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She gave him a warm smile. “But in the darkness, there is also always light.”
He wondered if she even knew she was comforting him. Maybe that was the nurse in her. Maybe that was something more.
He nodded, ate a big bite of the lobster roll, then got curious himself. “Can I ask you a question now?”
“Sure.”
“Who was the guy that came into your shop this morning?” He arched an eyebrow. “Anyone to worry about?”
“I guess Kinsley told you?”
Boone nodded. His sister had called him after she left Uptown Girl. “She was just concerned.”
Peyton nibbled a piece of lettuce from her salad. “He’s a friend from Seattle. Not someone to worry about. I’ve known him since college.”
“What’s his name?”
“Justin Blake.”
Although she thought he was good, that wouldn’t stop Boone from looking into him later today. “He’s just visiting, then?”
She glanced his way, her brows furrowing over her curious eyes. “Why are you asking? For the investigation?”
He nodded. Partly. But he was sure she didn’t want to hear that other part, so he said, “A man unexpectedly shows up from your past and comes into your shop the day after we find a murder victim in your store. Everyone is a suspect, until they’re ruled out.”
“Believe me, Justin is one of the good ones.” She gave Boone a quick look and shrugged. “He brought me flowers to congratulate me on opening the shop.”
That made Boone’s eyebrow lift. “This guy flew all the way from Seattle to bring you flowers?”
She glanced away, her shoulders dropping. “And I had some papers to sign.”
Papers that had to do with her deceased husband. Boone got that in the way she curled around herself. He also understood why she didn’t want to share that information. If he knew anything, he got the need to have a redo in life. “Justin’s gone now, then?”
She nodded. “Flew back pretty much after he landed.”
Seeing the tension in her shoulders, and not particularly liking that, he changed the subject. He gestured around the shop full of flowers and platters of sweets. “I see the town stopped in to see you.”
“I’d laugh,” she said, glancing around her shop, “but I actually think you’re right. Everyone and their grandmother came in today to give the shop and me some love.”
“It’s the Stoney Creek way.”
He dug in, taking a larger bit than her little nibbles. She stayed quiet, not really looking at him. Damn. Had he pushed too hard, too soon? “All right?” he asked.
“Yeah, Justin coming by today…just brings up stuff,” she said, glancing up at him through her thick lashes. “Adam died in a car accident, did I tell you that?”
Boone shook his head, staying silent, just letting her talk.
“I think being here helps me forget, you know.” She used her fork to move around her food. “But then I remember and that sucks.”
Deep pain lay in the depth of those sad eyes. They did strange things to him, making him want to remove that sadness any way he could. “I imagine it would.” He finished the final bite of his food and wiped his hands on his napkin, noting she’d stopped eating. “All done?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She closed the lid, her meal half eaten, no doubt despair being the cause. “Why?”
“Good, because you’re in luck.” He crooked his finger at her.
She stayed put. “In luck, how?”
“I’m really good at taking your mind off things you don’t want to be thinking about.”
