Sneak Peek!
I pinched myself to be sure this night was real and not karma playing some cruel trick on me, or a dream, or some kind of hallucination brought on by stress. Because it was either one of those, or I was actually on a date with Jake Barlow (aka Detective Dreamy) that hadn’t yet ended in disaster. Me--Danika Delaney, queen of dating mishaps. Of course, the night was still young. We hadn’t even made it through the front door of Gino’s on the Bay, the hottest new spot in town. Well, the second hottest, really, but Jake had refused to take me to the first, Veritas, insisting it was nothing but a front for drug running into the Hamptons at the height of the summer tourist season, but that was fine. The more intimate atmosphere at Gino’s would do.
As long as this night wrapped up better than date number one, when I tripped returning from the ladies’ room, bumped into a waitress, and ended up covered in someone’s half-eaten linguini and clam sauce (the thought still made me gag), or date number two, when my cat, Patches, knocked over a candle I’d left burning with hopes of a romantic evening, onto a dishtowel, which in turn set off the fire alarm and brought my childhood sweetheart, Luca, on the run from the firehouse next door.
Luca, the man (well, boy at the time) who’d broken my heart on prom night with another girl. I’d hoped for a shot at rekindling our relationship after I returned home to find him in the midst of a divorce—but that was before his ex-wife had been found dead in the basement of what was then my Uncle Jimmie’s ice cream parlor. I’d since renovated the place into my very own Coffee & Cream Café. And why was my mind on Luca as Jake held the door open and ushered me inside the crowded restaurant with a warm hand against the small of my back?
I smiled at him, smoothed down the slinky black dress my sister Meghan had talked me into wearing a bit self-consciously, and pulled my thoughts back to the present. “Thank you.”
When he grinned back at me, my gaze was instantly drawn to his full lips but skipped almost immediately to the humor dancing in his slumberous brown eyes. Perhaps his thoughts had returned to our first two dates as well.
Yikes! I sure hoped not. Neither of those images would bode well for our next attempt. And somehow, I doubted he’d ask again if I blew it this time. Three strikes and you’re out. Right? That made it even more important that tonight go smoothly. I sucked in a deep breath, counted to three, and let it out slowly. I could do this. No pressure.
I stepped through the doorway, caught my stiletto heel on something, and gracefully (I wish) belly flopped onto the terra-cotta tiles. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, and for one moment (all right, maybe two), I lay there wondering if I should just tuck tail and run back to the anonymity of New York City. But I’d survived Prom Night in Watchogue, also known as the gossip capitol of the world. I’d survived being accused of Luca’s estranged wife’s murder, and I’d survive this too. Though, I’m not sure my barely begun relationship with Jake would fare as well.
Jake crouched at my side, helped me sit up, then lifted my chin until I met his gaze. He frowned as he studied me. “You okay?”
I didn’t dare think about how whatever shade of red or purple my face had turned clashed with my strawberry blonde hair, which had actually turned out good today, hanging in long waves rather than a mass of frizz thanks to the drier than usual weather.
I looked down at my dress, which seemed to have fared okay but for a smudge of dirt on one boob. I quickly brushed it off before Jake could get a chance then looked back into his eyes.
His gaze captured mine, and flames flared in his eyes as a slow smile spread across his face. “I would have gotten that for you.”
For one moment, everything around us disappeared, as if the two of us existed in some kind of bubble, in an alternate realm where I hadn’t just gone down spread eagle on the floor of a packed restaurant. Butterflies fluttered in my belly. Heat radiated through me, creeping into my cheeks. Then reality intruded.
“Ma’am. Are you hurt?” A guy in a pin-striped suit bent beside Jake, his face a mask of concern. “Do you need an ambulance?”
Wait. What? That’s all I needed since I had no doubt at all Luca would be the one to respond to the call. “No, no. Thank you. I’m fine. I was just…”
Jake’s grin widened. The cad. He knew exactly what I’d just been thinking about, at least, before thoughts of Luca had intruded.
I pulled myself together—more or less—and let Jake help me to my feet. Then I mustered whatever scrap of dignity remained, brushed myself off, and straightened with my chin lifted. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Jake hooked my arm, patted my hand, and turned to the guy in the suit and the hostess, who stood by biting one long, blood-red nail with a cell phone clutched in her other hand. “Everything’s good here. Thank you for your concern, but we’re fine.”
With that, the hostess straightened, glanced at suit-guy, and hurriedly swapped her cell phone for a couple of menus. “Right this way, please.”
Huh. So, that’s all it took to get bumped to the front of the line, a bit of public humiliation. I’d have to remember that.
The instant she turned, Jake leaned close to my ear. “You are okay, right?”
“I’m fine. Thank you.” I just wanted to put the whole incident behind me and forget it ever happened. Too bad Watchogue’s memory wasn’t as short-lived or selective as my own.
We followed the hostess, weaving between tables I could only hope were packed with mostly tourists from out of town who didn’t know me. I clung desperately to that illusion.
Then I spotted Ron and Sally Hart, owners of the Watchogue Deli, the biggest gossip hot spot in town, crowded around a long table with their three adult children, all of whom had brought their spouses and kids, and all of whom craned their necks, along with everyone else in the dining room, to see who’d caused all the commotion.
Between the dim lighting, candlelit tables, and the crowd of clients crammed together in the foyer waiting to be seated, maybe no one would realize what had happened if I just smiled and walked through with my head held high.
Sally smiled back and waved, but the look of concern marring her features belied the casual greeting.
With a sigh, I waved, nodded to a few other people I knew, and kept walking.
Thankfully, the hostess seated us at a semiprivate table beside the fireplace, which raged romantically despite the eighty-degree weather gripping the island.
Jake thanked her then held my chair for me.
When I turned to sit, my gaze fell on my oldest and best friend, Gwen Rothberg, and my newest employee, Elijah Sinclair, whom I’d hired on Gwen’s suggestion and had quickly become one of my closest friends.
The instant she spotted me, Gwen’s mouth fell open then she lowered her forehead into her palm, purple curls flopping over her forearm, and shook her head.
Eli just continued his open-mouthed stare, twin patches of red highlighting his olive complexion.
Okay, so based on their reactions, apparently, word had already spread, but what were the two of them even doing at Gino’s? Neither of them had mentioned eating there, and I’d seen them just before Jake had picked me up. Unless… they were checking up on me. My feelings bounced between gratitude that they wanted to look out for me and irritation that they thought I’d mess this up—again.
“Dani?” Jake still stood holding my chair, concern etched deeply in his model-worthy features. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Oh, what? Uh… yeah. Sorry.” I shook off my confusion, smiled and sat, then scooted my chair closer to the table and shot Gwen and Eli a glare while Jake rounded the table and took his own seat.
To his credit, Jake did his best to appear unfazed by my nosedive. Either that, or he was just used to my calamities by now. Either way, I appreciated him not bringing attention to the fact, especially in the restaurant packed full of people. Though I had no doubt he’d tease me mercilessly once my embarrassment had worn off and he was sufficiently convinced I wasn’t injured. He handed me a menu the hostess had left on the table. “Would you like to start with appetizers?”
“Um.” I took the menu from him, keeping an eye on Gwen and Eli ogling me in my peripheral vision. “Sure. Thank you.”
He studied me for a long moment but refrained from asking again if I was okay then opened his menu. “Anything look good?”
I studied his toned chest and arms clad in a light blue button-down shirt with the collar open just enough for a peek of well-tanned skin, his sexy, just walked off the cover of a magazine five o’clock shadow, and thick, dark hair, which always appeared stylishly tousled, and refrained from commenting lest I end up even more flustered than I already felt.
The smile playing at the corner of his mouth assured me he knew exactly what he’d said and how I’d taken it. But he let it drop. For now, at least. “They have fish tacos…”
And have fish breath for the rest of the night? No thank you.
“Uh…” He continued to peruse the menu while I pretended to do so as I studied him.
What was it about him that set my heart all aflutter? I mean, he was gorgeous, there was no denying that, but it was so much more. His compassion, his empathy, the way he cared about other people. The way he’d sometimes watch me, his expression soft, when he thought I wasn’t looking. The way he teased me to the point of getting me all hot and bothered and then backed off.
“Wings?”
Huh? Oh, right, appetizers. Wings? So I could have barbeque sauce all over my fingers and probably my face.
Uh-uh.
“Turkey Bolognese Polenta Nests.”
I had no idea what that was and wasn’t about to ask, so I tore my attention from him and turned it to the menu I was holding open. I skimmed the choices in search of something that wouldn’t leave me in need of a gallon of mouthwash and that I could eat with a knife and fork, so it didn’t end up all over me. “How about potato skins?”
“Potato skins?” He lifted a brow.
I nodded.
He shrugged, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Whatever you’d like.”
He knew exactly what I’d like, and it wasn’t potato skins. Heat flared in my cheeks as my Irish and Italian grandmothers, one perched on each shoulder, screamed, “No,” in unison. I ignored their protests. After all, it wasn’t like this was our first date—even if the other two had ended badly, they still counted. Right?
He lowered his menu and reached for my hands.
I set my menu aside. Honestly, I didn’t care what we ate at that point, or even if we ate at all. Given my preference, we’d walk hand in hand along the beach, my head resting on his strong shoulder, all the way back to my studio apartment above the café, where I hadn’t left candles burning this time, though I had scrubbed the place to within an inch of its life. I slid my hands into his.
He rubbed a thumb along my wrist. “You know, Dani, I’ve been hoping we could connect like this since I first met you.”
And we might have, if three murder investigations I’d somehow gotten involved in hadn’t come between us. “Me too.”
Gwen offered a little finger wave.
Eli winked and gave me a thumbs up.
I was so going to kill the two of them.
“Is something wrong?” Jake started to glance over his shoulder.
I squeezed his hands to bring his attention back to me. The last thing I needed was him spotting the two of them and inviting them over. “No! Uh. I mean, no. Everything’s perfect. Really, Jake. It’s perfect, thank you. I wish this night never had to end.”
“Who says it does?”
The floodgates opened, and lava flooded my system.
He opened his mouth to say something else, but the waitress arrived to take our order. While he placed the order for potato skins and steaks, I glared at Gwen and Eli, willing them to go elsewhere and stop making me even more nervous than I already was.
The instant the waitress took our menus and walked away, I turned my attention back to Jake.
He leaned closer. “So, what would you like to do after dinner? Dancing, maybe? Or grab a drink at the tiki bar and walk along the beach?”
Be still my heart.
Eli made kissy faces from across the room.
“Okay, that’s it.”
Jake frowned. “What’s it?”
I shoved my chair back and stood. “Nothing. I uh… I just need to freshen up.”
He narrowed his eyes and studied me. “Are you sure you didn’t hit your head or anything?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I’m sure. I’m fine. I think I just need a moment to collect myself.”
He stood. “Sure.”
As I skirted the table beside us and headed for the ladies’ room, I gestured none too discreetly for Gwen to follow. I pushed through the door with her practically on my heels.
“How’s it going? It seems good, the two of you staring at each other all lovey-dovey and gooey-eyed.” She paused and looked into the mirror, fluffed her curls, then turned contact-lens-covered, fuchsia eyes on me and batted thick, purple false lashes that matched her hair color perfectly. “He looks like he’s about ready to gobble you up despite that… um… snafu on your way in. Nice recovery, by the way.”
“Gwen.” I held up a hand to stop her babbling. “Look—”
A knock on the door interrupted us then Eli poked his head in.
Are you kidding me right now? I ushered Gwen out into the alcove and whirled on them both. “What are you two doing here?”
Eli shot me a devious grin and waggled his eyebrows. “We’re moral support.”
“I mean…” Gwen winced. “Let’s face it, honey, your track record so far hasn’t been that great. You’ve had two dates with this man, both of which ended in disaster.”
“Be honest,” Eli added. “When it comes to Detective Tall, Dark and Muscly, if it weren’t for bad luck, you wouldn’t have any.”
Since I couldn’t argue that, I chose to ignore it.
“So, we decided to intervene and help you out.” Gwen reached out and brushed my cheek. I didn’t dare think about what might have clung there from my face plant on the floor. Had something been there the whole time Jake was staring at me? “Sorry we weren’t close enough to catch you when you went down.”
And just like that, my annoyance fled. Because that’s exactly what Gwen had always done, caught me when I fell, and hauled me back to my feet. “Look, guys, I really appreciate you coming to help me. I really do. But, and I mean this in the most appreciative and loving way, scram now. I’ve got this. Okay?”
Eli nudged Gwen’s ribs with an elbow. “I think she wants us to leave them alone.”
“Fine,” Gwen agreed. “But tomorrow morning, I want deets, girlfriend.”
“You’ve got it.” With that, I hurried back to the dining room to find Jake on the phone. As I walked up behind him, he jerked and yanked the phone away from his ear then quickly disconnected. But not before I caught the name Angelique on the screen.
He stood. “I’m sorry, Dani. Something’s come up, and I have to go.”
“Oh. Uh. I hope everything’s okay.”
“What? Oh, yeah, right. Yes. Everything’s fine. Do you think Gwen and Eli can give you a lift home?”
So much for pulling the wool over the detective’s eyes. “Sure. No problem.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry again.” And just like that, he kissed my cheek and hurried out into the night. No lingering goodbye kiss, no flirty-flirty, no innuendos, veiled or otherwise.
I watched him go then turned to find Gwen and Eli on either side of me. Eli pointed to the potato skins and steaks the waitress was setting on the table. “I guess you guys aren’t going to eat those? Because, with the prices in this place, we were just splitting an appetizer sampler.”
“Yeah. Go ahead.”
As Jake stopped to pay the bill, then hurried out the door, I was left wondering what in the world had just happened. And more importantly, who was Angelique?
As long as this night wrapped up better than date number one, when I tripped returning from the ladies’ room, bumped into a waitress, and ended up covered in someone’s half-eaten linguini and clam sauce (the thought still made me gag), or date number two, when my cat, Patches, knocked over a candle I’d left burning with hopes of a romantic evening, onto a dishtowel, which in turn set off the fire alarm and brought my childhood sweetheart, Luca, on the run from the firehouse next door.
Luca, the man (well, boy at the time) who’d broken my heart on prom night with another girl. I’d hoped for a shot at rekindling our relationship after I returned home to find him in the midst of a divorce—but that was before his ex-wife had been found dead in the basement of what was then my Uncle Jimmie’s ice cream parlor. I’d since renovated the place into my very own Coffee & Cream Café. And why was my mind on Luca as Jake held the door open and ushered me inside the crowded restaurant with a warm hand against the small of my back?
I smiled at him, smoothed down the slinky black dress my sister Meghan had talked me into wearing a bit self-consciously, and pulled my thoughts back to the present. “Thank you.”
When he grinned back at me, my gaze was instantly drawn to his full lips but skipped almost immediately to the humor dancing in his slumberous brown eyes. Perhaps his thoughts had returned to our first two dates as well.
Yikes! I sure hoped not. Neither of those images would bode well for our next attempt. And somehow, I doubted he’d ask again if I blew it this time. Three strikes and you’re out. Right? That made it even more important that tonight go smoothly. I sucked in a deep breath, counted to three, and let it out slowly. I could do this. No pressure.
I stepped through the doorway, caught my stiletto heel on something, and gracefully (I wish) belly flopped onto the terra-cotta tiles. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, and for one moment (all right, maybe two), I lay there wondering if I should just tuck tail and run back to the anonymity of New York City. But I’d survived Prom Night in Watchogue, also known as the gossip capitol of the world. I’d survived being accused of Luca’s estranged wife’s murder, and I’d survive this too. Though, I’m not sure my barely begun relationship with Jake would fare as well.
Jake crouched at my side, helped me sit up, then lifted my chin until I met his gaze. He frowned as he studied me. “You okay?”
I didn’t dare think about how whatever shade of red or purple my face had turned clashed with my strawberry blonde hair, which had actually turned out good today, hanging in long waves rather than a mass of frizz thanks to the drier than usual weather.
I looked down at my dress, which seemed to have fared okay but for a smudge of dirt on one boob. I quickly brushed it off before Jake could get a chance then looked back into his eyes.
His gaze captured mine, and flames flared in his eyes as a slow smile spread across his face. “I would have gotten that for you.”
For one moment, everything around us disappeared, as if the two of us existed in some kind of bubble, in an alternate realm where I hadn’t just gone down spread eagle on the floor of a packed restaurant. Butterflies fluttered in my belly. Heat radiated through me, creeping into my cheeks. Then reality intruded.
“Ma’am. Are you hurt?” A guy in a pin-striped suit bent beside Jake, his face a mask of concern. “Do you need an ambulance?”
Wait. What? That’s all I needed since I had no doubt at all Luca would be the one to respond to the call. “No, no. Thank you. I’m fine. I was just…”
Jake’s grin widened. The cad. He knew exactly what I’d just been thinking about, at least, before thoughts of Luca had intruded.
I pulled myself together—more or less—and let Jake help me to my feet. Then I mustered whatever scrap of dignity remained, brushed myself off, and straightened with my chin lifted. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” Jake hooked my arm, patted my hand, and turned to the guy in the suit and the hostess, who stood by biting one long, blood-red nail with a cell phone clutched in her other hand. “Everything’s good here. Thank you for your concern, but we’re fine.”
With that, the hostess straightened, glanced at suit-guy, and hurriedly swapped her cell phone for a couple of menus. “Right this way, please.”
Huh. So, that’s all it took to get bumped to the front of the line, a bit of public humiliation. I’d have to remember that.
The instant she turned, Jake leaned close to my ear. “You are okay, right?”
“I’m fine. Thank you.” I just wanted to put the whole incident behind me and forget it ever happened. Too bad Watchogue’s memory wasn’t as short-lived or selective as my own.
We followed the hostess, weaving between tables I could only hope were packed with mostly tourists from out of town who didn’t know me. I clung desperately to that illusion.
Then I spotted Ron and Sally Hart, owners of the Watchogue Deli, the biggest gossip hot spot in town, crowded around a long table with their three adult children, all of whom had brought their spouses and kids, and all of whom craned their necks, along with everyone else in the dining room, to see who’d caused all the commotion.
Between the dim lighting, candlelit tables, and the crowd of clients crammed together in the foyer waiting to be seated, maybe no one would realize what had happened if I just smiled and walked through with my head held high.
Sally smiled back and waved, but the look of concern marring her features belied the casual greeting.
With a sigh, I waved, nodded to a few other people I knew, and kept walking.
Thankfully, the hostess seated us at a semiprivate table beside the fireplace, which raged romantically despite the eighty-degree weather gripping the island.
Jake thanked her then held my chair for me.
When I turned to sit, my gaze fell on my oldest and best friend, Gwen Rothberg, and my newest employee, Elijah Sinclair, whom I’d hired on Gwen’s suggestion and had quickly become one of my closest friends.
The instant she spotted me, Gwen’s mouth fell open then she lowered her forehead into her palm, purple curls flopping over her forearm, and shook her head.
Eli just continued his open-mouthed stare, twin patches of red highlighting his olive complexion.
Okay, so based on their reactions, apparently, word had already spread, but what were the two of them even doing at Gino’s? Neither of them had mentioned eating there, and I’d seen them just before Jake had picked me up. Unless… they were checking up on me. My feelings bounced between gratitude that they wanted to look out for me and irritation that they thought I’d mess this up—again.
“Dani?” Jake still stood holding my chair, concern etched deeply in his model-worthy features. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Oh, what? Uh… yeah. Sorry.” I shook off my confusion, smiled and sat, then scooted my chair closer to the table and shot Gwen and Eli a glare while Jake rounded the table and took his own seat.
To his credit, Jake did his best to appear unfazed by my nosedive. Either that, or he was just used to my calamities by now. Either way, I appreciated him not bringing attention to the fact, especially in the restaurant packed full of people. Though I had no doubt he’d tease me mercilessly once my embarrassment had worn off and he was sufficiently convinced I wasn’t injured. He handed me a menu the hostess had left on the table. “Would you like to start with appetizers?”
“Um.” I took the menu from him, keeping an eye on Gwen and Eli ogling me in my peripheral vision. “Sure. Thank you.”
He studied me for a long moment but refrained from asking again if I was okay then opened his menu. “Anything look good?”
I studied his toned chest and arms clad in a light blue button-down shirt with the collar open just enough for a peek of well-tanned skin, his sexy, just walked off the cover of a magazine five o’clock shadow, and thick, dark hair, which always appeared stylishly tousled, and refrained from commenting lest I end up even more flustered than I already felt.
The smile playing at the corner of his mouth assured me he knew exactly what he’d said and how I’d taken it. But he let it drop. For now, at least. “They have fish tacos…”
And have fish breath for the rest of the night? No thank you.
“Uh…” He continued to peruse the menu while I pretended to do so as I studied him.
What was it about him that set my heart all aflutter? I mean, he was gorgeous, there was no denying that, but it was so much more. His compassion, his empathy, the way he cared about other people. The way he’d sometimes watch me, his expression soft, when he thought I wasn’t looking. The way he teased me to the point of getting me all hot and bothered and then backed off.
“Wings?”
Huh? Oh, right, appetizers. Wings? So I could have barbeque sauce all over my fingers and probably my face.
Uh-uh.
“Turkey Bolognese Polenta Nests.”
I had no idea what that was and wasn’t about to ask, so I tore my attention from him and turned it to the menu I was holding open. I skimmed the choices in search of something that wouldn’t leave me in need of a gallon of mouthwash and that I could eat with a knife and fork, so it didn’t end up all over me. “How about potato skins?”
“Potato skins?” He lifted a brow.
I nodded.
He shrugged, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Whatever you’d like.”
He knew exactly what I’d like, and it wasn’t potato skins. Heat flared in my cheeks as my Irish and Italian grandmothers, one perched on each shoulder, screamed, “No,” in unison. I ignored their protests. After all, it wasn’t like this was our first date—even if the other two had ended badly, they still counted. Right?
He lowered his menu and reached for my hands.
I set my menu aside. Honestly, I didn’t care what we ate at that point, or even if we ate at all. Given my preference, we’d walk hand in hand along the beach, my head resting on his strong shoulder, all the way back to my studio apartment above the café, where I hadn’t left candles burning this time, though I had scrubbed the place to within an inch of its life. I slid my hands into his.
He rubbed a thumb along my wrist. “You know, Dani, I’ve been hoping we could connect like this since I first met you.”
And we might have, if three murder investigations I’d somehow gotten involved in hadn’t come between us. “Me too.”
Gwen offered a little finger wave.
Eli winked and gave me a thumbs up.
I was so going to kill the two of them.
“Is something wrong?” Jake started to glance over his shoulder.
I squeezed his hands to bring his attention back to me. The last thing I needed was him spotting the two of them and inviting them over. “No! Uh. I mean, no. Everything’s perfect. Really, Jake. It’s perfect, thank you. I wish this night never had to end.”
“Who says it does?”
The floodgates opened, and lava flooded my system.
He opened his mouth to say something else, but the waitress arrived to take our order. While he placed the order for potato skins and steaks, I glared at Gwen and Eli, willing them to go elsewhere and stop making me even more nervous than I already was.
The instant the waitress took our menus and walked away, I turned my attention back to Jake.
He leaned closer. “So, what would you like to do after dinner? Dancing, maybe? Or grab a drink at the tiki bar and walk along the beach?”
Be still my heart.
Eli made kissy faces from across the room.
“Okay, that’s it.”
Jake frowned. “What’s it?”
I shoved my chair back and stood. “Nothing. I uh… I just need to freshen up.”
He narrowed his eyes and studied me. “Are you sure you didn’t hit your head or anything?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I’m sure. I’m fine. I think I just need a moment to collect myself.”
He stood. “Sure.”
As I skirted the table beside us and headed for the ladies’ room, I gestured none too discreetly for Gwen to follow. I pushed through the door with her practically on my heels.
“How’s it going? It seems good, the two of you staring at each other all lovey-dovey and gooey-eyed.” She paused and looked into the mirror, fluffed her curls, then turned contact-lens-covered, fuchsia eyes on me and batted thick, purple false lashes that matched her hair color perfectly. “He looks like he’s about ready to gobble you up despite that… um… snafu on your way in. Nice recovery, by the way.”
“Gwen.” I held up a hand to stop her babbling. “Look—”
A knock on the door interrupted us then Eli poked his head in.
Are you kidding me right now? I ushered Gwen out into the alcove and whirled on them both. “What are you two doing here?”
Eli shot me a devious grin and waggled his eyebrows. “We’re moral support.”
“I mean…” Gwen winced. “Let’s face it, honey, your track record so far hasn’t been that great. You’ve had two dates with this man, both of which ended in disaster.”
“Be honest,” Eli added. “When it comes to Detective Tall, Dark and Muscly, if it weren’t for bad luck, you wouldn’t have any.”
Since I couldn’t argue that, I chose to ignore it.
“So, we decided to intervene and help you out.” Gwen reached out and brushed my cheek. I didn’t dare think about what might have clung there from my face plant on the floor. Had something been there the whole time Jake was staring at me? “Sorry we weren’t close enough to catch you when you went down.”
And just like that, my annoyance fled. Because that’s exactly what Gwen had always done, caught me when I fell, and hauled me back to my feet. “Look, guys, I really appreciate you coming to help me. I really do. But, and I mean this in the most appreciative and loving way, scram now. I’ve got this. Okay?”
Eli nudged Gwen’s ribs with an elbow. “I think she wants us to leave them alone.”
“Fine,” Gwen agreed. “But tomorrow morning, I want deets, girlfriend.”
“You’ve got it.” With that, I hurried back to the dining room to find Jake on the phone. As I walked up behind him, he jerked and yanked the phone away from his ear then quickly disconnected. But not before I caught the name Angelique on the screen.
He stood. “I’m sorry, Dani. Something’s come up, and I have to go.”
“Oh. Uh. I hope everything’s okay.”
“What? Oh, yeah, right. Yes. Everything’s fine. Do you think Gwen and Eli can give you a lift home?”
So much for pulling the wool over the detective’s eyes. “Sure. No problem.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry again.” And just like that, he kissed my cheek and hurried out into the night. No lingering goodbye kiss, no flirty-flirty, no innuendos, veiled or otherwise.
I watched him go then turned to find Gwen and Eli on either side of me. Eli pointed to the potato skins and steaks the waitress was setting on the table. “I guess you guys aren’t going to eat those? Because, with the prices in this place, we were just splitting an appetizer sampler.”
“Yeah. Go ahead.”
As Jake stopped to pay the bill, then hurried out the door, I was left wondering what in the world had just happened. And more importantly, who was Angelique?
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