Page 76 of Deadly Secrets
While she cleaned up upstairs, he checked in with his team. After nearly round-the-clock work on The Reverend case, and no substantial leads, he’d insisted they all take time off today so they could hit things Monday morning with fresh eyes.
In the middle of going through the team roster, making sure no one was at the office, a call came through from his sister, Candace. “I’m leaving in ten minutes,” he said in place of ‘hello,’ since he knew that was what she wanted to know.
Her normally bubbly voice was tense. “Did you pick up the gift?”
“Three weeks ago. Calm down, Candy. Everything’s going to be fine. Mom will love it.”
“What about the wine?”
“I have white, red, and the champagne for the toast, which I’m about to load into the car, but if I have to go over the details of the party with you for the hundredth time, I’m going to be late.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. I just want everything to be perfect.”
And from her standpoint, he was the weak link in the chain. “It will be. I promise.”
“I wish…but…”
A heavy pause hung in the air. He knew what she wanted to say, and he pressed his eyelids shut for a moment. In so many ways, he wanted the same thing. “You wish Percy was here.”
“He hated parties.”
“That he did.”
Another pause, pregnant with grief and disappointment. “I’ll see you when you get here.”
“I’m bringing a friend,” he offered. Not so much to get her mind off Percy, but he wanted the family to know so they didn’t ambush Brooke when she walked in the door.
Candy’s voice lightened. “Define friend. Is your friend of the female persuasion?”
“Yes. Her name’s Dr. Brooke Heaton.”
“A doctor?” she gasped. “Are you shitting me?”
“Her doctorate is in forensic anthropology. She also has a couple other degrees.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. She’s like Lara Croft? Goes on amazing adventures and raids lost tombs?”
“Something like that.”
“Where in the world did you find her? It was on eBachelor, wasn’t it?”
A year ago, Candy had put his picture and bio on three different internet dating sites, unbeknownst to him. The fallout had been ridiculously entertaining for her, but embarrassing as hell for him. He still hadn’t lived down the “highly perceptive” and “sweet” descriptions she’d used when his team had found out. “She’s consulting for my team on a case.”
“Oh.” Candy’s voice fell. “So she’s not a girlfriend.”
At that moment, Brooke appeared in the kitchen dressed in simple jeans and one of his white button downs over a tank top. She’d belted his shirt around her waist, emphasizing her amazing hips, and on her feet she wore a pair of stacked sandals that she’d grabbed at the local discount store where they’d picked up a Congrats on Your New Baby Girl card for Cooper and Celina.
She’d taken the braid from her hair and the wavy strands hung loose over her shoulders. Her lips sported a deep wine color that made her eyes pop.
How’s this?she mouthed silently, and did a twirl.
He gave her a thumbs-up, his pulse thumping a happy beat.
“Oh, she’s my girlfriend,” he told his sister. “And if I’m not careful, she’s going to take me for everything I’m worth.”
Candy squealed so loudly, Roman had to take the phone away from his poor eardrum. He decided it was time to cut the chitchat. “See you in an hour, sis.”
He disconnected and walked over to Brooke who quirked an eyebrow at him. “Who was that?”
