by Tasha Black
“Why not call her now?” Natalie asked lightly.
If Vi was stalling for time, it might mean she wanted to warn her sister.
Vi laughed bitterly.
“Because she hates me and would never do anything to help me on purpose. The only way I’ll get anything real out of her is to confront her and read her reaction.”
Natalie nodded.
It felt like Vi was telling the truth. Vi was good at a lot of things, but subterfuge didn’t seem to be one of them. Though she was incredibly clever…
“So what other clues were there?” Jana asked. “Besides the phone?”
“Did you notice the lemon squares?” Vi asked Natalie.
“Yeah, I saw there were treats on his desk,” Natalie said.
“Those weren’t just treats,” Vi said. “Those were Rose Wilkinson’s lemon squares.”
Rose Wilkinson’s lemon squares were famous in the little town. She made them for every PTA gathering and town council meeting. She made them for the bake sale to support the Stargazer Firefighters and Emergency Worker’s Fund too. That was where Natalie had developed a taste for them.
Mayor Smalls loved Rose’s lemon squares too. They were a staple of his beloved Stargazer.
“That’s funny,” Natalie said.
“What?” Vi asked.
“Well, Rose’s lemon squares don’t have nuts in them,” Natalie said.
“How do you know?” Vi asked.
“Because I’ve seen him eat them before,” Natalie said. “He loves them. They’re his go-to at the bake sales because it’s the one thing he doesn’t have to ask the recipe for before he eats it.”
“There was no other food in that room,” Vi said.
“Are we sure those were Rose’s lemon squares?” Jana ventured. “Maybe someone else made similar ones?”
“Who would put nuts in a lemon square?” Vi asked disdainfully. “That’s just disgusting.”
Jana lifted her hands in surrender.
“Unless that someone wanted to kill the mayor, and knew he wouldn’t question the ingredients,” Vi mused.
Natalie’s eyebrows shot up.
Rose Wilkinson was one of the nicest ladies in town. The idea of her killing the mayor was preposterous, at best.
A good cop takes nothing at face value, she reminded herself. A good cop checks out every lead.
“If nothing else, maybe she saw something when she dropped off the squares,” Natalie suggested. “Let’s go see her.”
Vi nodded, a glimmer of respect in her eyes.
Natalie couldn’t help feeling grateful to have someone likeminded and sharp to bounce around ideas with.
“I will come too,” Spenser said, a growl of protection in his deep voice.
Natalie tried to ignore what the sound did to her. The last thing she needed was that kind of distraction.
“Of course,” Vi said. “We’re all going. Come on.”
9
Spenser
Spenser sat beside Natalie in the old ice cream truck, trying to focus on their goal.
But it was hard not to feast his eyes on her beautiful face, teasingly illuminated by street lights and cast into darkness again at intervals.
For her part, Natalie looked nervous. She drummed her fingers on her thigh as if they could not reach their destination fast enough.
The details of the problem at hand were complicated, but Spenser understood that there was some possibility that the woman they were visiting had secretly added nuts to a recipe as a way of poisoning the mayor.
It also seemed that none of them believed she would do such a thing.
Which made it odd that Natalie would feel so nervous. Even if she was the culprit, this woman was unlikely to use force against them for confronting her, in any case.
Since joining Vi’s extended family, Spenser had read a bit about detectives and detective work. The profile for a poisoner was different from that of a violent killer.
He wanted to remind Natalie of this, but since she was a police officer, he was sure she already knew.
Which meant her nervousness was not about the potential poisoner, but about something else.
There must be something about the case that was escaping him.
“Here we are,” Vi announced, pulling up in front of a small brick house.
The six of them piled out of the car. Tony and Micah had offered to keep an eye on Barker Posey while they were out, and Natalie had accepted gratefully.
Spenser stood on the sidewalk at Natalie’s side, Fletcher, Jana, and Hannibal beside them.
They all watched as Vi rang the bell.
A moment later, the door opened.
“Oh, hello,” a tiny older lady said, looking around at the group gathered in front of her house in surprise. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, Miss Wilkinson,” Vi said. “But we’d like to ask you about something. Would that be okay?”
“Of course, dear, but you can call me Rose,” Rose said.
“Thank you, Rose,” Vi replied. “Come on, guys.”
Spenser followed closely behind Natalie into the little house.
It was dim inside, but he could make out a flowery sofa and a small table. Two spindly chairs were opposite the sofa.
“Let’s go into the dining room,” Rose suggested. “There are enough seats for everyone there.”
They followed her into the next room. Sure enough there was a large table with ten chairs. They seated themselves.
“May I offer you something to eat or drink?” Rose asked.
Hannibal opened his mouth and lifted his hand as if to ask for a snack and Vi smacked his hand back down.
“We’re fine,” Vi said firmly. “We just ate.”
“So what did you want to ask me about?” Rose asked, pulling out a chair and lowering herself carefully into it.
“It’s the mayor,” Vi said. “Do you know what happened to him?”
“No,” Rose said, leaning forward. “Is he okay?”
Jana bit her lip.
“It’s not common knowledge yet,” Vi said. “But no, he’s not. He passed away in his home last night.”
Rose looked aghast. “Oh no,” she moaned. “Poor Mayor Smalls.”
“Yes,” Vi said. “It was unexpected.”
“What happened to him?” Rose asked, looking very upset.
Spenser was beginning to feel that maybe they had made a mistake coming here.
“He had an allergic reaction,” Vi said.
“To what?” Rose asked. “I didn’t know he had an allergy.”
“You didn’t?” Vi asked.
Rose shook her head.
“He was allergic to nuts,” Natalie said quietly.
Spenser watched the woman’s face seem to crumble and fall to pieces. She lowered her face into her hands and sobbed like a child.
“Rose?” Vi said.
Jana pulled a tissue out of her purse and handed it over.
Rose took it and blew her nose like a trumpet.
“It’s all my fault,” she said simply.
“What do you mean?” Vi asked.
“My lemon squares,” Rose said, and blew her nose again.
“There are no nuts in a lemon square,” Vi said.
“There didn’t used to be,” Rose agreed tearfully. “But my son had a heart scare last year and he’s trying to eat healthier. So I’ve been working on a new recipe that everyone can enjoy.”
Some of those words didn’t make sense to Spenser. He looked to Natalie, who was nodding slowly.
“My new lemon square recipe is low-carb,” Rose said sadly. “I used erythritol for the filling, and almond flour for the crust. My son said he can’t taste the difference.”
“My God,” Vi breathed.
“I dropped off a batch for the mayor yesterday,” Rose went on. “He always says how much he likes them at the bake sale. I figured he could use some cheering up after… everything that happened. I meant to tell him they were
guilt-free, but he wasn’t home when I dropped them off.”
Rose’s lower lip trembled again, and she closed her eyes, tears streaming down her wrinkled cheeks. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“You did nothing wrong,” Jana told her immediately. “You didn’t know he had an allergy. It was kind of you to bring him a treat.”
Vi scowled at Jana, as if she didn’t want anyone to sympathize.
But Spenser couldn’t imagine this poor woman had done anything to harm the mayor on purpose.
“The mayor knows… knew he needed to check ingredients and keep an EpiPen near at all times,” Natalie added. “We’re not sure why he didn’t have one yesterday, but we’re looking into it. Thank you for allowing us into your home and for talking with us.”
“Can I call your son for you?” Jana asked. “Do you have his number?”
Rose was still sniffling. She and Jana headed into the kitchen to make the call.
Spenser thought this was a fine idea. The poor lady should not be left alone and upset.
“Well that was a dead end,” Vi said as soon as they were out of earshot.
“We know where the nuts came from, at least,” Natalie said.
Vi nodded once.
“I hope you don’t think this is the end of the investigation,” Natalie said. “I still don’t believe for a minute he would be without an EpiPen in reach. Something fishy is going on.”
Spenser held his breath, hoping Vi would not deny his mate her opportunity to keep searching for answers.
“Agreed,” Vi said. “I guess we’ll head home once her son gets here. I need to think on this.”
10
Spenser
Back at 221B, Spenser led the way to the second-floor landing, with Natalie in tow.
“Are you sure this isn’t an imposition?” Natalie asked. “I don’t want to crowd you and your brothers.”
“Not at all,” Spenser said. “Ever since my brothers met their mates, I’ve been spending a lot of time alone in the apartment. They come up a lot during the day, but I think it’s mostly because they do not wish for me to be lonely.”
Belatedly, he realized that what he had shared might sound like a ploy for sympathy. He hadn’t meant it that way.
Natalie merely nodded without fawning over him, which made him instantly grateful.
“Well, that works out well for Barker Posey and me,” she said.
He opened the door and the big dog leapt up from her position on the sofa and trotted over to meet them.
“Hi, girl,” Natalie said, crouching down to greet the dog.
For an instant, Spenser allowed himself to imagine this as his life - a kind mate, an interesting pet, the sense of home he felt walking in this door with Natalie.
Then he shook his head and tried to focus.
He had to talk to her first.
She was smiling as the dog kissed her by licking her cheek.
He was very lucky that the dog was here, helping her to feel more at peace and less worried about what had happened to Mayor Smalls.
He went into the kitchen and put the water on for tea.
Dr. Bhimani had prepared tea for the brothers whenever there was something important to talk about. The ritual always calmed him.
A few minutes later, Natalie poked her head in.
“Need some help?” she asked.
His heart was warmed.
Mates helped each other. She already had the instinct to honor their bond, even if they hadn’t said the words yet.
“Yes, please,” he replied. “Would you choose two mugs for us? I thought we could drink some tea and talk.”
“That sounds amazing,” Natalie said.
They bustled around the kitchen together for a few minutes. The room was small enough that she occasionally brushed up against him.
Each time, he closed his eyes and prayed for the strength to talk with her patiently instead of turning around to grab her and tell her with his body what he knew she needed to hear in words.
At last they sat down at the table, steaming mugs before them.
“Did you want to talk about the case?” Natalie asked. “Did you notice something?”
He shook his head and pressed his lips together, trying to find a way to begin.
She placed her hand on his.
He closed his eyes and let the emotions flood his body. Her touch made everything right.
He opened his eyes to see her looking at their hands.
“There is something between us,” he said to her without even having to think about his words. “Do you understand what it is?”
“I think so,” she said, her voice soft and low. “But will you explain anyway?”
“My brothers and I, we are here for one reason,” he told her. “And though we fill our days with other things, that reason looms for me.”
She nodded, giving him time.
“I have done my best to find a mate, going to places where I might find a kindred spirit, a woman who might want someone like me,” he said gruffly, feeling a little embarrassed. “But I have never once felt with anyone the way I feel when I am with you.”
She squeezed his hand.
“I am yours,” he said simply. “If you will have me.”
She took a deep breath and looked up at him, her eyes luminous. For a moment, he allowed himself to hope.
“What does it mean if we’re… mates?” she asked.
“It means everything,” he told her. “It means we love each other. It means I will protect you, even if to do so is to sacrifice myself. It means we will always be honest with each other, no matter what.”
Her expression changed.
It was as if she were suddenly closed to him, cold and distant.
“Natalie, what is it?” he asked. “What have I done wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said, smiling.
The expression was gone from her face now. But he knew what he had seen.
“You do not wish to be bonded so completely to another,” he guessed.
She removed her hand from his and stood up.
He watched, willing himself not to leap up after her.
She paced to one end of the small room and back again. At last she stopped and leaned against the counter by the sink.
“Spenser, everything you’ve proposed sounds incredible,” she said. “It’s everything I could ever ask for in a relationship.”
He smiled at her encouragingly.
“But right now,” she went on, “I’m focused on the mayor’s death. I can’t promise to put you first when I have a case to solve that’s so personal.”
This did not make sense to him. Would he not help her solve it?
“I am pledging you my loyalty,” he told her. “I will do anything to help you.”
“That means the world to me,” she told him, her voice breaking. “Do you think you could give me some time?”
He nodded, not trusting himself to speak for fear that he would beg her for what she would not give freely tonight.
“Thank you,” she said softly, pressing her hand to her mouth, clearly trying to hold back her tears.
He was on his feet before he knew what was happening, pulling her into his arms, holding her close to comfort her.
She seemed to melt into his embrace.
He soaked her in, trying to memorize the softness of her curves, the cinnamon scent of her hair.
She pulled back as he loosened his hold slightly, and then she went up on her toes and slid her hands around his neck, pressing her lips to his.
Lightning flashed behind his eyelids as a thunderstorm gathered in his chest. She had awoken something in him, a passion akin to fury, strong as a force of nature.
He swept her up in his arms, carrying her to his room.
She clung to him, as if she were dying to surrender.
He placed her gently on the ground just in front of the bed.
She reached under the hem of his t-shirt.
He
shivered at the sensation of her warm hands, sliding the material up until they had to break their contact for him to pull it over his head.
She waited for him to throw it to the floor, then her hands were at his fly, clever fingers sliding against the button.
“No,” he whispered, taking both her hands in one of his.
“I want—” she began.
He stopped her with another kiss, feeding on her mouth as if he might never stop.
When she gave up on talking, he slipped his hands under her shirt, sliding it up just as she had done to him.
When they pulled apart to get it all the way off, he saw that she was wearing a shimmering undergarment which lifted her breasts, yet also mostly bared them to him.
He was breathless for a moment, gazing down at her.
“You are so beautiful,” he told her.
She took his hand and placed it on her breast.
He cupped it reverently, smoothing his thumb over her nipple, still encased in satin.
She sighed and he felt the nipple harden and press against the fabric, aching for his touch.
An answering ache from his groin took his breath away a second time. He lowered his face to brush the tops of her breasts hungrily with his lips.
Natalie arched her back, as if begging for closer contact.
He reached around behind her, knowing he could not remove her undergarments as smoothly as the men in the spy movies, but hoping that he would not struggle so much as the boys in the college comedies.
Natalie put the matter to rest by undoing the garment herself and letting it slide down her arms to the ground.
He tugged open the button on her jeans and slid the zipper down.
She helped him drag down her jeans and panties, shimmying out of them in a way that made her soft curves jiggle most pleasantly.
At last, she stood before him, naked. The moonlight glowed in her eyes and made her hair shine onyx like the glass cliffs of Aerie.
“Spenser,” she whispered, reaching for his jeans again.
“Not yet,” he told her, though his body raged and stormed for her touch.
She frowned, but when he leaned in to kiss her, she melted into his arms again.
