Page 50 of The Murder Club

Even as her lips parted to invite the sweep of his tongue, she caught the acrid scent of smoke. Pulling back, she blinked in confusion.

“Something’s burning.”

“Me,” he rasped, his fingers gliding up her back.

“I’m on fire for you . . .” Belatedly realizing she wasn’t talking about the heat smoldering between them, he turned to shove the smoking skillet off the stove and into the sink. “Hell,” he muttered. “Looks like the scrambled eggs are off the menu.” His gaze moved to the toaster, where the bread had long ago finished cooking. “Along with the cold toast.”

“No problem,” she assured him. “We can run by the diner before we go to the nursing home.”

“Good plan.”

She stepped back, her gaze moving toward the glass sliding doors that led to the backyard. Her lips twisted into a wry smile at the sight of four furry faces pressed against the glass.

“But first we have a pack of very hungry dogs who are desperate for our attention.”

“Not nearly as desperate as I am,” he murmured, brushing a kiss over her forehead. “Later.”

Bailey desperately hoped it wasn’t too much later. Now that she’d accepted that a relationship with Dom Lucier was inevitable, she was anxious to lose herself in his sensual spell.

The sooner, the better.

Nearly two hours later, Bailey was using the side door to enter the nursing home. Dom was reluctantly waiting for her in the parking lot after losing the battle to join her inside. She’d pointed out that there was no way anyone would hurt her in front of a full staff and fifty residents. It was far more likely a stalker would be waiting in the shadows, maybe hoping to sabotage the SUV while they were inside.

Now she moved through the kitchen and laundry rooms that were empty this time of day before slipping into Logan’s office. As she’d hoped, she was early enough that he wasn’t there yet. Logan Donaldson took full advantage of the fact he was Lorene’s only child. Pure nepotism meant he could come and go as he pleased. She’d rarely seen him there before nine o’clock.

If she was there waiting for him when he eventually strolled in, she would have the advantage. Or at least that was her hope.

Crossing the soft cream carpet that contrasted with the dark paneled walls and heavy wooden furniture, she was about to take a seat near the glossy desk when she caught the sound of voices.

“What do you mean you invited that woman to come to the nursing home?” Lorene was demanding in a shrill tone.

“Exactly what I said.”

That was Logan’s voice, Bailey realized with a stab of surprise. Obviously he could pull himself out of bed when he wanted. Tiptoeing forward, Bailey pressed herself against the wall next to the door that connected the two main offices. It was open less than an inch, but she could easily hear the conversation.

Bailey smiled, not at all bothered by the fact that she was eavesdropping. The Donaldsons had lied and manipulated her to save their own asses. They didn’t deserve the good manners her grandmother had instilled in her.

“I told you to let me deal with her,” Lorene was insisting.

“I did let you deal with her. And what happened? You kicked her out of here and exposed us to legal retaliation,” Logan retorted in sharp tones.

Bailey clenched her hands. They were discussing her. Unless they’d suspended someone else.

“She wasn’t kicked out,” Lorene protested. “I quite reasonably requested that she take time off until Gage Warren had calmed down and stopped accusing her of murder.”

“You put her on leave with no pay.”

“I’m not going to spend money on someone who’s not working. She should be happy that I didn’t fire her on the spot.”

Bailey rolled her eyes. Lorene Donaldson was nothing if not predictable.

“Mother, this isn’t the good old days when you could treat employees like your personal servants and fire them without due cause. Especially in front of a lawyer. What if Ward Bennett had urged Bailey to sue us for wrongful dismissal?”

Lorene snorted. “That girl isn’t suing anyone. She doesn’t have the backbone.”

“It’s not just the worry she might demand money that made me invite her here this morning,” Logan admitted. “I’m sick and tired of listening to the complaints from the residents. Christ, you’d think we’d murdered a baby when they learned Bailey was suspended.”

Despite the nerves that were causing her pulse to race and her mouth to feel weirdly dry, Bailey felt a smile curve her lips. It was nice to know that the residents missed her. She considered them her family.

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