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CHAPTER 11
JESSICA
The next morning, Jessica woke with a sense of well-being and joy that she hadn’t experienced for a very long time. She slipped out of bed and into the bath, taking a quick shower and getting dressed with minimal makeup, hair back and clothing that was a bit more professional than the writing gear she’d been wearing all day yesterday.
As she was finishing up, she heard the sound of Tracer trotting down the hall, standing up on his hind legs, and opening the door, before bounding in and jumping up on the bed. It never ceased to amaze her how a seventy-pound dog could leap onto the bed so softly and quietly.
“Don’t get me wrong, buddy, but you weren’t who I had in mind when I reached out in bed,” Thorn said, good naturedly rubbing Tracer’s belly while he lolled beside him.
“He doesn’t believe you for even a minute. Do you want to go back to sleep?”
“I’d rather pull you back into bed and have my wicked way with you, but that’s going to have to wait.”
“I’ve been working on a list of suspects,” she said.
“You do remember I’m the cop, and you’re the novelist, right?”
“Yes, but I’m the one who lives here. Besides I was a suspect. I’ll write my way to the truth. Why don’t you take a shower and get dressed? If Sudie let Tracer out of the kitchen, it means breakfast is almost ready.”
He grinned. “A candlelit breakfast? Sexy.”
“Nah, last night was to impress you. My guess is that it’ll be something delicious for breakfast served at the kitchen island. Because she doesn’t want you to know how bad I am, she’ll probably make me eat breakfast food.”
“What would you normally have?”
“Leftovers.”
“What are we going to do with her, Tracer? I think you should get the leftovers and she should have to eat breakfast food.”
“I’m doomed,” she wailed dramatically. “I’ll put together a list for you with addresses.”
“Sounds good.” Thorn rolled out of bed, and Jessica was reminded of the strong, muscular body that had held hers and given her such incredible pleasure. He caught her face in his hands, kissing her soundly. “I had the most amazing night with you. I think you should know I’m in danger of falling head over heels for you.”
“You live in Augusta.”
“I live on a boat and can work from anywhere.”
“Fancy that,” she said saucily. “I just happen to have a dock and a boat house.”
“See? Collaboration. That’s what we’re good at. I won’t be long.”
“Take your time. I’ll be waiting.” She walked to the door, stopping to turn and look at him. “I think I’ve been waiting for you a long time.”
He crossed to her, kissing her again. “Me too, and don’t let that beautiful brain start telling you it’s been too fast, or it can’t be real. We’re not teenagers. We know what we know. Got it?”
She grinned, rising up on her tippy toes and kissing him again. “Got it.”
She headed down to the kitchen, Tracer close on her heels.
Thorn’s timing was perfect. He walked into the kitchen as Tracer finished his breakfast and Sudie was serving theirs.
“Again, this is for you. I would have managed to sneak the bucatini. But instead of scrambled eggs, or French toast, or breakfast tacos, we’re having a goat cheese, pancetta and caramelized onion frittata, served with roasted, herbed potatoes.”
Thorn kissed her. “I’ll let you figure out a way to thank me later.”
Sudie cackled, and Jessica stuck her tongue out at both of them. “So, I made a list and thought I’d give you a brief run down. Delilah Williams—Thompson’s mistress. I’m not sure what her motive might be. After all, he was leaving Ginnie to be with her. She’s going to be in a world of hurt when Ginnie gets done with her. Martha Rivers. She’s Thompson’s former business partner. There was bad blood between them.”
“What happened?” Thorn asked, taking a bite of the frittata, and moaning. “Heaven, Sudie. Pure heaven.”
