Read Online Catch as Cat Can by Claire Donally - Free Book Online Page B

could you tell a gal where she might get something decent to eat around here?”
    The reminder made Sunny’s empty stomach rumble. “There’s a little cafe down by the docks,” she said. “It shouldn’t be too busy, this time of day.”
    Ollie’s expression was almost pathetically grateful as he said, “Why don’t you take Marshal Overton over there, Sunny? I’ll finish here and lock up. You can take the rest ofthe day off. Doesn’t look as though we’re going to get much work done, anyway.”
    *
    The wind coming off the water was like a freezing cold knife stabbing into Sunny’s face, and strong enough to make her stagger. But Val Overton just plowed ahead, apparently unfazed by the weather, until she said, “I’m beginning to see why this place isn’t too busy. Do people freeze to death before they get there?”
    â€œAlmost.” Sunny kept her head down as the wind tore at her curls. “But they’ve got a hot chocolate that can revive the dead.”
    They fought their way to Spill the Beans, and Sunny took her usual wintertime table, the one directly under the heater. The waitress brought her a hot chocolate before she even ordered.
    â€œI think I’ll have the same,” Val said, looking on as Sunny spooned up some thick brown cocoa from under its cover of whipped cream.
    â€œThey do a sandwich with home-baked ham and their own hot mustard on farmer’s bread.” Sunny rolled her eyes as she took a sip of chocolate. “It’s not like the shaved ham you get from a deli. They carve slices off.”
    â€œCan we get two ham sandwiches, please?” Val asked as the waitress returned with a cup for her. “Breakfast doesn’t seem to stretch as long as I’d like when I’m doing cop things.”
    They sat quietly for a few minutes, shedding their parkas and letting the heat penetrate their chilled faces and hands. Then the sandwiches arrived, mounded high withthick slices of ham. Sunny took a bite, savoring the way the spicy mustard blended with the salt from the ham and the sweetness of the brown sugar glaze.
    â€œMmmmm,” Val Overton mumbled as she chewed and swallowed. “Worth a trek through the Arctic. And you’re right about the reviving powers of this chocolate.” She took a sip, put down her cup, and sighed. “So, tell me about your boss.”
    I think she’s taking Spill the Beans a bit too literally,
Sunny thought.
Is she after one of Ollie’s business connections?
    Aloud, she said, “With Ollie, what you see is what you get. He can be gruff, sometimes unreasonable—”
    â€œI’m going to cut right to the chase,” Val interrupted. “Is he single?”
    Sunny was glad she didn’t have a mouthful of chocolate. Otherwise, it might have come spewing out her nose. “Ollie?”
    â€œYeah. Slightly older guy, reddish hair, blue eyes . . .” Val grinned. “Pink face.”
    â€œYou’re interested in Ollie Barnstable?”
    â€œWe can’t all get guys like Will Price,” Val said. “So, is he taken?”
    â€œI can’t speak for Ollie,” Sunny said.
Especially about this,
she added silently. “He broke a leg not too long ago and wound up in rehab. I think he’s been seeing one of the therapists.”
    â€œGood. Then he must be used to taking orders.” Val laughed at the look on Sunny’s face. “Oh, come on, loosen up. I’ve got a job that sends me traipsing all over a pretty big state. Unless I want to pick up guys in hotel bars, it isn’t easy to meet people. Do you think Ollie might go out with me?”
    Sunny took a bite of her sandwich to chew that one over.“Frankly,” she said as she finished, “right now I think you’ve got him scared to death.”
    â€œYeah.” Val looked a little repentant. “I overplayed the whole serving