Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
The question hung in the air between them. She gulped another swig of tea.
After a few tense moments, he showed mercy, forging ahead without pushing. “Adaline noticed the hearse, too. She remembered seeing a heavyset man with a mustache, wearing grease-stained overalls, shut the hood and walk away, as if he’d just finished repairing something for you.”
Well. This heavyset man with a stache wanted Jane dead. Why? What had she ever done to him?
Needing to do something with her hands, she grabbed the sandwich and took a bite. Oh wow. Delicious!
“Do you know anyone who fits the description?” Conrad asked, his tone gentle.
She flipped through a variety of mental files, but came up blank. “I do not.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “So where does our investigation go from here?”
“I’ll visit local mechanics and ask the surrounding shop employees if they remember seeing our guy. Trust me, sweetheart. I’m not going to stop until I find him.”
Tremors erupted in her limbs. He’d called her sweetheart again. What did this mean? Something? Nothing?
What did she want it to mean?
CHAPTER FIVE
Golden rings are always prettier with diamonds. And rubies. And sapphires. And emeralds. And presented in a velvet lined box. But it’s the man on bended knee, looking up at you with a heart full of love that is the real prize.
–Lily Ladling’s Holiday Advice for Ladies Cursed in Love
As Thanksgiving approached, Jane found no answers. Not for the gold hunt. Not for the car trouble. And certainly not for Conrad’s intentions toward her. Or her intentions toward him.
“You’re doing it again,” her companion said.
She blinked into focus. She kept pace with Beau as he pushed their shopping cart down aisle four of the Golden Food Market, the best and only grocery store in Aurelian Hills. With its lemon-colored laminate flooring, every path looked like a yellow brick road.
“Doing what?” she asked.
“Thinking about Conrad.”
She tossed Beau a wry smile before claiming four packets of dry yeast. “He’s very thinkaboutable. But to be fair, I was also lamenting the fact that I haven’t found Benjamin’s gold or the guy who messed with my car.”
As they exited the aisle, curving into the next, a pretty cashier waved at Beau. He nodded, giving her a stiff incline of his chin. What he didn’t do? Seize the opportunity to flirt and win himself a date.
The cashier’s crestfallen face told a story of pure disappointment.
Jane heaved a sigh. How could anyone be so clueless? At least Beau was hot to trot, a feat he pulled off effortlessly despite being such a big, rugged guy. At least six feet four of solid muscle mass.
He might be the brother of her heart but come on! No one couldn’t not notice the heat he packed under his skin. Today he wore a Peach State Security T-shirt paired with black work pants.
“You could be missing the chance to meet your soul mate,” she told him. “That cashier practically knocked out her cash drawer to catch your attention, and what did you do? Nod. I know you’re excited to meet Eunice Park and all, but it’s nice to have options in case things don’t work out.”
As a fledgling matchmaker, on top of being an all but professional sleuth, Jane had scoured social media pages for days, searching for Beau’s perfect match. She’d then phoned Eunice, a girl from her graduating class, to set up a double dates. Beau and Eunice, Jane and Conrad. Except, Eunice had never returned her calls. Only a matter of time, though. Surely.
“I’m sure I’ll like Eunice just fine,” he assured her with a dry tone.
“Who says I’m worrying about you liking her?” she asked with a wink. “Not only does most of the town trust her with their tax returns, but she volunteers at a local animal shelter.” Oh! Maybe she could find a nice pet for Beau. Conrad had Cheddar and look how great that had turned out for him. “As we wait for her to get back with me, you should work on your flirting game…and I should find you someone else. Yes, that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
He groaned. “Please don’t.”
“Too late. I already have ideas.” Unless… “Ohhhh. I think I get it now. You’re keeping yourself free for Sora Khatri.” The mysterious woman Jane and Fiona had discovered hiding out in his apartment for her “protection.” Jane had detected a touch of loneliness about the sassy woman. Like she needed a friend.
Hmmm. What was Sora doing for Thanksgiving, now that the threat of danger was over?
Beau’s next groan proved louder. “How is Conrad’s hunt for a place to live?” he asked, changing the subject. “I think I’ve talked to him about everything but that.”
“Honestly? It’s not going well.” He’d asked her about multiple homes, but she had yet to recommend a walk-through. They were just too…wrong. Wrong neighborhood, wrong size, wrong vibe. So, the search continued.