AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Liam eyed her like she was trying to sell him some oceanfront property down the road.
“It’s just one last dinner, Liam. I’m not signing my life away. Enough, already. I’m going to put this whole thing to rest. Now, come on. Let’s take over for Otto and Happy. They’ve been interrogating the last of the Booze Dogs this morning, and if Happy hasn’t made one of them cry with his sunny disposition yet, I’ll be very surprised.”
Magnus Blackwell looked downright contrite when he picked her up for dinner. It was a new look for him, and Cora found it surprising that he seemed so...genuine. It made her realize just how much he may have been acting before.
“I’m sorry for the way we left things last Friday night,” Magnus said once they were on the freeway heading south. He still looked handsome in his custom-tailored designer clothes, but there was an almost desperate edge to his demeanor. “Truly, I hate that you thought I’d driven off and abandoned you there.”
“You could’ve called or texted me that you were on your way back.”
“I thought I could just rush out and be back within ten minutes. But by the time I returned, you were long gone. And then you didn’t answer your phone.”
“Did anyone at the bar give you a hard time when they saw you again?”
“No,” Magnus said, switching the radio station to smooth jazz. “I didn’t stay once I realized you weren’t there.”
“But you paid the guy you owed, right?” Cora asked.
His hesitation was so brief, she almost missed it. “Of course.”
Cora wondered if he was lying. Maybe Liam’s warnings were messing with her head, or maybe she was finally seeing past Magnus’s handsome face and easy charm. Turning her attention to the window, she realized they’d passed the exit to the sushi restaurant.
“Where are we going?”
He grinned and said, “It’s a surprise. We’re about fifteen minutes away. Is that okay?”
She nodded reluctantly. It was strange, because she’d been so into Magnus just a week ago, willing to have a fling and enjoy the wild ride. But now the spark was gone. Even if he was telling the truth, she just didn’t feel the same about him. With Magnus’s questionable actions, Finn’s mysterious secret relationship with the Booze Dogs—which she still didn’t understand—and all the secrets and lies flying around with the murder cases, Cora was mentally and emotionally drained. She just wanted normalcy, and Liam was the only person in her life who represented that.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized how much she depended on Liam. He was annoying sometimes with his overprotective attitude, but he was always there for her. They’d settled into a comfortable routine at home, and when she needed to talk, he was there to listen. When she needed to discuss the case, he was the man for that job, too. It was comforting to know he was in her corner, no matter how confusing things became in other areas of her life. Liam was really all she needed right now.
Magnus took a freeway exit with a sign that read Cedar Lakei. He drove down a paved winding road that led to a beautiful lake house right on the waterfront. It was a pale gray Cape Cod-style home with white pillars in front, sparkling bay windows and a large porch with Adirondack chairs. To Cora, it looked like something out of an upscale real estate magazine.
“This is my summer getaway,” Magnus said. “I come here on weekends to fish or just unwind from a long week. Normally, I live downtown, but when things get hectic, there’s nothing like this place. Anyway, it’s such a nice evening, I thought I’d cook us dinner. The weather’s too good to stay indoors, and there’s a perfect spot on the dock to watch the sunset. I hope you don’t mind?”
Cora felt torn. A sunset dinner by the lake was a lovely idea, but a little too romantic for her current mood, especially with all her conflicting emotions. The truth was, shedidmind. She felt suddenly annoyed that Magnus would draw their dinner date out like this. She’d made it clear she didn’t feel like getting to know him any further. This whole evening was supposed to be about giving him a chance to explain, then ending on a lighter note so things wouldn’t be awkward if they ran into each other later.
“If you don’t want to stay, it’s okay,” he said earnestly. “I can turn around, and we can head back into town.”
She hesitated, then said, “No, it’s fine.” They were already there, so she may as well eat. It wasn’t going to change the way she felt.
Magnus smiled and parked alongside the house. “Come inside, and I’ll show you around.”
Cora wasn’t surprised to find that the place was model-home lovely on the inside. With exposed wood beams, a stonework fireplace and windows overlooking the shore, it had an open, airy vibe. Sisal carpets covered the wide-plank hardwood floors, and the soft furniture in earth tones invited conversation and relaxation. It smelled like pine and something masculine and earthy. If this was Magnus’s man cave, the guy really knew how to live.
“It’s beautiful,” Cora said, meaning it. As annoyed as she was for being coerced into coming, no one could argue the place wasn’t gorgeous. Maybe Magnus knew that, and he hoped to soften her up. The thought made the place lose some of its luster.
“Why don’t you relax, and I’ll get dinner started,” he said, heading toward the kitchen. “Wine?”
Cora nodded, because why the hell not? She was here; she might as well lean in. Down the hall was a guest bathroom, and through an open door, she caught site of a large sunken tub that appeared to beinthe master bedroom. Yeah, if Magnus had sprung this place on her under any other circumstances, she’d have been a goner. A mermaid caught in his net, just like Liam had said.
The sound of Magnus working in the kitchen gave her the nerve to wander into the master bedroom. She only wanted to take a quick peek, and there was a gorgeous view of the lake. “I am in the wrong profession,” Cora muttered, taking in the sleek, upscale furniture and luxurious bed linens. She knew some attorneys did very well, and Magnus was obviously one of them. He must’ve paid interior designers a small fortune to help with the decor.
A cobalt ceramic pot of orchids sat on one of the nightstands, and Cora wandered over, admiring the profusion of white tropical flowers. She reached out to touch one of the blooms, rubbing the decadent, waxy petals between her fingers. Of course they were real. He wasn’t the type to mess around with fake plants.
Suddenly, the orchid stalk snapped off and fell to the floor. Cora bent to grab it when something caught her attention. Under the bed, a duffel bag was pushed against the back wall. She almost overlooked it, but a familiar symbol was visible through the partially open zipper.
Cora froze.
She would never have noticed it, but for the flash of white paper and red ink. A prickling sensation of unease radiated through her body. Unable to stop herself, she scooted to her stomach, hooked a finger around one of the straps and pulled the duffel toward her. When she slid the zipper open a bit more, all the color drained from her face.
