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“So you believe we’ll split up as soon as we fall in love?” His gentle tone helped fortify her resolve to continue.
“Not as soon as, no. Sometimes a few weeks, months or even years pass before the inevitable end.” Pops and Grandma Lily had lasted over a decade.
He tilted his head to the side, deepening his study of her. Shadows crouched his features. “What about your mother? She’s been married for almost twenty years.”
“Only because she settled for a guy she doesn’t really like.”
“And there’s no way to break the cycle?”
“None. The Ladlings have tried, trust me.” Her grandmother had always sworn her love for her husband sent him to an early grave. A guilt Jane never wished to carry.
Conrad stroked his jaw. “How about this? Every time we’re together, I promise to do my best to give you a reason not to fall for me.” He reached over and hooked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I rarely put my dirty clothes inside the hamper. They usually end up piled on the floor.”
“The horror,” she gasped out with a mock shudder, certain her eyes were sparkling with mirth. “But you should go on. This is working.”
He snorted. “You are such a brat.”
She heard his affection in every syllable and her panic returned and redoubled, punching her dead center in the chest. Breathing was suddenly a luxury of the past. Rather than run this time, she gathered her courage and asked, “Why do you like me? Why are you willing to go to so much trouble for me?”
He blinked at her, as if she’d just presented an unsolvable puzzle. “It would be easier to tell you what I don’t like. Namely, your resistance to my charms,” he added with a teasing wink. “Also your propensity to rush headlong into danger. And your avoidance of certain topics.” He paused to arch a brow. “What do you feel for me? What do you want from me?”
Tremors racked her. “I-I like you too, despite your habit of accusing me of murder, and I don’t want either of us to see anyone else. Even though we aren’t official.” Okay. Enough sharing for one day. She extracted from his touch and unbuckled, saying, “Is that Fiona in the doorway, waving us inside?”
The corners of his mouth quirked. “No one is standing in the doorway, Jane. But honestly, you lasted a whole lot longer than I thought you would. Admitted more, too.”
No time to respond. She’d already flung open the door and entered the warmth of the night. Conrad wasn’t far behind. He met her in front of the hearse and settled a hand on the small of her back. His heat seeped past her dress, caressing her skin.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I’m done pushing tonight. I’ll continue to give you space until you’re ready for more.”
Her tremors gradually faded. But, dang it, he’d used a super gentle tone, making tears sting her eyes. The knob on the screen rattled, interrupting their discussion, saving Jane from having to cobble together a response.
Fiona appeared, pushing open the screen door and holding out a small box before Jane could make a grab for the handle. “This was delivered while we were out.”
Ana’s coffee!
Conrad must have read the label and made the connection because he groaned and said, “You did not.”
“Well.” She rocked from the balls of her feet to her heels.
“Where have you been, anyway?” her amazing friend demanded, saving her from having to say anything more. “We’ve already gone through half of Ana’s posts on the Headliner. Wait till you see who she blamed for what!”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Rapid review in the queue!”
Darling, Minnesota - Find Your Mine Affair
8 Matches Made
Mind officially blown. Jane remained staggered as she and the other members of Team Truth perched at her long, rectangular table in the dining room, with papers scattered about. Behind them was a chipped yellow laminate countertop and two barrel-back wooden chairs that separated the space from the kitchen.
They dissected every post Ana had made on the Headliner via her secret identity. Things Ana hadn’t mentioned in her other notes. Not the ones Jane had photographed, at least.
Apparently, Aurelian Hills might have an arsonist skulking the neighborhoods.
Someone might have attempted to poison the entire congregation of First Community Church with a meatloaf casserole at a Sunday potluck.
A cheese smuggling ring used the old mine lights to signal each other.
Holt’s Bakery covertly housed an underground casino in the basement.
Best of all, Jane identified more than half of the sixteen speed daters with nicknames. EDTKTT never held back her slanderous accusations. She’d directed much of her malice at The Robber, someone who had stolen cash and other things from a plethora of daters (allegedly).
Robber. Robby. Coincidence? Jane thought not.
Conrad, Beau, and Fiona stayed at the cottage until well past midnight, everyone relaxed in the kitchen, chomping on a platter of chicken nachos with homemade cheese sauce as they pored over every word from their phones and laptops. Sometimes someone read snippets aloud for the rest of the group. Jane even dared to share her personal portfolio of crime scene photos with her…boyfriend.
