Joanne sauntered over. Her lipstick was refreshed and her hair smoothed into a neat bun. “Hey!” Her eyes were focused on Cole. She fluttered her eyelashes and gave him a coy smile. “I hope the food was to your liking?”
“It was fabulous. My compliments to the chef,” said Cole.
“Would you like something else?”
“Apple pie. I’ve heard it’s great.”
“Same here,” said Aerilyn.
Joanne sauntered off. “Joanne broke up with her boyfriend two weeks ago. She clubbed him over the head with a book when she found him kissing pretty little Amber in the local library,” offered Aerilyn. “Amber was her younger sister’s best friend. It was a sight. She chased them both out of the library and on to the main street. It is said that she ran them both right to his house that’s on the other side of the town.”
Cole shook his head, looking amused. “I didn’t think you had it in you, but you are quite a gossip.”
Aerilyn sighed, enjoying the banal talk more than she cared to admit. It was so easy to talk to him. “Guilty! It’s my one vice. And gossip is the oil that greases the life in a small town. So tell me about your childhood. Wait! Let me guess. Only child of wealthy parents. Lonely childhood.”
“It’s a good thing you don’t advertise yourself as a psychic or fortune teller. You would be terrible at it.” He leaned back. “I have a brother and two sisters. I am third in line. My oldest sister is a skin specialist. The second child, my brother, is a singer.”
“Singer? Have I heard of him?” She ran a finger over the edge of the table and smiled at the old man who passed them by. Bill was one of her regular clients. He bought all his medicines from her.
“Dave Saul.”
“Dave Saul is your brother?” Aerilyn squealed and jumped. “I don’t believe it. Dave Saul. The famous pop singer who has been on the cover of every magazine this year and last. His last song was at the top of the charts for weeks. That Dave Saul? Your brother?”
He chuckled at her unrestrained excitement. “Believe me. Front row tickets for any concert. You name it. I can do it. He is my only claim to fame.”
“Dave Saul? I can’t…My God! He is fantastic.”
“He is amazing. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that the guy half the world is swooning over is the same kid I grew up with. He is only a year older than me so we grew up together; sharing chores and fighting over pretty much the same girls.”
“Ah! The bonds of early childhood; girls and fights.”
“Nothing can beat the memories of a happy childhood,” he said. “Dave is in Europe right now. A three months’ tour. He will back in a month’s time.”
“Paris. Rome. Istanbul,” she chanted. “I know about his tour. Wow! I can’t believe it. I have all his songs on my iPod. So what does your youngest sister do? She is an actress or an international model?”
“She runs her own NGO in India. She was given the Indian government’s highest award for selfless charitable work last year.”
“Your parents must have done something very right while they were raising the lot of you. So you’re the black sheep of the family. A lowly businessman. Running an ordinary security company. Tsk tsk.”
He smiled. “True! But my parents have a generous heart. They are proud of me, too.”
“What do they do?”
“They owe a farm in Kansas. My siblings and I grew up there. Now my parents are the only ones left, but they have hired help. Currently, they have gone to visit my sister in India.”
She hadn’t pegged him as a rural farm boy. That veneer of polish and sophistication threw her off. Aerilyn realized she was guilty of making snap judgments, a habit she abhorred in others when they did it to her. Joanne brought over the plates and placed the pies in front of them. Steam rose from the hot pies, while the plain vanilla ice cream, drenched in chocolate sauce, melted on top. After Joanne left, Aerilyn took a bite of the hot pie. She licked her bottom lip, savoring the taste.
“So you grew up doing farm chores?”
“Yep! That’s right.” Cole took his first bite of the hot pie. “Oh my God! I could kiss the hands of the person who made it.”
“No need to call the Almighty, dear. You shall have the opportunity to kiss my hands.”
A short, petite woman stood at their booth. Her hair was straight and completely white, but her skin was remarkably unblemished. Aerilyn often wondered about the secret of her youth. Laila was wearing the same uniform as the waitresses, but there was an air of unmistakable authority that sat well on her. “Hi, I’m Laila, the owner and chef of this diner.” She held out her hands at Cole.
Gallantly, Cole stood. He took her hands and raised each in turn to his lips. “Charmed,” he said.
Laila laughed as she withdrew her hands. “Joanne was right for once; twice as handsome as the devil, and just as charming. Aerilyn, where did you catch this man?”
“He walked into my shop on his own.” Aerilyn scooted over to make room for Laila. She was fond of the old woman and had been coming to her diner since it first began operations under her strict regime. She’d even worked part-time in the diner during summers to earn some extra cash during her teen years. Laila was a hard taskmaster and a tyrant in the kitchen - but her staff loved her. Aerilyn had enjoyed working with her.
“And have you bewitched him with a spell yet?”
Aerilyn took another bite of the pie. She licked her spoon. “I’m still debating if he is worth the effort.”
“Looks rich enough.” Laila put her elbows on the table and rested her head on her hands.
“Oh, he is loaded.” Aerilyn finished off her pie. She licked the last bits of the chocolate sauce off her plate with her finger.
“Girl, what are you waiting for then? Rich, handsome, and charming. God doesn’t make them like this anymore.”
Aerilyn wrinkled her brow, enjoying the repartee. “I don’t know, Laila. He might be too much work for me.”
“Actually, she is scared to take me on,” said Cole. While the women were talking, he had been quietly eating his pie. The plate now clean, he pushed it to one side and dabbed his lips with napkin.
Laila slapped her hand on the table and guffawed. “I like you,” she told Cole. “Come by another day, and I’ll tell you all there is to know about Aerilyn. I’ve known her since she was a feisty teenager, just learning how to bewitch boys.”
“I suppose that’s fair considering that I already told him about your time in jail,” Aerilyn said as she took another bite of her pie.
Cole was surprised to see a grin split Laila’s face. “Good. Saves me the trouble of hashing out that old story. Now, scoot both of you. I’ve people waiting in line for this booth.” She stood and walked over to the counter to attend to the three men who were waiting to be seated.
Joanne brought over the bill. Cole took it from her hand. He added a generous tip and gave cash. “Do come again,” she muttered in a throaty voice.
Aerilyn waved to Laila and walked out. Cole followed. “Thank you for that meal. It was the best food I’ve eaten in a long time. I would never have discovered this place on my own,” he told her.
“Since you’re the one who paid, I should be thanking you. But I do admit that Laila’s Diner is this town’s best-kept secret. Many tourists come to Alby and don’t ever experience this. All the locals eat here at least once a week, and some of the regulars come here every day.” Aerilyn adjusted the strap of her purse. She ran a hand over her hair and waved to an elderly couple who was just going inside the diner.
Putting his hand under her elbow, he guided her away from the queue of people who were waiting to go inside the diner. They strolled off in the direction of her cabin. As they waited at a street corner, Aerilyn glanced at Cole. He was staring at her with a gleam in his eyes.
A hot punch of lust hit her in the gut. She licked her bottom lip. “What?”
Putting his hands on her shoulders, he turned her to face him. She knew what was coming, bu
t didn’t have the heart to put a stop to it. And if she was honest, she had to admit that she wanted it.
His head lowered, and his lips claimed hers. The kiss was as profound as she’d expected. Something sizzled and burned all the way down to her stomach, turning her insides into jelly. Her heart leaped with unbridled excitement. A storm brewed inside her, scattering her thoughts like leaves blown by gusts of strong winds. His lips trailed a line of kisses down her jaw. It was enough to blow apart whatever little reasoning and caution she’d left.
Unable to resist, a feral sound escaped her throat; something primal and lustful. It didn’t matter where they were; the only thing that mattered was the feel of his hard, muscled body as his arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. One hand slid over her spine to cup the back of her neck. Tilting her back, he devoured her lips again. She offered no resistance. Even if she wanted to, it would have been hard to do so. Like an eagle, she soured high on the winds of fiery passion and manic lust.
It was the sound of his phone that brought them back to earth with a resounding thud. Letting her go, Cole took a step back. “What the hell was that?” he said.
“Your phone,” she offered.
He patted his jacket, finally locating the phone. “It’s Joan. Great timing!” He picked up the call. “Hey, Joan.”
Aerilyn looked around the street. Thankfully, no one was around. Of course, if anyone did notice their passionate embrace, it would soon become common knowledge that Aerilyn was shacking up with the tourist. The threat of gossip didn’t scare her, but that kiss certainly did. If he could turn her into a mindless pulp of flesh with one kiss, what would the sex be like?
She gazed at him. It was the look of deep concern on his face that finally restored some reasoning. Something must have happened to Joan. Aerilyn had taken a liking to the grief-stricken mother. She came across as a strong and determined person.
“Sure. I will see you there.” Cole cut the call. After putting the phone back in his pocket, he stood staring at the glass windows of the shop opposite them, lost in his thought.
Aerilyn knew he wasn’t really seeing anyone. His eyes were glazed over in deep thought. “Is everything ok?” She put her hand on his arm.
“Joan’s house in Chicago was burglarized last night.”
She was shocked. “What? How?”
“Her neighbor goes there every evening to feed the fish, and she made the discovery. She rang Joan and the police. Joan’s renting a car and driving to Portland. There is a late night flight she wants to catch.”
Aerilyn’s heart bled. She would hate for anyone to violate her personal place. “Oh my, the poor woman! I guess she won’t know if anything was taken until she goes and checks. Were there any valuables in the house?”
“Joan is fairly sure that there wasn’t anything valuable in the house, but she is pretty upset. Her neighbor told her that all the rooms were a mess. Things taken out of cupboards and thrown on the floor. That sort of thing.”
“That’s terrible.” Aerilyn put her hand on her heart, wondering if there was any way she could help Joan. “It’s such an invasion of privacy.”
Cole ran a hand over his face. “It’s possible that this burglary is nothing more than a stroke of bad luck, but in light of the things you have discovered, this could be something more. We can’t simply ignore this new development. If we want to discover the truth behind Thomas’s death, we need to act fast. Too much time has been wasted already. If this burglary is in anyway related to Thomas’s death, we need to take a look at things. Aerilyn, how do you feel about taking a trip to Chicago?”
She stared at him, confused. “What? Why me?”
His gaze was keen, challenging. “You did mention that you are able to contact a spirit in a place where he lived. A séance in Joan’s house might reveal something more. Also, Joan has taken a liking to you, and your company may just be the distraction she needs.”
“Selina could take care of the shop for a few days,” she mused. “But I am not sure if Joan would like me to stay with her?”
His gaze shifted to her eyes. There was something there, something strong and promising. “I’ve an apartment in Chicago. You can stay there with me.”
Aerilyn raised an eyebrow. “With you? I don’t think I understand.”
“I don’t like playing games,” he stated. “And that kiss just demonstrated that we are beyond pretences. I like you. You like me. We are both attracted to each other, and maybe in time this attraction could develop into something more. I don’t have the time to stay here and court you. If you come to Chicago, you can help Joan and get to know me better. See if we gel together.”
Aerilyn blinked her eyes. Things had suddenly progressed far too fast. From hostility to friendship to courtship; Cole was a difficult man to keep up with. And that kiss had been mind-boggling. What had she gotten herself into? “I’m not sure if there is a ‘we’ in this equation.”
He put her hand on her shoulder. “Can you honestly tell me that you didn’t feel something in that kiss?”
“It was…”
“Mind-altering. Stupendous. Sensational.”
“Something like that, yes,” she admitted as they resumed their walk towards her cabin.
“So a trip to Chicago is the perfect opportunity to explore this sizzling chemistry we share.”
Aerilyn kept quiet. Her mind was in turmoil. That kiss had been hot – but did she really want to get involved with Cole? Something told her this wasn’t going to be an easy decision to make.
They began to climb up the stairs that led to her cabin. “I am not sure if this is a good idea.”
“Oh, I see. You’re scared.”
“I am not.” She came to a stop outside her cabin.
“Oh, yes you are.” He grinned. “You are scared you might actually fall for me.”
“Please! Your ego is getting the better of your judgment. I just don’t want to leave you brokenhearted and devastated when I am done with you.”
“Ah! I assure you I can take care of myself. Perhaps you’re not sure you can restrain yourself around me?”
Despite knowing that he was baiting her, her chin lifted in a defiant gesture. “I’ll come to Chicago,” she heard herself say, but was not sure where the statement came from. What was she thinking? She barely knew the man. Sure, she was attracted to him. He had that right, but did that mean that she was ready to travel with him?
And worse, did she really want to get that involved in the death of Joan’s son?
“Good. I will pick you up from the shop tomorrow at ten. Would that suit you? We will drive to Portland and take a flight to Chicago. I will make all the arrangements.”
“Great,” Aerilyn heard herself say. She dug into her purse to get her key. After she opened the door, and stepped inside, she glanced at him. He waved and left.
Aerilyn closed the door. Knight came to curl around her feet. She bent to pat him. “Bewitched, my ass! Which one of us is the witch?”
She stood there for a long time, wondering if she wanted to cancel the plans. Going to Chicago was a big step. If she went there, she would invariably get more involved in the real facts behind Thomas’s death.
Did she want to do that?
A murder investigation was the last thing she wanted to immerse herself into, but then, what choice did she have? She couldn’t very well leave it alone now. How could she desert Joan?
And what about Cole? He appeared to have some strange notions about their relationship. Attraction didn’t have to lead to anything. They were just getting to know each other.
What did he want from her?
She sighed and moved inside to dump her bag on the kitchen counter. The flow of events was dictating this turn, and who was she to stop it? If there was anything she’d learnt in her years of practicing her craft, it was to take things in stride. She was going to make alternative temporary arrangements for Knight and then take each day as it came.
If nothing else, t
his would prove be an adventure she would likely never forget.
Chapter Six
Aerilyn picked up three books from the floor and placed them back on the shelf. She moved the couch back and dragged the soft, yellow rug to the center of the room. One of the side tables was skewed. She fixed it. A stray paperclip lay underneath. After picking it up, she threw it in the wastepaper bin. She adjusted the deep brown curtains and with a careful eye, studied the rest of the room. Apart from a large stack of papers that stood on the desk because she didn’t know what to do with them, the office was immaculate. To think that an hour ago it was in shambles.
Books, papers, and stationary had been dumped off the shelves and out of desk drawers on to the floor. The lamp was overturned. The tables were moved, and even the rug had been kicked to one side. This was Joan’s home office.
Since her arrival earlier that afternoon, Aerilyn had been helping the older woman set things right in the house. It was still hard to believe that she was in Chicago. Had she come because Cole was persuasive or because she simply couldn’t leave this mystery unsolved? After all, Cole was a resourceful man. In fact, he was the right man, the perfect man, for this job. Now that she had set him on the right path, he would likely find his way to Thomas’s murderer. Why did she need to get involved?
Hadn’t she done enough already?
Their trip from Portland to Chicago had been comfortable and fast. Cole’s private jet was parked at Portland airport, and they were cleared for takeoff as soon as they reached the airport. She had been impressed by the sleek airplane that was set up as a mobile office; complete with a conference room, work station, study, and even a bedroom.
Seeing her flabbergasted expression, he told her that he spent a lot of time traveling and comfort was important. And yet he had taken little rest on the plane, preferring instead to check his email, contact his assistants with lengthy instructions, and even study reports that were lined up neatly on his private desk in color-coded folders. Aerilyn had spent the entire time studying the man who, with such ease, had turned her world upside down.
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