Page 210 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Becca could see Nick mentally rubbing his hands together. She pressed her lips together. “I’ll just split it with the rest of them.”

His eyes widened. “You wouldn’t do that!”

“I certainly would. And I will if that’s what she does.”

Nick shrugged. “Let’s not fight about it. The night is young and beautiful, and so are you.” He slipped his arm around her and hugged her gently.

Becca wasn’t used to flattery, and her face heated again. “Don’t say things like that,” she begged. “I know I’m not beautiful. You don’t have to lie.”

Nick laughed. “Are you nuts? Have you never looked in the mirror? You’re gorgeous, Becca. Tall and regal, like a queen. You just light up a room when you walk in. I can’t figure out why someone hasn’t snapped you up already.”

Becca tried to smile. She knew why he was lavishing her with flattery. He thought she’d be an heiress. Gram’s announcement had spoiled any enjoyment of the evening she might have felt. Now she’d be weighing every word Nick spoke against his motives.

“I haven’t been to see a movie in ages,” she said.

“It will probably be one you’ve seen already,” Nick said, steering the car expertly around the curves to town. “We only get old movies that are already on TV mostly. But at least it’s a chance to get away from everyone else and eat some popcorn. It’s something to do.”

Nick’s prediction proved correct, but Becca still enjoyed the old romantic comedy. She laughed until she cried and tried to forget her fears and worries. Walking out of the old movie theater, she felt gloom begin to dampen her spirits again. Hertask seemed overwhelming now. Who would trust her knowing Gram was giving her all her money?

“Becca!” Saija Korpela waved to her from the next aisle over.

Becca smiled and weaved through the crowd toward her friend. “I wish I’d known you were going to be here. We could have sat together.” Her smile faltered when she recognized the man with Saija. Greg Chambers.

She introduced Nick to her old friend.

“Greg, this is my friend, Becca—ah—Becca Lynn,” she faltered.

“It’s okay, I admitted who I really am,” Becca said. “And Greg and I have already met.”

Saija’s stricken face brightened. “Oh that’s right. I forgot you probably met my cousin when you were here when you were younger.”

Becca’s gaze met Greg’s. His distant smile as he watched Becca made her feel like a mouse hiding from a hawk.

“We were reacquainted at the beach the other day,” Greg said. “I’ve thought a lot about you over the years. And Saija has talked of nothing else since you got back to town.”

If he’d thought about her at all, it would have been in the context of a pest. Becca knew he was lying. She’d been quite unremarkable as a child. “We’ll have to get together for dinner one night,” she said.

“You could come to our house,” Saija said.

“That would be great. Where’s your husband tonight?”

“He had to work late over on the mainland so he’ll be gone until tomorrow. I was ready to get out of the house, so Mom took the kids to give me a break.”

As they left Saija and Greg, Nick took Becca’s arm. “Don’t tell Max you saw him,” he whispered

“I know better,” Becca said.

“Max still thinks he was responsible for Laura’s death.”

“I know. He found me at the beach with Greg.”

“I bet that went over well.”

“You could almost see the sparks flying between the two of them.”

Nick laughed. “I’m sure. Greg hates Max, and the feeling is mutual.”

“Do you think Greg had something to do with the explosion?”

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