by Gina LaManna
“What? I’m not into cars,” I said. “I bet neither of you could tell me which perfume I was wearing tonight or the shade of my lipstick.”
Cooper cleared his throat and Matt took a giant sip of hot chocolate. The latter scalded himself on it and tumbled into a coughing fit.
“And more importantly,” I added with satisfaction. “It was dark outside, and I was blinded by the light. I think that’s a song, but it’s also the truth.”
“Who’s on your active list of suspects?” Matt said. “There’s Patty and Allie for starters.”
“Becky,” I added quickly. “And I suppose William Duvet, but that’s only if we believe Patty. And I would mark Allie off the list.”
“We’re not marking anyone off the list who doesn’t have an absolutely airtight alibi,” Cooper said. “And Jenna, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay at your house tonight.”
“I’ve already voiced my agreement,” Matt said quickly. “And I’ve offered Jenna my bed.”
A stony silence filled the room.
“I’d take the couch,” Matt said dryly.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m fine. I can take care of myself.”
“Someone tried to run you over tonight, Jenna. Earlier today, that same person probably dropped the companion to the murder weapon inside your house,” Cooper said, his eyes narrowed. “I think they’ve sent you enough warning signs. If it’d make you more comfortable, I can drop you off at your mom’s place on the way back to town.”
“I can drop her off,” Matt said. “Either way works for me.”
“Nope. I didn’t move home to stay with my mother,” I said. “Not happening. Would either of you stay with your mothers if you were in my place?”
Matt and Cooper exchanged another uneasy look.
“Fine, stay home alone,” Cooper said, throwing his hands up in the air.
“I think that’s a horrible idea,” Matt said. “I don’t think she should stay home alone.”
“She’s going to make her own choices,” Cooper said, moving to the sink and depositing his mug there. “I was just trying to help her out as the local friendly police chief.”
He flicked on the water and rinsed the mug out—another display of impressive cleanliness. I liked Sid well enough, but I don’t think he knows my mother even has a dishwasher. And my ex-boyfriend certainly couldn’t do much with the dishes except press Start.
“Stop it,” I grumbled. “I get the picture. And I appreciate the help, but I can take care of myself.”
Cooper wiped his hands on the rag and faced Matt. “I can do a drive-by once an hour, and maybe you can peek out your window if you feel like it every now and again.”
Matt looked upset. “You can’t leave her alone in there.”
“Well, I certainly can’t force myself into her house, nor can I kidnap her,” Cooper said with a grim smile. “What choice do I have?”
“Fine! Fine. You’re right. I don’t really want to go home alone,” I said. “I’ll sleep on Matt’s couch. Is that what you wanted me to say?”
Cooper broke into a broad grin. “Was that so hard?”
Matt looked over my head to Cooper. “I need to take lessons from you.”
Cooper shrugged. “You grow up with sisters and you learn there’s no changing a woman’s mind. It’s always gotta be their idea—isn’t that right, Jenna?”
I squinted my eyes at Cooper and battled back a flare of frustration. “I’d like a word with you, mister. Alone, please.”
Cooper followed me as I turned and stalked down the hallway that lead from the kitchen to the front door. He watched as I shoved my bare feet into boots and my arms into the fur coat, which Matt had kindly placed on a hanger in the closet.
“Bare feet in your boots?” Cooper asked. “What about socks?”
I glared at him. He shut up.
“This won’t take long,” I said, and yanked the door open.
Cooper followed suit, shrugging into a jacket and shoes, before accompanying me onto the front steps. He closed the door behind him before leaning against it and studying the expression on my face. “Is this where you tell me off for being a controlling jerk?”
I frowned. “Well, it’s a lot less fun if you do it for me.”
“Jenna, I might have come off like a jerk, but I swear I was only trying to help you out. I wouldn’t dream of telling you what to do.”
“This is the worst telling off ever,” I said. “I was getting all steamed up, and now you’re being all nice and logical. How unsatisfying.”
“Funny, you have a way of getting me all steamed up, too.”
There was a pull in my gut to step closer to him, so I did. The lights glittering up and down the front path sent an interestingly shaped glow around Cooper’s face, making him look more mysterious and alluring than ever.
“I’m going to take off,” Cooper said, finally breaking the precarious silence. “I’m glad you’re not staying alone tonight, even if it means you’re having another sleepover with him.”
“This is the first sleepover,” I corrected. “The other was a nap-over. And it’s only out of necessity. I’m not exactly happy to be vacating my home.”
“Good.” Cooper’s eyes fixed on my face where my recently-dried hair was blowing about in the wind and obscuring my vision. Seemingly on impulse, he reached out and brushed some of it into place. “You really shouldn’t be outside with wet hair in weather like this.”
“It’s not—”
“Jenna, I need to be clear with you,” Cooper blurted, his eyes widening slightly as if he’d surprised himself with the confession. He pulled himself to his full height and moved closer to me. “If you don’t mind.”
The last time we’d been standing this close, I’d had on my gorgeous red heels which had propped me up a few inches. Standing on the front steps in Allie’s boots had me looking up at Cooper, falling into his dark, wise eyes that gleamed with a hint of something more.
“Um, okay.”
“I know we didn’t have a date tonight, but that didn’t stop me from having a nice time,” he said gruffly. “And I’d like to kiss you, Jenna McGovern,” he whispered, and his breath filtered over my cheek. “Unless you prefer I don’t.”
I stood frozen there, knowing my answer should be no, but every instinct in my body screamed otherwise. My hand came to rest on his chest, and I sighed in relief as he closed the distance between us. His lips were soft, tender despite his sometimes-grouchy exterior. One of his hands came up to rest against my cheek, warm against the cool winds that circled us.
It was short-lived and sweet, no French-ness about that kiss, I thought, as he pulled back. Which left me with a frown.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked. “Didn’t you like that?”
His eyebrows raised in complete shock. “What?”
My fingers raised and pressed against my lips. “It was just really short.”
“Jenna, it was wonderful.” Cooper’s voice was low and soft. “But you’ve made it painfully obvious that you’re not ready for a relationship.”
“Ah.”
“While I’m not starting anything, I also don’t want to leave you with any doubt about how I feel about you.” He stepped closer again, his words sending shivers down my spine as they trickled over my ear. “Just because I’m patient and take things slow, doesn’t mean I’m not interested in you.”
“Oh, ah—okay then.”
“And I am positive...” His hand came up, wound through the back of my hair and pulled it tight. “Absolutely certain that the wait will be worth it.”
Darned if the man didn’t know how to make me go weak at the knees. “Cooper, I—”
But just then, the expression on Cooper’s face told me something was wrong. Immediately, all my insecurities rushed back. Did I have bad breath? (Impossible, seeing as I tasted like hot chocolate—which was always a good taste.) Maybe he was put off by my lack of makeup. Or the fact that I’d worn boots without
socks. Or maybe he hadn’t liked the kiss, and he was just too polite to say so.
“We’re not alone,” Cooper murmured, his hand resting possessively on my shoulder.
I glanced up, found a car sitting in my driveway—a black one, or maybe dark blue?—and a small figure waiting on my front steps. Her hand was raised to knock on Gran’s old door, and it was impossible to tell what direction she was facing from this distance and in this darkness, but if I had to guess, she’d spotted us. The front porch was casting a spotlight sort of glow around us, making our figures easy to see from a distance.
When I recognized the figure, I gasped. “Becky!”
“Well,” Cooper said with a sigh. “I suppose it’s back to work.”
“For what it’s worth, I had a nice time tonight, too,” I said. “Death threats aside.”
He grinned. “I just hope that when you feel ready for a relationship, you’ll remember tonight.”
I opened my mouth and floundered for a response, but I was too late. Cooper was already opening the door to Matt’s house and waiting for me to head inside first. However, I turned my attention to Becky instead, as she climbed down my front steps and made her way across the well-trodden path between Gran’s house and Matt’s.
“It’s fine,” I said to Cooper. “You can go inside.”
“I’m not leaving you alone out here,” he murmured softly.
“Jenna?” Becky called, leaning forward when she got close enough and squinting. “Is that you?”
“Becky, what are you doing here?”
“We need to talk,” she said carefully. “It’s about Grant.”
Chapter 21
Cooper briefly explained the situation to Matt, who graciously opened his house to yet another guest in the very late hours of the evening. With every second, the clock ticked closer to midnight, to a new day. I wondered if this new day would be filled with more threats and close calls. One of these times, it wouldn’t be a close call—and that thought made me queasy.
The four of us shed our remaining outdoor gear and moved to the living room. Matt and Becky took the two free-standing loungers, while Cooper and I sat together on one couch. We allowed a gracious foot of space between us.
There was a slight change in atmosphere between Cooper and me, and I hoped it wasn’t obvious to the others in the room. In retrospect, Becky had probably arrived at the right time because her presence had forced us to focus on more pressing issues than one lousy kiss: Grant’s murder, and my life. Specifically, keeping me alive.
“What brings you here, Becky?” Cooper asked. “Or to Jenna’s, I should say.”
“I-I have a confession to make,” she said, and the room stilled. Becky sensed the trepidation from the three of us and waved her hands nervously. “No—it’s not what you think. I had nothing to do with Grant’s murder. In fact, I loved him.”
“You loved Grant?” I blurted out. I knew Cooper was the trained professional when it came to questioning people, but I had a vested interest in these matters and found it impossible to hold back. “Patty said you’d only gone out with Grant a few times.”
“Patty,” she said with a guttural exhale. “Yeah, I guess she would say that.”
“What do you mean?” Cooper was back in action. “Please give us a step by step account of your involvement with Grant Mark.”
“Fine,” she said, twisting a napkin between her fingers. Her eyes were rimmed red, and her hands were shaking. She was a mess. But a mess because she was a killer, or a mess because of something else, it was difficult to say. “There’s not much to tell, but here it goes: I dated Grant, and we were in love. He wanted us to keep things under wraps for a bit, and—and at first I thought he just wasn’t ready to tell anyone.”
“But that wasn’t the case?” Cooper’s voice adjusted to one of compassion, and I was impressed by his ability to handle different interviewees. Becky was warming before him like a marshmallow over a fire. Golden and gooey and malleable in his hands.
“No,” she said firmly. “At least, I figured that out tonight. He was just keeping things quiet because he wasn’t as serious about me as I was about him.”
“I thought you’d only gone on a few dates,” I said. “Is that not accurate?”
“Not exactly,” she hedged, and then let out a sob. She paused to blow her nose. “I mean, I guess we only went out on a few public dates, and the rest of the time we just hung out at his house.”
“How serious did you think things were?” I asked. “Were you thinking along the lines of exclusive dating or moving in with one another?”
“He proposed!” she cried. “He proposed to me. I thought we were going to be the next big wedding in Butternut Bay. I thought we’d give the Duvet wedding a run for its money.”
“Were you engaged at the time of Grant’s death?” Cooper’s question sent Becky into a wail of sobs. “I’m sorry, but I need to ask these things if we’re to find his murderer.”
“I know, I know. That’s why I’ve come here tonight—to set the record straight. I was filled with all sorts of jealousy and frustration and anger about someone stealing Grant from me,” Becky said with a hearty sniff, “but as I realize now, that wasn’t the case. He was never mine to have; he was just feeding me lines.”
“What’s the timeline on this?” Cooper asked. “When did you get engaged?”
“I don’t think you can really call it that—he...” she gave an embarrassed sort of splutter and then a sheepish smile. “He didn’t have a ring. I know, I’m a sucker. I believed him.”
“It’s not your fault,” I said instinctively. “If you let yourself fall in love, you’re vulnerable. There are no two ways about it.”
“Maybe,” she said, sounding as if she were reassuring herself more than anyone else. “But I didn’t handle our breakup well. I sort of, well, I became the crazy ex-girlfriend.”
“How so?” Cooper prodded.
Becky sighed and fixed her gaze on me. “I’m sorry, Jenna. I followed you around the first few days you came to town. Not obsessively or anything, but on the day of Grant’s death, I was walking over to June’s to grab a coffee before meeting the bridal party at your mother’s shop.”
I nodded, thinking that matched with Allie’s timeline. The bridal party had arrived not long after I’d left, but before Grant’s murder. “You saw Grant talking to me through the window?”
“The two of you looked very cozy,” she admitted. “I even snapped a picture to use as evidence, but then I realized how horrible and creepy that was of me. I had a polaroid camera to use for the party, and I meant to destroy the photo, but I don’t actually know where it went.”
“Interesting,” I said noncommittally. “And what about this morning?”
“What about this morning?”
“You showed up at my house,” I said. “You broke in, and...”
“Hold on!” She raised a hand. “I didn’t break in anywhere.”
“You tripped me last night at the party,” I said. “Admit it.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I did. It was pure jealousy. I was so upset and convinced that Grant broke things off with me to go out with you.”
“Well, he didn’t,” I said, “and you cost my cousin a nice payday. I think she deserves an apology.”
“Of course,” Becky said with a sigh. “I’ll take care of May tomorrow. But I swear, other than the photo and the tripping, I didn’t do anything.”
“What convinced you to come to Jenna’s tonight?” Cooper asked, the skepticism still evident in his voice. “Why confess now?”
“Because Patty told me everything,” Becky said. “When she came back from talking to you in the alley, she went on a moan about Grant, and I realized that he hadn’t left me for Jenna at all—he’d left me for Patty.”
“Timeline,” Cooper insisted. “When was this happening?”
“I started dating Grant two months ago, but it wasn’t until a few weeks back that things really started heat
ing up. We had these two amazing weeks where we spent almost every day together,” she said, “and then I sensed he was getting sick of me. I almost broke up with him, but then he offered up the engagement talk and waxed poetry about getting married. I was overjoyed!”
“But it was a line,” I said. “To keep you around.”
“Yes,” she said stiffly. “Grant doesn’t like to be dumped. He does the dumping. He kept me around for two more days, then one night he just left a note on the windshield of my car. My car! All it said was: Sorry, this isn’t working. Grant.”
I scowled. “That’s awful. I’m sorry, Becky.”
“At first, I was so surprised I just holed up in my apartment for a week thinking he’d come back to me. I mean, if it was love, he should have, right?” She seemed to still be trying to convince herself. “By the time I got my head on straight—er, sort of straight—I drove over to his house to demand an explanation. But he wasn’t alone.”
“Did you see who he was with?”
“A female,” she said. “I peeked through his front windows and saw all of her shoes and jackets and everything. I didn’t stick around to watch. I drove away and tried to forget it, but the thought simmered there. I think now that must have been his week with Patty.”
“But when you saw him in my mother’s shop, you thought it must have been me in there,” I said. “Because of the way he was leaning in close and whatnot.”
“Yes,” she said sheepishly. “It hadn’t even crossed my mind that he’d pick up another woman and let her go within two weeks after breaking up with me. I know, I’m naive and stupid. And I’m truly sorry for any heartache I’ve caused you.”
“It’s fine, Becky—I forgive you. It’s really not your fault. We all tend to get a bit crazy when we have broken hearts,” I said with a sympathetic smile. “I know. I’ve been there—recently.”
Cooper’s hand reached out and landed on my thigh where he gave the slightest of squeezes. As if realizing it wasn’t appropriate to do so, he slipped his hand away just as quickly. Not quick enough, however, to prevent both Matt and Becky from seeing it.
