Page 16 of Air Of Mystery
“I’m closing up in a few, then I’m going home, throwing myself in the shower, and relaxing with the love of my life.”
I smiled. “How is Manny the Wonder Dog?”
“Goofy as ever,” she said easily.
“Feel like some company?” I asked.
“Sure,” she agreed happily. “Give me...let’s say an hour?”
“Want me to bring over a pizza?”
“Yes!” she said enthusiastically. “Mushrooms, extra cheese, tomatoes and spinach.”
“I can make that happen,” I agreed.
“Fab,” she said. “See you in an hour.”
***
I stood on the porch of the brick ranch style house my cousin Soleil purchased the year before and knocked gently on the door. The house was right on the outskirts of one of Alton’s historic districts. Her home was tidy, and the front lawn was a flat square of grass with a lone tree planted dead center.
Needs some flowers,I thought. Knocking again—more firmly this time— Manny, her rescue beagle, let out a chorus of baying cries at the sound. A second later, her bright yellow door was whipped open. Sunny stood before me in a pair of summer pajama shorts and a tank top.
Her bright blue eyes were sparkling, and her cheeks were a rosy pink. There was a smattering of freckles across her nose, and her bright blonde hair hung down her back. She was fresh faced and absolutely gorgeous.
“Welcome. Come in!” She waved me inside.
“God damn it, Sunny,” I said, as I stepped around Manny who began to jump in excitement. “You’re not even wearing any makeup, are you?”
“I just got out of the shower,” she informed me.
Her skin was flawless and seeing it I couldn’t help but roll my eyes playfully. “If I didn’t love you, I’d hate you.”
“Good thing that you love me then,” she chuckled.
CHAPTER THREE
“Come on back, Cousin.” She gestured for me to follow her.
Sunny’s house had been built in the 1950s. It had a large kitchen, a decent sized living room and three small bedrooms. Orion had helped her fix up the interior when she’d first moved in, and now the kitchen cabinets were painted a warm golden yellow, and her walls were a complementary paler shade. In the window above the sink a large stained-glass panel hung.
Her sister Luna’s work, I knew. The stained-glass sunflower at the center of the window seemed to glow in the evening light.
I placed the pizza box on her butcher block counters and nudged it back so Manny couldn’t get it.
“Manny, sit!” Sunny said, and the dog dropped his rump instantly to the hardwood floor.
The beagle gazed up at me expectantly with adoring eyes.
“The last time I gave you pizza, your mom yelled at me,” I reminded the dog.
“Yeah, I did yell,” Sunny said, giving me a hard look. “Because he threw the pizza up all over my new area rug in the bedroom.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, trying to sound contrite.
Beside me Manny let out a pitiful sounding whine.
“No pizza for you, sir,” Sunny informed the dog.
