Page 40 of Playing With Fire

Ricky felt a rush of giddy relief, followed by a surge of desire that sent out all sorts of physical signals—the appropriateness of which he didn’t care to dwell on just then.

“Blackmailing a town council officer?” he said lightly.

“Yup.”

Most people would agree that, in the circumstances, Ricky really had no choice but to follow his attractive blackmailer down the path.

Chapter Six

The chef’s special was a classic meat pie, served with baked Adirondack Blue potatoes and a side of early season New Yorker tomatoes.

Jodi experienced a brief rush of diner’s envy as Ricky rubbed his hands together and inhaled the exquisite fragrance of flaky pastry and beef. Her bagel and lox looked lonely on the large plate.

“Now this is how a meat pie ought to be,” said Ricky, slicing into the pie. “No fancy herbs and boutique salt.”

“My kind of man,” Jodi said lightly, without thinking. She felt her cheeks redden and looked away, but not before she saw a flicker of emotion cross his face. As though he too sensed the invisible thread which seemed to be drawing them together.

He tucked into the pie, giving a low hum of pleasure.

His face grew animated.

“You ever been to Far Rockaway Beach in Queens?”

Jodi blinked. Was this a gentle reminder that his real life was in New York City?

She shook her head. “Never heard of it.” She watched as he neatly diced some tomato and ate a few bites, once again noting the tiny scars crisscrossing the backs of his hands.

From out of nowhere, an image floated into her mind. Ricky and Chrissie Caitens. Sauntering down the main street of Temple Mountain like they owned it; arms wrapped around each other, heads down in some private conversation.

Ricky was still talking, his eyes bright with memory.

“The historical part is old, maybe 1920s. Nothing fancy, simple stucco and brick bungalows near the sea, designed for regular folks to vacation by a guy who became famous for his Art Deco hotels.”

Jodi nodded, wondering where this was going. Art Deco was something she knew about.

“Love that style. Hotel Edison. The Evelyn Hotel. The Great Gatsby.”

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