Read Online Drop Dead Chocolate by Jessica Beck - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jessica Beck
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a deep breath on the other end of the line, and then he said, “You got what you were hoping for. I’ve been officially assigned to Cam Hamilton’s murder investigation.”
“That’s just great,” I said, a little louder than I’d intended. “I can’t believe it.”
Jake sounded less than enthusiastic as he explained, “Suzanne, I tried to talk my boss out of the assignment, but he wouldn’t budge. The mayor’s murder is bound to get headlines, and he wants it solved quickly. ‘Hard and fast’ were his exact words. I’m afraid this is going to get intense.”
“I’m not worried. I know that you’ll do a good job,” I said.
“I always give it my all, but we need to talk. It’s important that we get one thing straight up front. I can’t play favorites for you, your mother, or any of your friends. This is going to be strictly by the book. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” I replied.
After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Are you being sarcastic?”
I knew better. As much as I liked to joke around, this was not the time for it. “Not a chance. I know you have a job to do, and there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re going to find the killer.”
Jake paused long enough so that I wondered if he was still on the line. When he did speak, he said, “Suzanne, you’re not digging into this yourself.”
When I didn’t respond, he asked, “Aren’t you going to answer me?”
“Funny, I didn’t hear a question,” I replied.
“I mean it. This is serious. I won’t have you meddling in something I’ve been ordered to investigate.”
Again, I didn’t answer.
He finally sighed and said, “You’re going to do what you think is best no matter what I say, aren’t you?”
“Finally, a real question. Yes, I am. Jake, there are folks who will talk to me who wouldn’t dream of saying a word to you. I’ll do my best not to get in your way, but I won’t stay out of this. It’s too important to me.”
I could hear a weary edge to his voice as he said, “You could have just lied to me, you know.”
I laughed. “I won’t do that, so be careful about what questions you ask.”
“Got it. Just be careful, okay? You’re too important to me to lose you.”
How sweet was that? There was a reason I loved this man. “When will you be here? Would you like to have dinner with us?”
“I wish I could, but until this case is over, I’m not going to be able to socialize with you or your mother. Trust me, I don’t want it to be that way, but there can’t be the slightest hint that I’m being unduly influenced. I love you, and I want to spend every minute I can with you, but I’m afraid it’s not going to happen this time.”
“You’re forgiven,” I said, “only because I understand what you’re saying, and you added that you loved me. I love you, too, by the way.”
“It’s not going to be easy, is it?” he asked, and I could almost hear the grin as he said it.
“No, but what fun would that be?” Getting serious again for a moment, I said, “Jake, do whatever you have to do, and when this is all over, we’ll be a couple again.”
“No matter what?”
“No matter what,” I said, trying my best not to think about just how much ground that statement covered.
* * *
By the time I got home, I was feeling kind of blue. Having Jake in April Springs and not being able to see him was going to be tough, and I knew it. Every point he made was a good one, though, and I knew in my heart that he was right. We’d find a way to get through this.
I knew my mother couldn’t be feeling all that great, so I did my best to put on a smile when I walked into the cottage.
I found her on the couch, crying.
I moved to her quickly and put my arms around her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, all evidence to the contrary. “This has turned into a horrible nightmare, and I keep hoping that I’m going to wake up and find it was all in my imagination. Seeing Cam
“That’s just great,” I said, a little louder than I’d intended. “I can’t believe it.”
Jake sounded less than enthusiastic as he explained, “Suzanne, I tried to talk my boss out of the assignment, but he wouldn’t budge. The mayor’s murder is bound to get headlines, and he wants it solved quickly. ‘Hard and fast’ were his exact words. I’m afraid this is going to get intense.”
“I’m not worried. I know that you’ll do a good job,” I said.
“I always give it my all, but we need to talk. It’s important that we get one thing straight up front. I can’t play favorites for you, your mother, or any of your friends. This is going to be strictly by the book. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” I replied.
After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Are you being sarcastic?”
I knew better. As much as I liked to joke around, this was not the time for it. “Not a chance. I know you have a job to do, and there’s no doubt in my mind that you’re going to find the killer.”
Jake paused long enough so that I wondered if he was still on the line. When he did speak, he said, “Suzanne, you’re not digging into this yourself.”
When I didn’t respond, he asked, “Aren’t you going to answer me?”
“Funny, I didn’t hear a question,” I replied.
“I mean it. This is serious. I won’t have you meddling in something I’ve been ordered to investigate.”
Again, I didn’t answer.
He finally sighed and said, “You’re going to do what you think is best no matter what I say, aren’t you?”
“Finally, a real question. Yes, I am. Jake, there are folks who will talk to me who wouldn’t dream of saying a word to you. I’ll do my best not to get in your way, but I won’t stay out of this. It’s too important to me.”
I could hear a weary edge to his voice as he said, “You could have just lied to me, you know.”
I laughed. “I won’t do that, so be careful about what questions you ask.”
“Got it. Just be careful, okay? You’re too important to me to lose you.”
How sweet was that? There was a reason I loved this man. “When will you be here? Would you like to have dinner with us?”
“I wish I could, but until this case is over, I’m not going to be able to socialize with you or your mother. Trust me, I don’t want it to be that way, but there can’t be the slightest hint that I’m being unduly influenced. I love you, and I want to spend every minute I can with you, but I’m afraid it’s not going to happen this time.”
“You’re forgiven,” I said, “only because I understand what you’re saying, and you added that you loved me. I love you, too, by the way.”
“It’s not going to be easy, is it?” he asked, and I could almost hear the grin as he said it.
“No, but what fun would that be?” Getting serious again for a moment, I said, “Jake, do whatever you have to do, and when this is all over, we’ll be a couple again.”
“No matter what?”
“No matter what,” I said, trying my best not to think about just how much ground that statement covered.
* * *
By the time I got home, I was feeling kind of blue. Having Jake in April Springs and not being able to see him was going to be tough, and I knew it. Every point he made was a good one, though, and I knew in my heart that he was right. We’d find a way to get through this.
I knew my mother couldn’t be feeling all that great, so I did my best to put on a smile when I walked into the cottage.
I found her on the couch, crying.
I moved to her quickly and put my arms around her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, all evidence to the contrary. “This has turned into a horrible nightmare, and I keep hoping that I’m going to wake up and find it was all in my imagination. Seeing Cam
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