Proposals and Poison

by Rachelle J. Christensen

  “From the trash?” Lorea made a face. “Don’t they have to dispose of those kinds of things in a certain way?”

  Tony nodded. “Yes, and Vickie was in charge of disposal.” He shook his head. “Tim explained it to us. He said that after a dose is administered, there is still liquid in the bottle that runs down the sides and settles in the bottom. Vickie collected that so Rose could inject Lily with more poison and have enough left over for a second dose.”

  “That’s why they left the empty bottle at the murder scene, so you’d find Vickie’s alibi and look elsewhere,” I said. “And the whole time she was smuggling out the poison, bit by bit.”

  “At least there’s no question that it was premeditated,” Lorea said.

  “Yes, and even though Tim’s clinic will be under investigation by the Board of Veterinary Medicine, I think he’ll be okay,” Tony said.

  “So Tim knows everything?” I asked.

  Tony nodded. “Yes, we’ve kept him informed of everything that we’ve discovered. It won’t bring Lily back, but at least they aren’t running the streets.”

  “I wonder if his animal clinic will make it.”

  “I’ll be surprised if he sticks around. He was talking about going back to Florida with his family.”

  I scuffed my toe along the grass. “What a tragedy. Everything in his life was about to start.”

  Lorea and Tony fell silent as we mused over the events. We stood in the meadow, staring up at Baldy. The rugged mountain looked over the valley, and for some reason it made me think of Lily. Rose wouldn’t ever be able to fully pay for her crime because she couldn’t bring Lily back, but we could do our best to honor the beautiful person that Lily was. I sniffed, feeling grief roll over me again. Lorea gave me a hug, and we both felt an unspoken peacefulness. I felt certain that Lily was grateful for our meager attempts to solve her murder. And Tim could at least walk away from all the false allegations, though I still felt acute sorrow for him and all he’d been through.

  It made me think of Luke. Before his wife died, his life was about to start too. Luke would understand how Tim felt, the horrible loss he would continue to face. Hopefully, in time, Tim would be able to move on, to find someone new, and start over.

  My heart flipped when I thought of seeing Luke in a few minutes for dinner. I felt like life was just beginning for both of us.

  “How are you holding up?” Luke asked as we slid into our seats at the restaurant.

  “I think I need a vacation.”

  “Do you have any more destination weddings planned?” He winked.

  “It doesn’t count as a vacation if I’m working, silly,” I retorted.

  “That’s true. Hmm, maybe we’d better plan one.” He squeezed my hand and I held on tight, happiness bubbling up at the way Luke had said “we.”

  Everyone talked nonstop and ate while analyzing the crazy motives of Rose and Vickie. I’d just taken the last bite of my pasta when Tony cleared his throat and stood up. “Hey, I know we’ve all been discussing this case a lot tonight, but I have one more bit of information I can share.”

  Immediately the room was silent, every person focused on Tony’s words. He coughed and wiped his hands on his pants, then looked down at Lorea.

  “Hey, Lorea,” Tony said, and his voice was strangely soft. “I have a question I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while. I kept putting it off ‘cause I thought I knew how you felt about certain things, but now I’m hoping I was wrong.”

  Tony knelt down, and it was the first time the giant police officer appeared shorter than the spunky, barely-over-five-foot Lorea. I gasped and looked at Lorea’s face to see if she was panicking. She wasn’t. Her dark eyes were bright with happiness, and it was as if the rest of us weren’t even in the room.

  “Lorea Zubiondo, I love you and I want you to be my wife.” Tony lifted his hand up, and I recognized the ring box from Walter’s shop. “Will you marry me?”

  Lorea’s mouth hung open when she saw the ring. Then the corners of her mouth turned up into a huge grin. “Yes. Yes!” She threw her arms around Tony’s neck, and he stood, twirling her around in a circle.

  Everyone cheered when he set her down and slipped the ring on her finger. When he tipped her back over his arm and kissed her, she kissed him back, and the cheering grew louder.

  She pulled back and held her ring up, taking a closer look. “Thank you!” She jumped up and down and then kissed Tony again.

  “I can’t believe he did that,” Luke murmured. “I thought he was going to wait until next week.”

  “What?” I turned to Luke. “You knew about this?”

  Luke smiled. “Client-attorney privilege.”

  I swatted him. “He’s not your client.”

  “Well, he’s definitely happier than most of my clients.”

  I turned back to Tony and Lorea. “C’mon, let’s go tell them congratulations.” We stepped around the table, and I gave Lorea a hug. “I’m so happy for you!”

  “Me too,” she said. “He totally surprised me. I mean, we’ve kind of been talking about things, but I had no idea he already picked out a ring.”

  Tony pulled Lorea close to his side. “I couldn’t wait another day.”

  “An open-and-shut case, huh?” I smacked Tony on the arm. “You little liar.”

  Tony took the ring box out of his pocket and opened and closed it with a snap. “I didn’t lie.”

  We all laughed.

  I hugged Lorea again. “I can’t believe you’re engaged! I’m thrilled for you two.”

  “I bet you are,” Lorea said with a smile. “You finally converted me, and I’m going to be eating crow for a long time to come.”

  I shook my head. “I would never. Besides, I saw this coming.”

  “You did not,” Lorea insisted.

  “I did. I even caught Tony coming out of Walter’s store.”

  “What? And you didn’t tell me?”

  “I didn’t want to get arrested for interfering with a police investigation,” I said, mimicking Tony’s authoritative tone.

  Lorea turned to Tony. “You threatened to arrest my best friend?”

  Tony pulled out a pair of handcuffs. “All in the line of duty.”

  Lorea laughed and kissed Tony again. “It’s a good thing I love you.”

  I glanced back at Luke to see if he would pull an “Ew, yuck” face, but he was all smiles. He winked in my direction, and I felt my middle warm as if he’d just lit a match with that look.

  “Stick around, everyone,” Tony said. “We have lots to celebrate tonight. I ordered an orange chiffon cake for Lorea. Hey, Adri, do you want to tell them to bring it out?”

  “Sure.”

  I moved toward the door, but Luke grabbed my hand. “Can I come along and help?”

  I paused and studied him. His smile was genuine, and his hand was warm in mine. “Sure.”

  We walked out of the room, and I flagged down a waitress who said she’d bring the cake right out. Luke tugged on my hand when I turned to go back in the large room where we’d gathered to eat. He pulled me over to a little alcove by a picture window that overlooked Sun Valley.

  “Step outside with me for one minute,” he murmured. “I need to tell you something.”

  “Okay.” I followed him out to the parking lot, my stomach buzzing with anticipation of what he wanted to tell me.

  “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry again for getting after you about looking into this case. I should’ve listened to you when you said Tim was innocent.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” I waved my hand. “Everything’s good now.”

  “Almost,” Luke said. He put his hands around my waist and pulled me closer. “I’m feeling inspired after witnessing that proposal. I was thinking that maybe it was time for me to make a proposal to you.”

  “What?” My ears must have been playing tricks on me. Luke’s eyes were intent, but he couldn’t possibly be thinking of proposing to me.

  I started
to step back, but Luke pulled me forward again. “I’m glad you’re my girlfriend and I’m not going to be afraid to say it anymore. I love you, Adri.”

  His eyes were that intoxicating deep shade of blue that always made me think of a summer thunderstorm. I leaned in close and whispered, “I love you too, Mr. Luke.”

  He smiled and kissed me in the parking lot as the July heat emanated from the blacktop. And I kissed him back, because that’s what you do when you’re really in love.

  1. Were you aware that the vet’s euthanizing agent can also kill humans?

  2. How did you feel about Tony and Lorea dating?

  3. What were you hoping to see with Luke and Adri’s relationship?

  4. This book is set in Sun Valley, Idaho, just like the first book in the series. Discuss how the setting is similar or different from where you live.

  5. Who did you suspect as the murderer, and why?

  6. Adri and her mom were at work creating crafts and delicious eats in this book. What were some of your favorites?

  7. The Ketchum Arts Festival is an actual annual event with a wonderful selection of items. The event is free and includes live music, great food, and more. It includes a free kids’ booth with fun activities and something for everyone. Learn more at this website: www.ketchumartsfestival.com. What is one of your favorite events in your local community?

  8. Have you ever been to a wedding that offered something unique or had a creative theme?

  Learn more about Adri and her crafts at www.mashedpotatoesandcrafts.com.

  A Note to the Reader

  Thank you for reading Proposals and Poison! I hope that you enjoyed discovering the whodunit in this mystery. If you’d like to leave a review so that others can discover Adri’s talent in sleuthing and weddings, you can visit goodreads here or pick your favorite spot to leave your review here. Thank you for your support!

  As a special thank you, I’d like to offer you a free book. Click here to get your copy of Silver Cascade Secrets. As an added bonus, you’ll receive the latest news and updates on current releases! You can also connect with me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/rachellechristensenauthor/ and my author website here: http://rachellechristensen.com/

  Keep reading for a sneak peek of Silver Cascade Secrets!

  Rachelle

  Enjoy this sneak peek of Rachelle’s novella, Silver Cascade Secrets, available now in ebook. Get your free copy HERE.

  "SILVER CASCADE SECRETS by Rachelle J. Christensen is an exciting romantic suspense novella. I loved the park setting and the creepiness factor. Jillian meets Travis during one of her master landscaping projects at the park where his brother-in-law was killed and they both try to find answers about the murder. Great writing, a sweet romance, and an intriguing mystery all rolled into a single story."

  Heather B. Moore

  USA Today Bestselling Author of Finding Sheba

  “Again!” a little girl squealed as she brushed leaves off her pants.

  I smiled and continued digging in the flower bed, planting tulip bulbs. Silver maple trees lined the sidewalks of Silver Cascade Park, where I worked five days a week as caretaker. My nails were bad because I didn’t like gloves, and I had perpetual dirt stains on my knees, but it was my dream job.

  I watched the girl sail into the pile of leaves and seconds later run to a man screaming, “Again! Again!”

  As I wondered if they were father and daughter, a woman approached and hugged the girl. The man put his arm around her in a side hug, and they talked for a few minutes before the woman left with the little girl.

  Hmm, didn’t seem like a divorced couple, but then my people-watching skills had proven that there was always more than meets the eye. The man sauntered down the sidewalk. I thought I heard him humming something. Carpenter jeans with a good fit were a weakness of mine, and his retreating form was straining my eyes, so I put some muscle back into the flower bed and grabbed another handful of tulip bulbs.

  A few minutes later, a light wind picked up several leaves and sent them skittering across the sidewalk. The points of the maple leaves made a distinct sound, signaling that autumn had taken root in Boise, Idaho. I watched the leaves swirl and ignored thoughts of raking and leaf blowing.

  I saw some out of the corner of my eye and noticed that the man had come back and was on his hands and knees, searching through the grass. His carpenter jeans had a dark wash, which complimented his olive-toned skin. He appeared to be in his late twenties, maybe a few years older than my twenty-five years. I approached him, kicking a few leaves up as I walked.

  “Not to ask the obvious, but did you lose something?”

  He looked up. “Yeah, my keys.”

  “I’m Jillian Warren, Silver Cascade Park caretaker and finder of many sets of lost keys. Would you like some help?”

  He stood and brushed his hands on his pants then held out his hand. “Travis Banner. I’d love some help, because it helps to have keys if you want to drive home.”

  With a laugh, I shook his hand then knelt in the grass and began combing through the leaves. I stole a few glances in his direction. With dark hair and stubble along his jawline, he reminded me of Hook on my favorite TV show, Once Upon a Time, minus the sexy accent. “I saw you playing with that little girl. Is she your daughter?”

  “My niece. I’m not married, but I like playing favorite uncle.”

  “It looked like you were definitely in the running.”

  Hook, or Travis, looked even better with that info, and I had to remind myself I was searching for keys, not a date.

  “Four-year-olds are pretty easy to please.” He nodded toward the flower bed I’d been digging in. “So do you like your job? The park is beautiful, by the way.”

  “Thanks. I do enjoy working here. I graduated in landscape architecture, and this seemed like a great stepping stone into the field. My grandma was a bit underwhelmed— not many bragging rights— but I really do like it more than I thought I would.” I ducked my head, embarrassed at all the information I’d just given a stranger. Well, I knew his name, so he wasn’t a complete stranger.

  Travis met my gaze, picking up on my admission. “It’s okay to love your job, even if it’s different from what everyone else expects. I’m a diesel-engine mechanic. My white-collar dad definitely didn’t approve of me donning the blue collar, but I love what I do and hope to have my own shop one day.”

  My hands stilled in the leaves, and I looked at Travis. He had dark-brown eyes unlike Hook, so surely he couldn’t be an evil villain. “It’s so nice to talk to someone who understands.”

  He paused, brushing a hand across the stubble on his chin. “I was thinking the same thing.”

  My heart felt jittery, and a rush of heat came to my cheeks. “Um, don’t laugh, but I’m going to use my favorite trick to try to find your keys.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “I can’t make any promises. I might laugh.”

  I shrugged. “Fair enough.” Glancing behind me, I saw the remains of the leaf pile Travis had been tossing his niece into. The leaves crunched under my feet as I walked to the pile; I kicked some of the leaves then backed up a few paces. Travis was hot, so it was worth embarrassing myself to find his keys. I lay flat on my belly and squinted at the millions of blades of grass and crumbled leaves scattered in the distance. A few strands had come loose from the knot of hair I’d fixed earlier, so I tucked them behind my ear. I heard Travis chuckle but ignored him and continued using the Warren Secret Spy Method, angling my head so my view skimmed along the ground.

  Leaves crunched beside me, and I looked over to see Travis mimicking my pose. He winked at me. “I know this trick. My brother and I used to do it to find stray marbles in the gravel.”

  “Most kids know it, but most adults have forgotten.”

  “Or maybe they have more pride than we do.”

  I giggled and rolled over in the leaves, moving to a different vantage point. The sun chose that moment to break through the mass of cumulus clo
uds scattered across the sky. The leaves turned from red to golden, and I caught a glint of metal about ten feet in front of me.

  “Aha!” I shouted and jumped up, keeping my eyes trained on the sparkle I’d seen. When I picked them up, the keys jingled together. “Found ’em.” I dangled the keys triumphantly as Travis approached.

  “Thanks, Jillian.” Travis held out his palm, and I dropped the keys into it. “You’re amazing.” His tone was light, but I chose to find a deeper meaning in his words.

  “Glad to be of service.”

  “I really appreciate you helping me out.” Travis pocketed his keys. “There’s this great café a couple of blocks down. They serve the best Mexican hot chocolate. Could I treat you to some?”

  “I love The Sugar Cube. Let me just finish up with these bulbs.”

  “Ah, so you know the place. Let me help. I owe you big time.” Travis followed me to the flower bed and plopped a tulip bulb into one of the holes I’d dug.

  “Thanks.” I examined his work with a nod. “I’m impressed you knew which way to plant the bulb. My brother doesn’t know anything about flowers.”

  “I may be a bachelor, but my mother had a prized flower garden, and she taught me a few things.” Travis pointed at my fingernails. “Her hands always looked like that in the fall— mine, too. She’s been gone for almost ten years, but for a while, I had my own bulb garden in her honor.”

  I had started to curl my fingers inward at his attention, but the affection in his voice made me proud to show my work-worn hands. I patted the earth down around the new plantings. “Really? What was her favorite flower?”

  “Daffodils. She must have had a dozen varieties. I always liked these little miniature ones she used to plant around the tulips.” He got a faraway look in his eyes as he grabbed a handful of bulbs. “How about you?”

  “Hyacinths. I’ll be planting a pink variety tomorrow that I think smells a little like heaven.”