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“We weren’t compatible.” They began the uphill wind of the mountain toward Crow’s Creek B and B.
“Was she not enough like your first wife?”
“Are you doing therapy on the sneaky side with me?” He glanced over again, and she caught his eye, a little glimmer of playfulness.
“Maybe. But if you’re holding back and turning women away, it might be because you’re trying to find Callie again. You won’t be able to do that, you know.”
“I know.” He wasn’t looking for Callie again. Quite the opposite actually, and he harbored a fair amount of guilt over it. “I’m not comparing women to Callie. I’m not sure what I’m looking for.” He and Violet had been pretty flirty over the weekend, and he would like to know her better, but she didn’t make it easy. She went from hot to cold fairly fast, not to mention her job was dangerous and she didn’t have the good sense to be afraid. A killer had stolen personal items, and she hadn’t even batted an eye. Would she run into trouble, hoping for a fight? He had Stella and her tender heart to think about too.
Flirting might be all they had, but he’d meant it when he said he didn’t play games, so he wasn’t sure what to think of the signals he was sending; he was mixed up. The woman intrigued him. He admired and respected her.
They pulled into the drive, and he cut the engine. “What are you looking for?”
“I’m not looking.” She unbuckled and opened the passenger door.
All right then. But her evasiveness was like dropping crumbs for a dog. He’d keep dogging her heels. Maybe she knew that. Did she play games? He grabbed his bag, and they entered the house. It smelled of maple syrup and old books.
Footsteps thudded on the stairs, and Asa made an appearance, a bag in hand. Fiona followed behind. “I was about to call you,” Asa said.
Violet frowned. “Why?”
More footsteps and Owen and Ty approached.
“Why’s everyone here?” Violet folded her arms over her chest, waiting.
Asa left his rolling suitcase by the door. “Got a call from a homicide detective friend in Charleston, South Carolina.”
“And?”
“Hey there, Little Red Riding Hood, you sure are lookin’ good...” Ty sang then bayed at the ceiling as if it were the moon. This guy was a trip.
Asa frowned and Violet pinched the bridge of her nose. “Someone with at least an average IQ talk to me.”
Fiona smacked Ty. “Enough of the Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs song.” She turned to Violet. “A sorority girl was found eviscerated the morning after a full moon, which, sadly, isn’t weird, but they found—”
“A wolf tooth in her throat wound,” Ty cut in. “Rumor has it the big bad wolf lurks around Charleston Harbor University. I mean, we’ve never hunted a Grimm’s fairytale character before. That’s pretty cool.”
Asa frowned. “This is why you aren’t coming with us. We aren’t hunting an actual wolf.”
“You don’t know.” Ty jutted out his chin like a ten-year-old.
“I’m taking Fiona and Owen,” Asa said. “Putting you in charge of the investigation here, Vi.”
“Great. I get stuck with Tiberius.”
“Well,” Ty said, “it might not be the big bad wolf, but I think I should come. In case it is.”
“Okay,” Asa said.
Ty’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“No,” Asa stated flatly. “Figure out those numbers. Our good friend Regis is going to take us to the airport, leaving you the rental.”
“I imagine he was jumping at the chance to escort you right out of the holler.” Anything to get rid of some or all of them.
“He was. We’ll be back in a few days unless it takes a turn.”
“You seen the aunt of this house yet? Hossie?” Violet asked.
