Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Nana cupped her hands around the still steaming coffee. “I don’t suppose it’d hurt to have more than one investigation going, but I’d insist upon paying Three Hens. Your agency is new and shouldn’t work for free. I wouldn’t mind a family discount, however.”
Holy crap. They’d both just used the word ‘family’ in regard to each other.
Tessa leaned close and whispered, “We should back away slowly.”
“Yeah,” I said, still thinking about the notes, both now tucked neatly out of sight. “But I really want to know what’s in those envelopes.”
Nana’s mild gaze flicked to me with unmistakable warning. “Curiosity is not always a virtue, Anna.”
“Neither is secrecy,” I muttered.
The door opened with a jingle.
“We’re not open yet,” Tessa said, turning toward the entrance. “Oh. Aiden, hi.”
I smiled. “I didn’t know you were heading over the pass. Figured you’d have to go into your office.” Darn it. We could’ve driven over together.
One of his dark eyebrows rose. “I went for a run, and you were gone. The note was nice, though.”
Oops. When I awoke, he was already gone, and I had to get moving. “You could’ve called.”
His blue eyes warmed. “I did. Your phone is off.”
Double oops. I sighed. “It’s in my car. I’ll turn it on when I go outside.”
“In your car?” he asked, his voice deepening.
“Yes,” I said rather snippily. “I’m perfectly safe in Silverville.” Sometimes I liked his overprotectiveness. Sometimes I didn’t.
He hummed slightly, his eyes promising a discussion later. “Hi, Tessa.” His attention turned to my grandmothers. “Ladies.”
They both smiled.
Dread dropped into my stomach. Hopefully they wouldn’t hit him with the same wedding talk. I couldn’t take it. “So, Aiden. Why are you here?”
“Mrs. O’Shea? I need to interview you about the dynamite.” He moved closer to me.
“Of course,” Nana said, gesturing toward me. “My attorney is here, so why don’t you join me? The coffee is fresh and no doubt delicious.” She looked up at Tessa. “Could we have a couple of muffins, sweetheart?”
Nonna leaned toward Nana. “See? He’s talking about dynamite and not your antique boxes.”
Aiden’s smile looked forced. “I’d appreciate it if Three Hens didn’t interfere with my investigation, Mrs. Albertini.”
Eesh. Tessa and I both took a step away from Aiden.
Nonna’s chin lifted. “We’d appreciate it if your investigation didn’t hinder ours.”
Holy crap. Tessa reached down and took my hand. I couldn’t breathe.
Nonna hefted herself out of the booth. “I need to get to work and will talk to you all later.” She walked over and kissed both Tessa and me on the cheek before moving toward Aiden. “If you need any assistance with your part of the case, let me know.” She levered up and kissed Aiden on his whiskered jaw before turning and moving toward the door.
“Mrs. Albertini?” Aiden asked calmly.
She turned and looked over her shoulder. “Call me Nonna, Aiden. We’re going to be family as soon as you get it together and propose to my granddaughter.”
Tessa gasped quietly next to me. My mouth went dry.
Aiden’s expression didn’t change. Not a bit. “Nonna? I adore you, but if you put yourself in danger or mess with my investigation, I’ll take you into custody.”
“Wow,” Tessa breathed.
I couldn’t breathe. Not at all.
Nonna’s smile was brilliant. “Try it, young man. I dare you.” With that, she swept outside into the rain.
Holy. Crap.
Chapter 5
Later that afternoon, I finished sweeping up the glass into the dustpan as Nana flitted around her shop, rearranging lotions and candles by the wellness teas.
She eyed the center where the pedestal had been. “I do hope they find my nugget heirlooms.”
“They will,” I said, stretching my back. “We need to figure out how your lotion got into Gloria’s pie.”
“We don’t really know that it was my lotion,” Nana said, her cheeks pink.
I stilled. “You said that it was—”
Her shoulders drooped, but she looked adorable, having changed into a green sweater and dark jeans. “I know. You can tell it’s my lotion because not only could I smell the peppermint, but also the eucalyptus, lavender, and of course the hint of nutmeg. It really does set it apart.”
“I’m sure that it does.” I always loved her different lotions. “But how did it get into the pie?”
“I have no idea.”
I needed to figure this out. “Do you know might’ve had a sample of the lotion?”
She threw both of her hands up. “Everybody has my lotions. I’ve been giving ‘em out for years. Anna, you know that.”
Yeah, I did know that. “So you’re saying anybody could have had some of your lotion. How did they get it into the pie?”
“I really don’t know.” Nana’s brows drew down. “Seriously, I’m the only one who had the key to the refrigerator. Nobody could get into it.”
“Where’s the key now?” I asked.
“I gave it to Birdie Yonderelli this morning. She’s working there. Did you know about that?”
“Yes,” I said. Birdie’s husband died two months ago, and the Elks had offered her a job, mainly to get her out of the house and interacting with people again. I didn’t think she needed the money. “Did she have any idea about the pies?”