Easy Like Sunday Mourning

by Jennie Marts

  Maggie knew this to be true with her own kids. But still, something about Charlotte’s text felt a little too familiar for a message to her boss. The phone buzzed again, and Maggie could see the new message pop up on the screen: I’ve been worried about you. Do you want me to pop over and keep you company for a while?

  Pop over? What was she talking about? Every one of Maggie’s instincts went on high alert. “Does she come over here often?”

  “I wouldn’t say often, but she’s been here. I have everybody over every few months. They like to use the pool in the summer or hang out and watch movies. We can be relaxed and talk about the games we’re working on or mess around playing them. Some of those guys are their most creative when they’re just sitting around with a controller in their hands.”

  She hated herself for asking, but couldn’t help it: “But Charlotte—does she come over here? By herself?”

  Jeremy gave her a questioning look. “No, she usually shows up with a bunch of the guys. They like to get her to bring home-cooked food for them.” A crooked grin crossed his face as he obviously figured out why she was asking. “Are you jealous?”

  Maggie huffed in indignation. “Me? Jealous? Of her? No, of course not.” But it had been a waitress at a restaurant that had shown her husband enough attention to make him leave, so nothing would surprise her anymore. “She’s just making herself very available to you. It seems like she should be grieving her current boyfriend, not trying to hook a new one.”

  “Come on. That’s ridiculous. She would never be interested in me. I’m much older than she is and way too nerdy.”

  Maggie shook her head. Jeremy must have been really geeky in high school, because he always seemed to underestimate how attractive he was. Sure, he carried a little scent of nerd on him, but in a good way. She liked that he was cute and not conceited about his good looks. “You are not too old for her and some girls really go for those handsome, nerdy types.”

  “You think I’m handsome?” Jeremy’s face broke into a grin, and he playfully pulled her closer to him. “I still can’t believe I got you to fall for me.”

  “Who says I have?” But she knew that she had. And she was falling more for him every day that she spent with him. That was why she hated this jealous, green-eyed monster that was creeping out from under her perfectly made bed.

  “Don’t worry. There is absolutely nothing between Charlotte and me. Never has been and never will be.” Jeremy typed in a message and held the screen up for Maggie to see. No thanks. Maggie is here and she is all the company I need. See you at work on Monday.

  “Does that make you feel better?

  “I felt fine before.” But she did feel better. A little. “You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

  “I know. But I want to.” He slid his hand up to touch her cheek. “I know you’ve been hurt before. And I don’t want to ever be the guy who hurts you. I really care about you, Maggie, and I want this to work.”

  Maggie raised her hand and rested it on his. She looked into his brown eyes, and saw such sincerity in them, she fell a little harder. “I know. I do too.” And she did want it to work. She hated the feeling of never being able to trust a man and of her constant suspicions. She needed to accept that women would be interested in Jeremy and trust that he would be faithful to her.

  But that was her problem. Trust. She tried to push her suspicions aside and believe in Jeremy. He was like a golden retriever, so cuddly and always trying to please her. But cute puppies could still chew up your favorite shoes and poop on your floor.

  Jeremy took her hand. “Hey, don’t worry. Everything is going to be fine. You’ll see.” He pulled her closer and brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. His lips trailed light kisses along her cheek until his mouth met hers and he lingered there, each tender kiss an invitation to more.

  Maggie leaned into him, giving herself to the rush of heat that grew in her chest and the feel of his lips on hers. She kissed him back, taking the soft kisses to a deeper level. She tasted the wine he had been drinking and breathed in the masculine scent of the aftershave that still clung to his skin.

  She needed this. She needed to lose herself in his touch. To forget the horrors of the past few days. Of murder scenes and police stations and doubts over busty, flirtatious blondes. To just be with Jeremy. To feel his hands on the small of her back, pulling her tighter against him.

  She loved the way he kissed her. He had this way of being tentative and shy, and yet she could feel his hunger and passion bubbling just below the surface. As if they were in high school and he were still that geeky kid with braces who finally got a chance to make out with a cheerleader.

  He made her feel like she was a gift that had been bestowed upon him, and as much as he wanted to tear the packaging off and play with his new toy, he continued to slowly unwrap the present and savor each moment of the reward.

  The way he treated her was so different from the way Chad had. She and Chad had fallen in love as kids, barely out of high school. She couldn’t see it then, but now she realized that he had always tried to make her feel like she was less than he was. It was always in subtle ways, but it took another man’s attention to make Maggie realize the slights and appreciate that Jeremy didn’t treat her that way.

  Ugh. Chad. She just now realized that she hadn’t told Jeremy about Chad staying at the house.

  Jeremy slipped his hand under her blouse and ran his fingers along the bare skin of her back. Maggie arched into him, savoring his touch and the feel of his hand on her skin.

  Now didn’t really seem like the best time to tell him her ex had moved back home.

  Chapter Seven

  Maggie pulled her car into Sunny’s driveway. It was the following Wednesday night, and she couldn’t believe how fast the last week had flown. A big case at work was just finishing up and between that and worrying about Jeremy, her days this week had flown by in a blur.

  Caught off guard at how quickly book club had rolled around again, she had stayed up late the night before, finishing the novel they were reading so she would be able to participate in tonight’s book club meeting.

  Edna lived a few houses down from Sunny, so Maggie assumed that she had already walked over. Cassie’s car sat parked on the street, so she and Piper were most likely inside. Maggie took a deep breath, not sure if she was ready for the onslaught of questions about Jeremy and the impending murder case.

  She hadn’t seen Jeremy since the night she had dropped him at his house from the police station. They had talked on the phone, but each had spent the weekend and several nights the past week in their offices. Between her own busy caseload and the launch of Jeremy’s new game, both of their plates were overflowing.

  Knowing Jeremy had the added strain of the murder investigation and dealing with a company full of grief and questions, she tried to offer as much support as she could through texts and quick emails. As far as she knew, there had been no new word on Jim’s murder case.

  The topic of Chad had conveniently not come up, and she had yet to find a way to casually slip it into their conversation. She was trying not to face if that was purposeful on her part or not.

  She knew she would have to face it tonight, though, with the Page Turners. There was no way they would let her skate by without telling them why he was still in the house. She wished she had an answer.

  She knew he was there, but he had a way of making himself scarce when she got home from work. He was either tucked upstairs in Dylan’s room watching television, or out of the house, most likely on the golf course. Although how he could still afford course fees when he was supposedly broke was beyond her.

  ##

  He had been up last Wednesday night when she got home from Jeremy’s, scaring the daylights out of her when she walked into the dark house. She had set her purse on the sofa and walked into the kitchen. The dim light above the sink was on, and Chad stood by the fridge wearing only a pair of pajama pants, holding a glass of milk and a handful of choc
olate chip cookies.

  She wasn’t sure, but it seemed like he sucked in his stomach a little when she walked into the room. He did look good. He must have been working out to lose weight, because his stomach looked more toned and she couldn’t see any of the flabby middle that he had been sporting the last five years of their marriage. He looked tanned and fit and younger. He looked more like the guy she had fallen in love with and spent years of her life with.

  Hmm. Must be a trick of the light. Because that guy had left her for a new-and-improved model.

  Chad set down the milk and leaned against the counter. “Hey. I heard you had a little excitement at book club tonight and you all ended up at the police station. So, did they arrest Super-Nerd?”

  Maggie grimaced. Yeah, that was the guy she remembered. Chad had always had a way of putting down anything that he perceived as better than he was. “Come on, Chad. Don’t do that.”

  “Sorry. You’re right. Did they arrest Jeremy?” He held out a cookie, which she assumed was a peace offering. And it would taste better than an olive branch.

  She sank onto the kitchen stool and took the cookie. “Of course they didn’t arrest him. They just brought him in for questioning. It’s his company. He’s the best one to tell them what’s going on there. I wish you wouldn’t judge him when you don’t even know him. He’s really a great guy.”

  “Yeah? Does he make you happy?” Chad poured her a glass of milk and passed it across the counter. He acted as if the question were innocent, but seemed a little too eager for the answer.

  “Yes. He does. And he’s really good with the boys.”

  Chad appeared to bristle at the mention of their kids. “Is he over here a lot? Is he spending the night here?”

  Whoa, buddy. “First of all, it’s none of your business who’s spending the night over here. But no, we’re not at that stage yet. I’m not ready for anyone to be spending the night. In fact, I don’t really want you spending the night here either. Speaking of which, how’s the apartment hunting going? And by that I mean, when are you leaving?”

  Chad laughed and slouched a little more against the counter, which Maggie recognized as the sign that he was about to lay on the charm, or bullshit, depending on which way you looked at it. “All right. You don’t have to get all touchy about it. You just seem different. Not as tense. You look really good, actually. Like you’re happier, and you smile more.”

  Yeah, well, she hadn’t had a lot to smile about in those last few years with him. The fighting and cold shoulders had taken a lot of the fun out of their marriage. In the end, they had seemed more like roommates than lovers anyway.

  She liked to stay up late working on case files, and Chad had taken to sleeping in the guest room stating that he didn’t want his snoring to affect her sleep and that she could stay up later reading that way. As if he were doing her a favor by leaving their bed. Without even the accidental intimacy of sleeping in the same bed together, there came a point when she couldn’t even remember the last time he had touched her.

  Thinking about their marriage saddened her and then pissed her off. She thought it easier to just stop this train of thought now. “I am happier. But I’m also tired. See you in the morning.” She slid off the stool, leaving the milk glass on the counter and headed for the stairs. She hadn’t realized until later that night when she was brushing her teeth that he hadn’t answered the question of when he was leaving.

  ##

  A screen door slammed, jarring Maggie back into the present.

  She looked across to the neighboring house and saw that Jake had stepped out of the back door. He waved to her, and she assumed he must be heading to Sunny’s as well. Probably for the dessert. What was it about cake that drew men out of the woodwork?

  Time to face the music. She pushed the door open and met Jake halfway across the lawn. “Hey, Jake.”

  “Hey, Maggie. How’s the lawyering business?” Jake grinned, and Maggie could see what drew Sunny to him. His skin carried the healthy glow of a summer tan, and his grin displayed gleaming white teeth. His one canine was just a little crooked, giving his smile just the right combination of charm and mischief. He wasn’t as tall as Jeremy, but his shoulders were broad and muscular and he was drop-dead, head-turning gorgeous. No wonder Sunny walked around with a smile on her face all the time. She got to do the horizontal mambo with this hunk.

  “It’s good.” They walked up Sunny’s front walk to the porch.

  Jake put a hand on the door but turned to Maggie before pulling it open. “How’s Jeremy?”

  Maggie stopped just short of running into him. “He’s hanging in there. We’ve both been really busy this week, and I haven’t had much of a chance to really talk to him.”

  “Did he tell you that he hired Finn and me to help figure out who murdered his employee?” Jake had taken an early retirement from the FBI, choosing instead to team up with Jerry Finney, an old friend who had a private investigation business. Sunny had told her that they’d mainly been doing a lot of background checks and some security work.

  Maggie was surprised to hear that Jeremy had hired them and not told her. Although she knew Jeremy admired Jake, putting him up on a James Bond-style pedestal. It made sense that he would ask Jake for help if he was in trouble. “He hadn’t told me yet, but I’m glad you’re helping him. That’s nice of you.”

  “Jeremy’s a friend. I would’ve helped him anyway, but he made sure we knew this was a paid job. He said all of his resources were at our disposal. I’m just trying to figure out a reason to use his private helicopter.” Jake laughed and pulled on the door, holding it open for her to walk in ahead of him.

  Jeremy had a helicopter? She had never heard him mention that. Granted, he didn’t talk much about his wealth. She wondered what else he’d been withholding.

  “It’s about time you got here.” Piper met them at the door, throwing her arms around Maggie’s middle in a hug. “Is Drew with you?”

  Piper had been dating Maggie’s son Drew all summer. She wasn’t sure what would happen when the two left for college in the fall. “No, but he said he might drop by later to see you.”

  Piper grinned. “Probably because he heard we were ordering pizza.” She led them into the kitchen, where Sunny, Cassie, and Edna sat around the table, an open pizza box in front of them. “I’ll get you guys some plates.”

  Each woman stood to give Maggie a hug, and Beau, Sunny’s golden retriever, gave her a welcoming sniff in the crotch. Feeling loved by her friends and by Beau, she sat at the table as Cassie passed her a warm slice of pizza.

  Never one for subtlety, Edna peppered her with questions. “How’s Jeremy? What’s up with the investigation? What have they found out?”

  “Settle down, Edna.” Sunny held up a hand to her elderly neighbor. “Give the woman a minute to breathe.”

  Maggie shrugged. “I’m fine. I don’t really know anything new. You should ask him.” She pointed at Jake, who had forgone the plate and was standing at the counter, shoveling a piece of pizza into his mouth. “Jeremy just hired him to help with the investigation.”

  “What? Why?” Sunny looked at Jake, appearing as if this were news to her as well.

  Jake finished chewing. “Look. Jeremy’s a bright guy. He’s just covering his bases. He’s protecting himself and his company, in case the police try to come after him.”

  “Do they really think Jeremy is a suspect?” Cassie asked, a worried look on her face.

  “I’m not sure. I think they’re looking at everybody right now. It’s their job. They have to look at the case from all angles.” Jake picked up another piece of pizza. “I just wish he had a better alibi. Or any alibi, for that matter.”

  “Hold the phone. Jeremy doesn’t have an alibi?” Edna looked over at Maggie. “I thought he was with you the night of the murder.”

  Maggie shook her head. She didn’t want to admit it, but the fact that Jeremy had no alibi did make her uneasy. She was a lawyer, for heaven’s sake, and t
hat was the first thing they dug into. “He wasn’t with me. He’s been working on this new program, and he said he needed a night to stay home and work. He claimed he needed some quiet time to think and process through everything before things went live with his new game this week.”

  “So, don’t they have at least an electronic trail to follow that shows him on the computer or making phone calls?” Edna asked. “I saw this detective show last week where they tracked the killer through his time spent on the internet.”

  Sunny nodded. “Yeah, I thought you guys liked to play some online game together. Can’t they track his computer activity through the game?”

  Maggie groaned. Normally, they spent several hours a night online together. Maggie wished she had pushed him to play that night. “We usually do, but not that night. He was completely unplugged. No phone, no computer. He said he just needed peace and quiet and that he spent the night in the pool and sitting in the hot tub.”

  “And unfortunately, no one can verify that,” Jake added. “That’s another reason he hired us.”

  “Who wants cupcakes?”

  Maggie turned to see whose voice was coming from the front room, praying she was incorrectly identifying the deep baritone of her ex-husband.

  Nope. Dead on. Drew walked into the kitchen, followed by his father. Chad was holding a pink box from her favorite bakery.

  Chad set the box on the kitchen counter. “Hey, ladies. Drew said he was coming over to see Piper, and I thought I’d tag along and see how book club was going. I made him stop to pick up some treats on the way over.” He looked at Maggie. “This is that bakery you like, right?”

  Maggie stared daggers at her son.

  Drew shrugged and shook his head. “Sorry, Mom. I didn’t invite him. I just said I was headed over here, and he got in the car.”

  Edna stood and peeked under the bakery box lid. “Well, we don’t like you, but we do like cake.” She lifted a cupcake from the box, inhaling the scent of the decadent treat. Whipped chocolate frosting had been piped around the top of the cake, and a chocolate-covered coffee bean sat nestled in the center.