Read Online As Gouda as Dead by Avery Aames - Free Book Online

hurried to him and enveloped him in my arms. He wrapped his arms around me, too, and we stood like that, without kissing, without talking, for a long while.
    When we broke apart, I said, “I’m so sorry. I know how close you and Tim were.”
    Jordan winced. “When he said he didn’t want to come to last night’s party, I’d brushed it off. It was Tim. He had his quirks. If only I’d insisted.”
    â€œHe wouldn’t have come.” I explained about Tim’s loathing for celebrations. “It’s not your fault he’s dead.” I traced a finger from his ear to his throat and rested my hand on his chest.
    He swallowed hard. His eyes searched mine. Finally, he said, “I think we should postpone the wedding.”
    During the few minutes that I’d slept last night, one of my dreams had been about our wedding. The daisies were wilted; the music off-key; people I didn’t know were lying lifeless in the aisles. I’d awakened thinking the dreams—nightmares—were an omen, and I’d wondered whether the Fates were against Jordan and me becoming a permanent couple. Back in October, right when I was ready to set a wedding date, we’d learned that his WITSEC trial had been moved up. I hadn’t thought anything negative about postponing the wedding at that time. When the trial ended in November and Jordan was free to live his life again, we’d set this date: Valentine’s Day, a day we would remember forever.
    â€œPostpone?” I whispered. My throat felt too thick with emotion to say more, but I forced myself to continue. “Yes. You’re right. We—our nuptials—should not be the focus of attention right now.” I swallowed hard. “What do you think Tim’s murder will do to the rest of what’s going on in Providence? Will it cast a pall over the Lovers Trail festivities? This is supposed to be a special time. People have come here as a destination place to get married during the event.”
    â€œOthers will go on with their lives. They aren’t us.”
    â€œUs . . . stumbling over dead bodies.”
    He sagged; his shoulders curved inward.
    I caressed the back of his neck. “What else is going on?”
    â€œI think this might be a sign that it’s time to move on.”
    My breath caught in my chest. “You don’t mean move on
as in move
away
, do you?”
    â€œNo, we’ll stay in Providence. This is our home.”
    I exhaled as energy pumped back through me. He had used the words
we
and
our
. We were still a couple. This tragedy was not going to put an end to
us
. I said, “Then what do you mean?”
    â€œI’m thinking of selling the farm and going back into the restaurant business.”
    Anxiety flooded through me. “Won’t becoming a restaurateur put you in jeopardy?”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œIn WITSEC, don’t CPAs give up doing taxes and singers give up singing? You know, to keep a low profile.”
    â€œSometimes.”
    A lump crept up my throat. I urged it to retreat. “If you return to the restaurant business, won’t that put a target on your back?”
    â€œCharlotte, sweetheart.” He stroked my arms. “Calm down.”
    â€œI’m calm. I truly am.”
Liar
.
    â€œCould have fooled me.” Jordan stretched his chin and worked his jaw in a circle. “I heard the La Bella Ristorante might be up for sale.” Delilah’s former boyfriend, who owned La Bella Ristorante, was considering moving to California to be with his grandchildren.
    â€œBut you love this farm.”
    â€œTrue, but a farm must be worked daily.”
    â€œWhich you do.”
    â€œIt isn’t for the weak of spirit, and having a murder on the property—”
    â€œEspecially the murder of a friend—”
    â€œCan dampen the spirit.”
    Embarrassment flooded through me. How could I have been so