She knew she should have taken them to compare with Emily Mercer’s DNA sample. She felt guilty, but she pushed the work thoughts to the back of her mind.

Delanie dressed quickly, ignoring thoughts of the art student in Chicago and if this John was the girl’s father.

Returning to the bedroom, she gently shook John. He rolled over, and she kissed him on the forehead. He pulled her in close and kissed her back.

“Good morning, sunshine.”

“Good morning. I had a wonderful evening. I haven’t had an extended date in a very long time.”

“I’m glad you stayed. Where are you off to now?”

“I’ve got to check in at work. There’s an assignment that’s due soon, and I still have some more work to do on another project.”

“You sure you have to leave now?” he asked, and he kissed her again. “I was going to make my sensational pancakes and feed the critters.”

“Hmmmmm! You make a compelling argument to stay. I guess I could be a little late.”

“Give me a second to shower, and I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

“Deal.” He kissed her again.

Delanie wandered down the hall. She had two other rooms with shut doors to explore on the way to the kitchen. And then there were the rooms upstairs. Swallowing the urge to snoop, she went straight to the kitchen and stayed put.

By the time John appeared, Delanie had the coffeemaker chugging.

“Caffeine will be ready in a minute,” she said as he kissed the top of her head.

Pulling out pans and utensils, he occasionally called out ingredients that he needed her to get.

Impressed by his control of the kitchen, Delanie plowed through the pancakes and fruit with pineapple juice and coffee.

After his second cup of black coffee, John said, “Well, do you want to meet the barn inhabitants, or do you have to leave?”

“I can hang out for a little while longer. And I’d like to see Myrtle again.

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