“And you’re warm.” He nuzzles his face into Shannon’s hair, and despite her protests, she smiles and snuggles closer to him.
“Hey.” Duke looks at Rob. “You know that woman, Donna? The one who lives way off Watkins-Lewis Road?”
“Yeah?” Rob answers. “I know who she is. She’s a few years older than my parents. Didn’t her husband pass earlier this year? Battled cancer or a kidney disease, I think.”
“Yeah. I had heard that too,” Duke says. “Anyway, her place is decked out. Most of the homes out that way don’t do a thing for the holidays. It made hers stand out.” He pauses, keeping one arm looped around Shannon, running the other down his jawline. “You know … Come to think of it, those elves in her yard looked an awful lot like the ones missing from the town square.”
He looks straight at me. “I could be wrong.”
“You think Widow Simms is the one stealing the town decorations?” Rob asks. “That doesn’t add up.”
“I only know what I saw. I was blowing by there …” Duke looks down at Shannon and adds, “Under the speed limit … But I was going too fast to notice the baby Jesus.”
“There’s a metaphor in there,” Rob chuckles. “But I’m not touching it.”
Duke laughs. I’m already on my feet, pulling up Jesse’s number.
I glance around the room. “Sorry guys ... I have to go.”
“You’re going?” Shannon asks with a note of confusion. “But it’s your day off. We were going to make cookies.”
“I have to check this house out. Duke, can you send me the address … or send it to Jesse?”
“Sure thing,” Duke says. “I don’t know the exact address. Jesse will know the place. I’ll text him.”
I glance between Laura and Shannon. “I’ll check this out and be right back afterward. I promise. I was really looking forward to a day together.”
“It’s fine,” Laura assures me. “I’d be dragging Rob out there to check it out myself if you hadn’t jumped up to get to it.”
Duke pulls out his cell and starts typing. I say goodbye, grab my coat and step out onto the front porch with my phone to my ear.
“Jesse, we’ve got a lead,” I say without even saying hello.
“I just got Duke’s text,” he says, matching my level of urgency and excitement. “I’m already grabbing my boots and coat. I’ll pick you up. Where are you?’
“I’m at Duke and Shannon’s—getting in my car now. I’ll just circle by and pick you up.”
“Sounds good. See you in a few.”
I hang up, nerves buzzing, mind spinning with possibilities as to why the town décor ended up on the lawn of a womanwho just lost her husband this year. It doesn’t add up. We’re definitely missing a piece of the puzzle.
Mingled with those thoughts, like chunks of chocolate in batter, is the keen awareness that I’m about to see Jesse—for work, but also we’re going to spend time together on our day off. He didn’t call, but circumstances still tilted in my favor. I try not to analyze why I need to see him so badly—why he’s become someone I miss when we’re apart, and why thoughts of seeing him instantly put a smile on my face.
I shouldn’t be focused on Jesse when we’re closer than ever to solving this string of crimes, or at least one of the crimes. We’ve assumed they’re related. Maybe they aren’t. Either way, I can’t help myself. I’m going to focus on the job once we’re there. In the meantime, my heart is doing a little pep rally in my chest over the idea of seeing Jesse in less than five minutes.
I pull up outside Jesse’s house and he’s already stepping onto the porch, smiling in my direction.
I watch him as he strides toward my car, purposeful, and so handsome my heart starts beating irregularly.
Get it together, Alex. You’re on a case.
“Good morning,” Jesse says, settling into my passenger seat. “Well, almost afternoon, right?”
“Yes. Good morning,” I say, smiling shyly at him. I don’t know why this shyness has overtaken me ever since we almost kissed. My hands tighten slightly on the steering wheel. I’m not usually shy around Jesse. If anything, he makes me the most comfortable I’ve ever been.
“You look nice,” he says, and then he shakes his head. “I mean … for following up on a lead.” He shakes his head more emphatically.
“Thanks. I stood in front of my closet this morning and asked myself what outfit might say,I’m here to bake, but also ready to question a suspect.” I wave my hand from my shoulders, downmy coat and over my jeans to my boots. “This seemed to do the trick.”
