Wild Blue Mysteries Boxed Set

by Diane Bator

  “Yes, darling, I do. Have a good life.”

  Christina’s entire body shuddered. She dropped the phone onto the floor and let the tears fall where they may. She’d never realized how much she missed the Brady Ryan she used to know until then. Drugs and alcohol had robbed her of the best friend she’d ever had. Had she caused his fall from grace or was she actually been a mere pawn on his warped climb up the ladder to success for their entire relationship? Shortly after ten, Clancy threw open the front door. The long narrow box he carried got stuck in the doorway. “Hey, Sis. How’s life treating you today?”

  She glowered. He was the last person she wanted to see. “It’s absolutely wonderful, as Dad would say.”

  Leo burst into the bakery behind Clancy with a second box roughly the same size and shape. “Loosely translated: It sucks. Leave me alone.”

  Clancy set his box on the counter. “Are you okay?”

  “She looks sick.” Leo set his boxes on the floor and placed a hand on her forehead. “Hey, you okay, babe?”

  “Go away. I’m not in the mood to put up with either of you right now.” Christina wiped her sweaty face with the bottom edge of her t-shirt. “What’s in the boxes?”

  “Some greenery Mom had ordered for the front of the store.” Her brother grabbed her in a bear hug, pressing her against his cold parka. “Whoa. You’re crying. What happened?”

  “Nothing.” She pushed him away, then slumped onto a stool and rubbed her eyes. “I talked to Brady.”

  Neither man said anything, but glanced at each other with raised eyebrows.

  Christina looked from one to the other with the feeling they were hiding something. “Leo’s a detective. You guys already know everything, don’t you? Keep out of this. I’ll fix things, not you.”

  Leo grinned. “This from the lady who can’t make a gingerbread house to save her life. You stick with what you do best and I’ll do what I do best. You just have to trust me.”

  Damn. She’d forgotten about the gingerbread house. She reached into the fridge for molasses. “This is my life we’re talking about. It might not be as fabulous as my brother thinks it should be, but it’s mine. Brady, for better or worse, is part of it.”

  “That’s a low blow, Sis. You have no idea what I think.” Clancy flared his nostrils then tore open the box on the counter and lifted out a string of cedar boughs. He left the store, slamming the door behind him.

  “He’ll probably need your help.” She rolled her eyes and gathered the ingredients for the gingerbread dough without bothering to be subtle. Lucy Stephens expected a well-built house by tomorrow and all Christina had to show for her efforts were ruins and crumbles.

  “He’ll be fine. There are hooks in the wall already to string them onto. All I have to do is put up the green stuff on the display case.” Leo sat on the stool and watched her measure ingredients.

  Christina’s shoulders sagged. He and Clancy must have made a deal, which meant Leo wasn’t going to let her out of his sight. “If you don’t mind, I have a lot of work to do. I promise I won’t leave the bakery. I have a stupid gingerbread house to build.”

  Leo jerked his head up. “What? Do you think I’m babysitting you or something? I just wanted to see what you do all day.”

  “You’re a lousy liar. Clancy wants you to keep an eye on me, doesn’t he?” She mixed the spices into the flour. “Why don’t you go Christmas shopping or something? I won’t tell.”

  “No. Well, yeah, he does, but I told him he didn’t have to worry about you.” Leo picked up a large spoon and handed it to her. “You have customers to tend to and a gingerbread house to make. That’s enough to keep you out of trouble.”

  Christina scowled. “Do you think that’ll keep me here? You don’t think I love Brady enough to go running to help him.”

  “Meh.” He shrugged.

  She pounded a fist into the bread dough she needed to finish with before she could start on the gingerbread house. “I knew there was a reason I didn’t like you.”

  “You like me. You like me a lot.” He winked. “In fact, you think I’m the hottest thing that ever walked through the door and you’re having a hard time keeping your hands off me every time we’re alone. Even as we speak.”

  “You’re funny.” And so right. Her knees weakened.

  Leo got off the stool and kissed the top of her head. “At least I can make you laugh. Let me know if you need any help, babe. I’m going to put up your decorations.”

  She hesitated. “Do you want a job? I need someone to wait on customers so I can build a gingerbread house undisturbed.”

  His eyes widened. “Lucy’s gingerbread house? Good luck with that.”

  She watched him walk out the door, flour on the seat of his pants. The stool was the last place she’d rested the flour bags that morning. Leo wouldn’t know he was marked, but everyone else in Packham would.

  Christina laughed. By the time Clancy dragged Leo back into the kitchen with him, her mood had lightened enough she handed them each a frosted gingerbread man. “Thanks. The bakery looks ready for Christmas.”

  Clancy’s eyebrows rose. “Did she just thank us?”

  “And fed us.” Leo raised his cookie. “She must be sick.”

  “Hm.” Clancy tapped his chin with a finger in thought. “What an interesting turn of events. Could it be the Grinch’s heart has grown a whole size today? Wow, it’s a frigging Christmas miracle.”

  Christina scowled. “You’re a jerk.”

  A half hour after the two men left, Lucy ran into the shop, hair disheveled and eyes wild. “Please tell me I remembered to order the gingerbread house.”

  “Yes, you—”

  She let out an exaggerated breath. “Thank goodness.”

  Christina had cookies to bake, several cakes to frost, and a gingerbread house to build. Still, she was distracted by Lucy’s frazzled appearance. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah.” Lucy struggled to smile then shook her head and reached for a tissue in the box on the counter. She dabbed her eyes. “No.”

  When the oven timer went off, Christina waved her into the kitchen. “I have to take the gingerbread out of the oven. Come on back, you can sit and talk.”

  “Really?” She tilted her head. “You don’t even know me.”

  “You’re friends with Clancy and Leo, aren’t you?” Christina swallowed her discomfort. “How much worse could you be?”

  Lucy laughed and followed her into the kitchen. “Holy cow. Big oven. No wonder it’s always so warm in here.”

  She pulled the racks full of gingerbread out of the oven and pushed a full rack of buns inside. The first few times she’d seen Lucy, she’d seemed full of life and energetic, never so worn down as she appeared now. When Christina turned back toward the cakes on the counter, she paused.

  “It smells like my grandma’s house in here.” Lucy sat on a stool, eyes closed and a blissful smile on her face.

  “Mine too.” She reached for the carrot cake and slathered cream cheese icing over the sides. “I learned to bake with both my mom and her mom. Grandma taught me to make her sugar cookies.”

  “I’ve heard they’re the best in town. She must be proud.”

  “I’m sure she would be, but she died when I was eighteen.” Christina flashed a smile. Her grandma had fought cancer as valiantly as her mother had. “So, what’s going on? You don’t usually seem so flustered.”

  Lucy vented a long sigh. “This is my first Christmas alone with my kids and I want it to be perfect. They’ve been through so much lately. We all have.”

  “Like what?” No one’s life could be as bad as hers right now. Could it?

  “A nasty divorce. We moved across the country away from all my friends and family and now my husband’s going to jail.”

  Christina stared. “Seriously? Wow. Your life sounds as messed up as mine.”

  Lucy laughed through her tears. “Gee, thanks. I guess we have more in common than just Leo and Clancy. How bad is your
mess?” She paused and held up a hand. “Sorry. You don’t have to tell me. I’m a writer, I get nosy.”

  “Oh yeah? What do you write?” Christina topped the carrot cake with a large orange icing carrot and attached some feathered green leaves.

  Her shoulders sagged. “I started out writing murder mysteries. After all that’s happened though, I’m switching genres. Romance novels and kids’ books seem nice and safe.”

  “I guess they would.” Christina didn’t want to pry since Lucy seemed upset enough for both of them. She’d have to ask Clancy about her later. “How did you and Clancy meet anyway?”

  “He, Leo, and Danny were investigating my husband. Well, technically they were investigating me, but things got a little messy.”

  Christina raised her eyebrows, her breath stuck in her throat. She set aside the first carrot cake and reached for the second one. “Clancy was investigating someone? Since when?”

  She shrugged. “I guess he works for Danny and Leo at the Wild Blue Detective Agency when the guys need extra help.”

  “I see.” No surprise Clancy hadn’t even mentioned his second job to Christina. She guessed he was as good at keeping secrets as she was. “So are you and Clancy dating or something?”

  Lucy’s cheeks darkened and she bowed her head. “No.”

  Dumb question. Lucy had just lost her husband, even if it was to a prison sentence. She and her kids probably weren’t ready for any man in their lives no matter how good a guy he was. “Sorry, I guess I get a little nosy too.”

  “He’s very sweet and he’s been great to the kids and I, but...”

  “He’s also funny, brilliant, and a royal pain in my backside,” Christina said.

  Lucy winced. “Are you trying to encourage me or warn me?”

  She really wasn’t sure. Clancy had a lot going for him and he was definitely attracted to Lucy. “What you two do is none of my business. Just don’t rush into anything you might regret later. And for crying out loud, quit staring at the gingerbread cookies and just eat one already.”

  “I owe you.” Lucy took an undecorated gingerbread cookie off the cooling rack and bit into it. “Wow. These are great. I hope you use the same recipe for the gingerbread houses.”

  “Thanks, but you don’t owe me anything. I’m just glad you stayed to chat.” Christina’s eyes welled up. She was unable to recall the last time she’d talked to anyone except Clancy or Leo. Or her father.

  Lucy touched her arm. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” She sniffed. “I always thought my mom was crazy. She’d invite people into the kitchen and they’d drink coffee and chat like it was her kitchen at home even though it’s totally unsanitary. Here I am doing the same thing.”

  “Maybe the heat’s making you crazy.” Lucy teased.

  Christina added an icing carrot to the top of the second cake. “Maybe.”

  “I never really knew your mom. She seemed like a nice lady. Once in a while, she’d bring my kids leftover cookies until she got sick.”

  “Cancer. By the time my dad told me, it was too late.” Christina sighed. “I got here a couple days before she died.”

  Lucy took a second cookie. “I’m so sorry. We’re you far away?”

  “Newville. Dad knew where I was, he just never told me until Clancy convinced him they had to.” In some ways, she’d been an entire planet away.

  The backdoor flew open. Clancy stomped the snow off his shoes then looked up. “Oh, you have a visitor, I see.”

  Christina rolled her eyes. “Actually, I kidnapped her so I wouldn’t be lonely until you showed up.”

  Lucy’s face reddened. “It’s okay, I was just leaving.”

  “No, you’re not. I haven’t finished icing your cake yet.” She set aside the carrot cake and grabbed two of the chocolate layers. “The kids like chocolate with caramel and custard, right?”

  “You’re getting a cake? What’s the occasion?” Clancy peered over Christina’s shoulder.

  Lucy’s eyes widened. “Um, I...”

  “It’ll be about ten minutes. Clancy, why don’t you take Lucy up to Java Jo’s and grab me a cup of tea.” She all but pushed them out the front door.

  “Um, okay.” Clancy glanced from Christina to Lucy. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yup.” Christina nudged him with her elbow since her hands were full of buttercream. “Take Lucy with you. She wanted to grab a cup of coffee while she waited anyway.”

  “Yeah, I did.” Lucy narrowed her eyes, then whispered, “You’re sneaky.”

  “Getting rid of both of us? How convenient.” Clancy scowled. “Where are my calzones?”

  Christina smiled. “You bring me tea, then I’ll feed you.”

  “Shall we?” Her brother stood in front of Lucy and held out his arm. “You didn’t really order a cake, did you? My sister’s up to something, isn’t she? Is Leo hiding back here somewhere?”

  “You are so dense some days.” Lucy shook her head. When he opened the front door, she left the bakery ahead of him.

  Warmth spread through Christina’s stomach. She liked Lucy Stephen already.

  By the time Leo returned in the early afternoon, she had three walls of the gingerbread house erected with a bowl in the center to hold them up. He smiled his approval then sat on the stool to watch. She ignored him and attached the fourth wall. After she put on the roof pieces, she stepped back to admire her handiwork.

  “Bravo.” He applauded. “You’ve successfully incarcerated a defenseless bowl.”

  “What are you talking about?” Her eyes widened.

  He grinned. “You left your bowl inside.”

  “I did?” Christina’s shoulders sagged as one side of the roof slid off and revealed the yellow bowl inside. The other side of the roof slid and dragged off a wall. Her eyes widened as the remaining three walls toppled. When she swore, Leo covered his mouth and convulsed with laughter.

  Christina couldn’t stop the tears, nor did she bother, she was too frustrated. “I can’t do this. I’ll just go buy a stupid gingerbread house. There’s no way I can make one by tomorrow.”

  Leo grasped her arms and pulled her close, pressing her against his chest.

  She poured out every ounce of frustration in her tears then looked at the ruins. “Why can’t I do this? It’s not that difficult, is it?”

  His arms remained firm around her. “What would your mom tell you?”

  She laid her head on his chest, the thumps of his heart calming her as she gazed as the mess of icing and cookie. “She’d say I was too impatient and need to let the walls set before I put on the roof. That and the icing’s too thin.”

  “Problem solved.” Leo nodded. “Oh, and you should stop giving away your bowls.”

  “How else am I supposed to get three walls to stay up while I put on the fourth?”

  He gazed into her eyes. “Ask a friend for help.”

  Christina looked up. She’d never thought of that. “I don’t have any friends. Well, except Clancy, but he doesn’t count.”

  “I could be your friend.” Leo touched her chin.

  She hesitated and licked her lips. “Can you hold up the walls of a gingerbread house?”

  “I can manage that.” He leaned down toward her, closing the gap between them. “Can we call a truce?”

  “For now.” Her heart hammered against his leather jacket. The heat that emanated off his body made her want to kiss him. To rip his coat off and...

  Not one of her better ideas. Instead, she pulled away from him and scrubbed her hands at the sink. She thickened the icing while Leo scraped icing off the pieces of the house. Together, they stood the walls to make a solid base for the roof.

  When his hands brushed hers, her knees nearly buckled. “Why are you helping me?”

  “Because you asked.” Leo shrugged. “Clancy’s worried about you and, between you and me, I think you’re kind of interesting.”

  Her face warmed. “Gee, thanks.”

  With help, the gingerb
read house took no time at all to finish. This time when Christina stood back to admire her work, the roof and walls stayed in place.

  Leo draped an arm across her shoulders. “Nice job. Lucy and the kids will love it.”

  “I’ll put the rest of the icing in a tub and the candies in a bag.” She grabbed and empty plastic container and a lid. “Since we’re actually are friends now, I have a question. How do you know Lucy?”

  His gaze remained on the gingerbread house. “Her husband tried to kill her. After the dust settled, we all became good friends.”

  “How good?” The question slipped out before Christina could stop it.

  Leo raised his eyebrows. “You are jealous.”

  She kept her eyes averted. “Nope, just curious. We are friends now, after all.”

  He handed her the bag of candy. “Yes, we are. And, to satisfy your morbid curiosity, I have a lot of respect for Lucy. She’s an amazing lady, but we don’t see the world the same way. She needs stability and I’m not ready to settle down with anyone.”

  “Anyone?” Her word hung in the air more like a dare than a question.

  Leo cleared his throat and shrugged. “It would take a special kind of lady to keep up with me. Someone fearless and crazy enough to drop everything and go anywhere.”

  Christina used to be that kind of lady. If only she’d met Leo before she’d married Brady and met Gage.

  “Speaking of which.” He placed his hands on her waist and pulled her close. “I have to cancel our date for tonight.”

  “That’s okay, I have things to do anyway.” She tried to squirm out of his grasp. “I don’t need a babysitter, Leo. You can leave.”

  “I’m hurt.” He murmured near her ear. “Here I thought you’d beg me to stay.”

  The warmth of his breath sent shivers down her bare arms. “Nope. I’m good.”

  “Okay.” He released her and tucked a business card into the front of her tank top. “Call me if you need anything.”

  Once he left, she cleaned up the bakery, then locked the door and walked toward Bishop Street. Her parents’ house hadn’t changed. Same faded siding, same peeling paint on the railings. She sighed and let herself inside only to be greeted by a breath of air only slightly warmer than the snow. Clancy hadn’t bothered to turn the heat up when he’d left for work. She shivered and nudged the thermostat up several degrees. She wandered through the house like a ghost of Christmases past.