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“Hold on, Kitten. I might like to stay and meet your friend, Lionel.”
She sighed audibly. “You said you had to go to work.”
“I can spare a few moments.”
“Kitten? I thought you said most people call you Kitt.”
Rob chuckled. “I am not most people.”
Kitt who’d stepped forward elbowed him in the ribs. “Rob is a long-time friend who needs to be going. Come in, Lionel.”
Lionel stepped inside, eyeing Rob warily as he made his way past. He wasn’t a bad-looking dude, but he wore an argyle vest over a turtleneck shirt. If he wasn’t gay, he was weird by Rob’s standards.
“Come meet my aunt,” Kitt said, motioning Lionel to follow while giving Rob a killer look.
“Of course,” Lionel said, “but I was hoping we could talk, Katherine. Alone.”
Rob was going to puke if he stayed. “Don’t let me get in the way. Nice to meetcha, Li. See you later, Kath.”
He left, laughing his ass off as he went. He’d take care of Suzette’s shopping and try to resist going to The Silver Spoon to get drunk.
Kitt could have slit Rob’s throat but Lionel was so pitifully nervous after Sugar’s interrogation, she suggested they go out for milkshakes in order to soothe him. He did drink alcohol but she knew he had a greater weakness for chocolate and Dairy Queen was close by.
His confession wasn’t long in coming. Ten deep swallows through a straw and Lionel laid his cards on the table with a mile-long apology. He’d decided he wasn’t ready for marriage or engagement. He was conflicted over what he wanted in life.
“Who is the object of your conflict?” Kitt asked, overwhelmed with curiosity more than regret. Was it ‘who’ or ‘whom’? She couldn’t remember.
“Chris, a research librarian I met at a conference. I am so, so sorry. You are wonder—”
“No problem. It’s okay,” Kitt said, smiling and patting his hand. “I wish you happiness.” She wished she knew if Chris was male or female, but maybe ignorance really was bliss.
Bliss would have been not dealing with her aunt, but she returned home to face Sug.
“Ah ha, I was right,” Sugar declared as soon as Kitt walked into the living room where she was waiting.
She looked as if she should have a rifle in her hand. Kitt’s thought brought a smile to her lips. “Let me guess.
“Lionel is a sissy compared to Rob although he does look better than I expected. But he’s not your type. Besides, you and Rob love each other and you both know it, so what are you waiting for? I could die of depression or lumps in my breast before you get married and have kids.
“However, something’s not right with Rob Harrison. He’s hiding something. Do you know what it is? And before you answer, it’s ridiculous that you want to be a detective. You’ll get your ass killed and then who will I leave my money to? Certainly not my sister.”
“Slow down, Sug.” Kitt held up a hand. Chocolate milkshakes were not fortifying.
She returned from the kitchen with two glasses of wine. “Lionel and I are finished. He wanted me to keep his ring but I didn’t. I don’t need a pre-engagement pearl to remind me I was trying to fool myself.
“Second, I may give up the detective business if I marry Rob, but first he has to ask me.
“And most importantly, you are not allowed to die until I present you with a bunch of little kids to babysit. But as for Rob, I have a funny feeling too.” Kitt shrugged her shoulders almost to her ears. “But what do you think is wrong?”
“His job stories don’t fit.”
“That’s what I thought. So what can we do?”
“You’re the detective. Figure it out, Ms. Ace.”
Rob knew he was skating on thin ice. He had to level with Kitt or lose her.
He’d tell Suzette today that he was quitting. He had let her get through last night with Jason Terewski, hoping she’d see what a mistake she was making. That way he could leave her in good conscience.
