Read Online Lethal Affair by Noelle Hart - Free Book Online

think?”
    Jolene took up her fork again and
marveled at how Kylie had neatly sidestepped her question as to
whether or not she loved Drew.
     
    *
     
    Will and Lyle jogged along oceanfront
Dallas Road, went as far as the Breakwater, then headed back. Dawn
was sending out tentative fingers of light on the eastern horizon,
promising to behave and give them yet another warm summer day.
Wouldn't be long now and the days would turn much
cooler.
    They paused to gulp water from their
bottles.
    “ So what's up with you and
Jolene?” inquired Will.
    “ Jesus, Will. Don't ambush
me that way.”
    “ Don't think there was one
person at the barbeque last week who didn't notice your little
tryst in the greenhouse.”
    “ We were just
talking.”
    Will snorted. “Yeah. And I'm your
favorite martian.”
    “ I needed to apologize for
sicking Kim on her as trainer. He can be overly direct at
times.”
    “ I heard you were pretty
direct with her yourself. Little birdie told me the two of you
heated up that kitchen without turning on a single
oven.”
    “ Besides being direct, Kim's
got a big mouth.”
    “ You're dancing around my
question. I asked you what was up.”
    “ What do you care anyway?
It's my business who...”
    “ Not if it interferes with
the diner. I need Jolene happy, cheerful, like she's always been.
It's good for customer relations. Lately I've seen her moping, and
that sends a bad vibe to our clientele.”
    Lyle stared at choppy waves slapping
at the rocky shoreline. “I have to admit I'm stumped. As far as
she's concerned I can't seem to keep my thoughts in order. I want
her, there's no question. But she's not the type to be happy with a
few rolls in the hay and then pretend we're just
friends.”
    “ Should I be sending her out
to the new location in Langford after all?”
    That earned him a frown. “Don't know
yet.” Lyle ran a big hand over his face. “Never thought I'd see
this day but here it is. I think I'm in love with her, Will. And we
haven't even slept together yet.”
    “ Love isn't always about
sex. But it helps if that part works too.”
    “ Thank you Dr.
Phil.”
    “ Anytime. Now let's get
going. Still got to pick up that load of strawberries out on Old
Valley Road.”
    Lyle kept quiet. Picking up food
orders was Jimmy's job, but here was the main man himself going to
the effort. Didn't Jolene's roommate work out there? He hadn't
missed how Will's eyes had followed her every move throughout the
barbeque gathering.
    Maybe he wasn't the only one
smitten.
     
    *
     
    Kylie's morning was busy. The automated
watering system had sprung a leak and she and her crew had to water
by hand until repairs could be made. It was mindless but muscle
straining work, hauling the heavy hoses and climbing ladders to
reach the hanging plants overhead, squatting down to douse the
bottom layers as well.
    Her team had just left for their
morning break when, with a start, she spotted Drew waving at her
from the back door of the gift center. He'd never been here before
and inexplicably it annoyed her that he was here now.
    She met him halfway. He was wearing a
suit and tie and shiny leather shoes, and since her apron was wet
and smeared with dirt he carefully leaned in for a quick buzz on
the cheek.
    “ You wanted to see
me?”
    “ Well yes, but not here.
What I have to tell you is personal. Can we meet later this
afternoon? I would have told you that if you'd called
first.”
    “ Your message sounded so
succinct. I got worried. Is something wrong?”
    Maybe Jolene had hit the nail on the
head when she'd named insecurity as his so-called flaw.
    “ Please Drew. Let's do this
later. I really need to get back to work.”
    A line formed at the bridge of his
nose. “I can't work if I have something troubling me. Your message
was troubling. Especially since you've been avoiding me since we
slept together.”
    “ I've had things on my
mind.”
    He looked genuinely hurt. “Are you
breaking up with me? I know it was