Second Bloom
Page 26
“Could you give me a minute with your sister?” he asked.
“Take more than a minute,” Ivy replied smiling, turning to leave. ”Take as long as you like, Detective. I’ll wait in the car, Holly.”
“Have a seat, Holly Donnelly,” Manelli said, sitting back down behind his desk. “So, have you baked any more honey oat bread?” he asked.
Holly smiled and answered, “It’s on my to-do list.”
“I’d like to see that to-do list. ‘Weed the garden. Bake bread. Catch a killer’,” he teased.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I never wanted to do any of the things I did. You must be happy you won’t have to see us anymore.”
“I’m certainly glad the murder is solved. But actually, I was wondering if you’d like to go to dinner with me tomorrow night.”
“Dinner?” Holly said. “Uh--yeah. Yes, I’d like that.”
“Good. Maybe you can tell me then about what happened at the garden center.”
“Really, it wasn’t’ anything,” Holly grimaced, scratching the back of her neck.
Manelli smiled. “What kind of food do you like?”
“Food? Italian is my favorite.” As soon as she said it, she felt the blood rushing to her cheeks.
Manelli smiled that 100-watt smile of his and said, “No need to blush. Italian is my favorite, too. Seven o’clock good?”
“Seven’s good. Listen, I better go,” Holly said standing up, dropping her bag on the floor. As she bent to retrieve it, Manelli came around to the front of the desk. She stood up, reached the door, turned back and asked, “Did you want me to meet you some place?”
“No, Holly. It’s a date. You get that, right? I’ll pick you up. I know where you live.”
She reached for the doorknob and started to open the door. With the flat of his left palm, Manelli closed it. Holly looked up at him, uncertain what to do.
“There’s something I didn’t get to do the other night.” Manelli leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. Not much of a kiss Holly thought, when, suddenly, he put his right arm around her waist, pulling her against his chest, firmly placing his mouth on hers, his tongue parting her teeth with the same slow certainty he did everything. Holly felt her body dissolving into liquid. When he stopped she was afraid to move, fearful she might just melt into a gooey mess on the floor.
“So, I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow night,” he said.
“Right,” she replied.
He stepped back from the door, releasing his hold on her. She fumbled reaching for the door knob, struggling to regain control of her limbs. Mortified, she finally grasped the knob, opened the door and walked into the outer office without looking back.
“Holly.”
She stopped, turning around to face him.
“I’d really love some of that honey oat bread.”
“Really?” she replied, hearing herself actually giggle.
“Really. I bet it’s great for breakfast.” He winked, a teasing grin on his face.
She just smiled, turned and said, “Good-bye, Detective.”
“That’s Nicky to you,” he called after her.
Holly laughed out loud, and gave a wave over her shoulder. She continued down the hallway smiling. She’d stop for yeast on the way home.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
An avid reader, Sally Handley has been a mystery lover since she read her first Nancy Drew book as a young girl. An English major, she graduated from Douglass College at Rutgers University and became a public school teacher. Transitioning into business, she worked as a professional services marketer for 30 years, and returned to teaching as an adjunct professor of English before retiring in 2015.
Now a resident of Mauldin, SC, Sally devotes her time to writing cozy mysteries and gardening. President of Sisters in Crime Upstate SC Chapter and a member of SinC Guppies, Sally also writes a blog entitled “On Writing, Reading and Retirement” at www.sallyhandley.com.