Page 6 of Dead and a Best Friend
He leaned over the table. “Who are the stiffs?”
I chuckled and told him, "Cops. Working with Oliver."
"One of them is really interested in you." He raised his eyebrows.
My cheeks heated as I took a quick glance. Oh boy! Detective Riley stared at me from under his brows.
"Are you gossiping about us, Tallulah James?"
I felt all the color drain from my face.
What's happening to me?
"I need to go," I blurted. "Take care of yourself, Lionel."
As I bolted from the café, I heard someone ask,"Where is she going in such a rush?"In my head.
There was no need to tell Bernie where I was going as she watched me head to my apartment.
In the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face. Then, I dragged myself to bed and lay down. My heart raced. Why did I pick up on what Detective Riley was thinking? Because that's what happened. It had to be. Was that why I'd been having weird, dizzy spells? What I could hear wasn't just the normal background noise of the city, but also the thoughts of those around me. Well, Riley and Lionel. I really did not want to hear thoughts, especially Riley’s filthy ones.
"Ugh! What the hell was going on?" I sat up and swung my feet off the bed. I rubbed my temples and tried to clear my mind. I was going crazy.
My breath caughtwhen I stepped inside the Manor hotel and found Carlisle. The man who gave me butterflies was standing facing the entrance. He wore dark trousers and a crisp white shirt, looking very male and sexy. His hands rested on his hips, and my eyes finally moved from his body to his face. Dark hooded eyes watched me with a mix of amusement and interest.
A throat cleared, and that's when I realized he spoke with one of the detectives from the café. Riley.
Oh, lucky me!
"Tallulah," Riley said, holding his hand out toward me. "Small world."
I shook his hand and moved in beside Carlisle, who placed a hand at the small of my back. "I hoped you enjoyed your break at the café,” I said to be polite while inside I freaked out.
"We did. We'll sure be back again while we're in town."
I smiled and nodded. "Carlisle, I need a word when you're free."
He briefly studied me. "Go back to my office. I won't be long."
"Okay." To Riley, "It was nice to see you again."
Carlisle caught me against him and pressed a kiss to my lips. "Jessop is back there," he whispered, a small smile playing on his lips.
A bit dazzled that Carlisle would show me affection in public, I tried not to stumble over my own two feet. Placing a hand on my stomach, I inhaled and centered myself. Carlisle Hallen made me giddy. I was soon to be twenty-eight, and I acted like a schoolgirl when around the man.
"Someone is sure spaced out," Jessop Hallen drawled, leaning against the doorframe leading into Carlisle's office.
"Ugh!" I muttered, pushing past him. "Why are the Hallen men sexy as heck?"
When I turned and faced the man, he had a huge grin on his face. "You think I'm sexy, huh?"
I rolled my eyes. "I need to talk to you about Penelope." I winced.
Becoming serious, he sighed and joined me on the couch. "You've noticed something is going on with her."
"I have. So has Lionel." I winced. "I don't think she'd be so happy if she knew we were talking about her."
"No, she wouldn't, even though we're doing it because we're concerned." Jessop sat back and ran a hand through his overlong hair. "She's been avoiding me," he admitted. "I thought we'd become," he glanced my way and then averted his gaze, "close while I was helping her get the house painted. Now, she's gone back to avoiding me."
