Page 63 of Tessa's Trust

“Of course,” he offered. “It’s related to the knife found in your fridge here, which is related to the murders over in Silverville. Sheriff Franco and I have agreed to work together. To be honest, I like the old guy. He’s smart.”

Pierce shook his head again as if he just couldn’t believe he was in another mess with the Albertini family. “For some reason, I’m caught up in your family. Your nonna brought me cookies earlier this morning.”

I jerked my head. “My nonna brought you cookies?”

“Yes.”

I looked around the office. “I don’t see any cookies.”

“They’re your nonna’s cookies,” he said slowly. “I hid them instantly.”

Yeah. Pierce was no dummy. “What did she say?”

He looked at me. “She thanked me for trying to help you and asked about my marital status or if I was dating anybody.”

Oh, crap. Pierce was now on Nonna’s radar. “Well, don’t worry about it. I don’t think there are too many single cousins around right now.” There was no doubt in my mind she was trying to fix me up with Basanelli, so at least Pierce was safe from me. I blanched. “However, I don’t think Donna is dating anybody currently.”

Pierce’s chin lowered, and his eyes blazed a wild emerald. “Let me tell you, with full assurance, that Donna could be the perfect mate to me in every possible conceivable way, our romance could be written in the stars and blessed by the gods, and I would never, ever date an Albertini woman.”

I gulped. That was a little harsh, yet I couldn’t blame the guy. Although, if Nonna had him in her sights for my sister, he was as good as gone and just didn’t know it. However, I didn’t really see Pierce and Donna together. But what did I know? “The good news is, it’s only Nonna after you,” I said cheerfully.

Pierce’s head dropped. “Your Nana O’Shea came by last week and offered to sage my office to get rid of any negative energy.”

I stared blankly at him. “Then you’re toast,” I finally said. “You might as well roll over now. Just choose if you want Irish or Italian and give in.” I sadly shook my head. “You’re in whether you like it or not, Pierce. I have no idea how or why, but we’re going to be family soon.” Clucking my tongue, I stood and barreled out of his office.

The guy had turned a little pale, but not as much as I would’ve expected. Well, he was a decent person. He’d survive whatever my grandmothers had in store for him.

He instantly ran to the doorway. “Wait a minute. You’re not going to help me?”

I started. “Not in a million years.” I was neither reckless nor stupid, and I knew better than to take on either of my grandmothers. I had a hard enough time handling Nonna’s plans for Nick Basanelli and me. In fact, I didn’t even know what I was doing.

Almost as if she’d been conjured by Pierce and me talking about her, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and then lifted it to my ear. “Hi, Nana.”

“I saw the news article. I am so sorry about that Jolene.” Nana O’Shea’s Irish lilt was stronger than my mom’s. Nana was a stunning redhead who looked closer to fifty than seventy and believed in magic all the way. “I’ll put a hex on her as soon as I can.”

“Nana, I appreciate it, but don’t hex Jolene. She didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”

My nana clicked her tongue. “Yes, but she’s forcing you into something, and while I truly do like Nick Basanelli, and I think he’s a wonderful man, he’s not Irish, sweetheart. You belong with an Irishman.”

I didn’t see why, and I didn’t see how, but she was determined, so I kept my tone gentle. “Anna has fallen in love with an Irishman, so things are good.” Aiden was all Irish and even had the accent to prove it.

She cleared her throat. “Did you know that Detective Pierce Grant is Irish?”

I looked guiltily around. How did she know where I was? “Um, no.” I truly hadn’t known that.

“I traced his genealogy after a quiet conversation with him, and guess what? His people come from Cork—at least some of them do.”

That explained the offer of saging his office. “Does he have any Italian in him?” I asked.

“Maybe a little,” she said grudgingly—and that explained Nonna Albertini’s interest in poor Detective Grant Pierce.

“Did you tell Nonna?”

“I may have mentioned it.”

The two rarely spoke, so there must be a plan in motion for them to have done so.

Pierce watched me from his doorway. I smiled, waved, and then turned, noting Bud waiting for me at the front door.

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