Page 40 of Merry Murder Season
We said our goodbyes, and as I passed by Lille’s again, Gunter still sat on his bike. He watched me stroll past. He didn’t seem all that approachable, so I let it be. Just before I got home, I ran into Dom on his way back to town.
“Oh, Jill, we thought you might be asleep.” He glanced around but we were alone. “Beth didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Dom, whatare you doing?”
The directness of my question stopped him from walking past. “What do you mean?”
“Beth is engaged to Greg’s brother. You’re involved with Lille. She’s leaving on Monday. Do you want to kick over this bucket of bees?” I crossed my arms and Emma sat at attention, watching both of us.
“I’m not doing anything. Beth and I enjoy talking to each other.” He sighed and dropped his head. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I am attracted to her. She’s smart and pretty. Not that Lille isn’t, but she’s not interested in books or going back to school…”
I felt bad for the guy. “Beth doesn’t even live here.”
“She wants to, livehere, I mean.”
“Everyone wants to live in vacation land but some days you just have to put aside childish things.” This wasn’t my business, but I cared for Beth and didn’t want her to get hurt. Even though she said she wasn’t attracted to South Cove’s bad boy, I was happily married and I could seethe attraction.
A smile crossed his face. “She told me the same thing tonight. I promise that I will no longer seek out opportunities to be hanging around your soon-to-be sister-in-law and your friend. Take care of her, please.”
“You better make sure that Lille knows this was all on you and not her. If you get me kicked out of the diner, I’ll have to find somewhere new to eat and it won’t be at your bar and grill.” I matched his smile. I was concerned about my privileges at Diamond Lille’s. Well, that and Beth’s well-being. But Beth got to go home. I got to clean their mess up, if Lille would even let me try.
“This will not affect anything, I promise.” He started to walk away, but then I called him back.
“Dude, if I was paying someone to be my bodyguard, I wouldn’t leave him sitting in the parking lot while I went walking around South Cove.”
“What?” Dom asked, then realizing what I’d said, clarified his question. “Where is Gunter?”
“In Lille’s parking lot, smoking. Isn’t that where you left him?” Now I felt like I’d ratted on someone in class.
Dom shook his head. “I told him to take the evening off. That I’d be okay without him.”
“He didn’t listen, I guess.” I jerked my head toward town. “Because I saw him parked in the back of the lot. In the dark.”
“Good night, Mrs. King.” Dom nodded his head and started jogging up the hill. I hated people who could do that and arrive without breathing so hard that people thought they were dying.
Beth was on the front porch when Emma and I arrived. She glanced toward town, then back at me. “Out for a walk?”
“Not exactly. I met Chris at the bar. I’ve got measurements and pictures of the entire first floor. I’m going to put everything together and see if I can find original blueprints either with Amy or at the library tomorrow. I’m hoping Amy has them so I don’t have to drive to Bakerstown again.” I leaned on the handrail on the steps. “I think there might be a secret room somewhere. Do you want to look at the pictures? It’s pretty creepy withoutpeople inside.”
“Oh, I thought…” She paused, then decided to say it. “I thought Jim sent you after me. Towalk me home.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I was investigating. I had thought about seeing if you were ready to go, but I saw you walking home. You’re playing with fire.”
“I’m just talking.” Beth stood and went inside. As I followed her, she paused at the stairs and added, “I’m sorry I misunderstood your intentions tonight.”
I turned on the television. “I’m watching cooking shows for a while if youwant to join.”
“I’m tired and I need to call Jim.” Beth didn’t look happy about the pending call. “And write down some notes from what Dom told me tonight. I’ll see you in the morning. I’m working an afternoonshift, right?”
“If you still want to. Did you meet Andrew?” I muted the television. Emma snuggled up next to me and watched Bethon the stairs.
“He’s nice. Very put together. He reminds me of my first boyfriend. He knows exactly how his life is going to turn out.” Beth smiledat the memory.
“It’s going to be a rude awakening when the first thing blows up in his face. But he’s solid and smart.” I turned back to the television and found my show before I silently added what I was thinking,And a warm body.
That wasn’t why I’d hired Andrew and I didn’t think of him that way, but deep down, I kind of did. Until I got to know someone who worked for me, there was a distance I kept from them. I didn’t want to get emotionally invested until I knew they were staying. I guess I was a lot like Lille in that manner. I just didn’t have my staff wear someone else’s name tag until they proved themselves worthy.
Tilly had kind of broken that pattern since she needed the job as much as the store needed her. If not more. But if she’d left the first week or two? I would have been gutted after finding out her background. Heck, I still missed Sasha and she’d been gone over four years. She’d graduated and gotten a great job in the city.
