Hope Hadley Eight Book Cozy Mystery Set
Page 49
As I looked at Oliver, he appeared to be tangled up in the same set of emotions as I was. Only, inside him, one had won out over the others.
He sighed. “I don’t know about you, but I’m completely knackered.”
I nodded. “I’m pretty spent myself.”
Energy was in short supply, but I had just enough to feel miserable at that moment. I looked out the window at the overcast sky, wishing the sun would break through the clouds. I knew I was asking a lot. This was Britain, after all, where sunlight came at a premium, but I’d settle for just a single shaft of sunlight to start. My wish did not come true.
Oliver offered me sympathy. “I know it doesn’t bring your friend back, but at least you can take comfort in knowing the guilty party is behind bars.”
“That is practically the textbook definition of bittersweet.”
“It certainly is.”
“I know you’re trying to help.”
“Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do.”
I gave him a weak smile. “You’re already doing plenty.”
“On a separate note, you put in some fine detective work back there.”
That’s how I knew he was desperate to cheer me up. It wasn’t like him to give me all the credit. Oliver was the least ego-centric man I’d ever met, but he was still human. He did have an ego, and no matter how small it happened to be, it was difficult swallowing that to throw the spotlight squarely on me.
While I was touched by his action, humility came so naturally to me that I immediately shied away from the praise.
“We’re a team, both in law enforcement and in life. I couldn’t have done this without you any more than you could have done this without me.”
He smiled. “That’s why I love you. It’s amazing that the hunger for credit is completely absent from your mind.”
I raised my eyebrows at him. “Is that the only reason you love me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, love. You know I could spend all night going over all the reasons that I adore you.”
I became playful with him. “It just so happens that I have all night.”
He gazed deep into my eyes. “What do you say we start the night off with some dinner?”
Oliver didn’t have to ask me twice. I was always game to dine out. There was just one condition I could think of. “As long as we can grab some caramels for dessert.”
He squinted at me. “What about your diet?”
I was wondering if he was going to call me on that. Luckily, when he did, I came up with an indisputable argument.
“Are you kidding? If there has ever been an excuse to cheat on my diet, it’s a day like this. Nights like these were built for sweets.”
Oliver either couldn’t disagree with that or just decided not to. “Caramels it is then.”
“Brilliant,” I said.
It was settled then. The evening would have a particularly delicious ending. Hopefully, that would set the stage for good things to come. If that wasn’t the case, fear not, there were always more caramels to bring a smile to my face.
The End.
Table of Contents
Fame Is Murder
Fishing For Murder
Drowning In Deceit
Murder Of A Yoga Instructor
Killer Injustice
Murder Of A Restaurant Critic
Murder Of A Movie Producer
Deadpan Murder