Pay the Price (Harmony Grove Book 3) by Carol Post (which ebook reader txt) 📕

“That’s your definition of stealth?”

“Not Hammy and Spike. The factory. BethAnn told me that Sandy Cutchins works in HR at Driggers. She was a couple years ahead of me in school, but I was pretty sure she’d remember me. I figured if the guy was an employee, she’d know.”

“And did she?”

“No. But she was going to ask around the factory.” She dried her hands, and while Shane put away the rest of the dishes, she crossed the room to where Buttons was lying against the wall. She’d fed him before they’d sat down to eat, and he’d spent the past hour lying nearby, head resting on his front paws. As she approached, he lifted his head and his tail thumped against the vinyl tile floor. She picked him up, and when she straightened, Shane was watching her.

“It looks like he’s growing on you.”

“He is.” Large brown eyes gazed back at her, filled with adoration. “I’m actually thinking of keeping him.”

She must have lost her mind. As unsettled as her life was, the last thing she needed was a dog. But she couldn’t bring herself to take him to the shelter. He’d been through enough in his short life. Besides, giving Buttons a good home was the last thing she could do for Prissy.

After walking with Shane to the door, she placed Buttons on the floor to clip his leash to his collar. When she straightened, Shane was still watching her, the warmth in his smile reflected in his eyes.

“Thanks for dinner. I enjoyed it.”

“Me, too. I still owe you two meals. If you remember, you’ve bought me dinner at the Hometown Cafe once and Pappy’s twice.”

“I’m not keeping score, but I certainly won’t turn you down. When it’s my turn again, we’ll scope out the restaurants. I won’t be inviting you to my place for a home-cooked meal unless you’re fond of frozen dinners.”

He opened the door, and Buttons bounded out ahead of them, tugging hard on the leash. Jessica allowed him to lead, and Shane fell into step next to her. Finally, the dog stopped at the front hedge, attention snagged by an interesting scent.

She looked up at Shane. “Dinner out sounds wonderful.” So did frozen dinners. Peanut butter and jelly had appeal if Shane was involved.

When the dog had finished, Shane walked her back to the porch. “Buttons is good for the night, right?”

“It’s late enough, he shouldn’t have to go out till morning.”

“Good. I worry about you going outside alone in the dark. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Thank you.” She reached for the doorknob but remained facing him, unwilling to break that connection between them. It was more than their working together to find Prissy’s killer, and it was more than simple friendship. There was a bond between them, something that connected them on a deeper level.

He felt it too. She could see it on his face, could read it in his posture. He leaned in, lips parted. Like he wanted to kiss her.

Instead, he swallowed hard and took a step back. Beyond him, the moon shone round and full, bathing the landscape in soft, white light. Buttons released a small whine, likely ready to go back inside. The moment had passed.

“Call me if you need anything.”

She closed and locked the door, then sagged against it. She hadn’t imagined it. Shane had wanted to kiss her. Her track record for choosing good men was terrible, but she knew when a man was attracted to her. And Shane was.

He was also someone who would never commit. He was honorable. He wouldn’t play with her heart. But if he had wanted a goodnight kiss, she wouldn’t have objected.

She turned off the living room lights and headed down the hall. She didn’t have to be up at the crack of dawn like Shane, so it was too early for her to go to sleep. Instead, she would pick up the lighthearted read she’d started a few days ago.

She had just settled into bed, Buttons snuggled up next to her, when her phone rang. She stretched across the nightstand to pull it from her purse. The number displayed on the screen was unfamiliar, and a shiver of uneasiness passed through her. She breathed a tentative hello.

“Jess, it’s Sandy. I hope it’s not too late to call. My husband and I had dinner out, and we just got home.”

A wave of anticipation swept all the uneasiness aside. “No, not at all. Any luck identifying the mystery man?”

“Maybe. No one seemed to know anything. Then I talked to Denise, Spike’s secretary. She’s taken several calls from a Nick Lombardi, who she said talks like a New Yorker.”

New York wasn’t New England, but for someone from Florida, the accents were similar.

Sandy continued. “Denise said a lot of times Spike puts people off, but never Nick. He takes his calls immediately, and he always has her close his door.”

Jessica fished through her purse for a pen and paper and jotted down the name. “Does she have any idea what their relationship is?”

“She doesn’t know. She’s never met him in person, and she’s never handled any kind of paperwork. Whatever dealings they’ve had, Spike hasn’t involved her.”

“Interesting. Anything else?”

“No, except Spike walked in at the end of our conversation, and he didn’t look too happy. Even though I was on my afternoon break, he said I needed to get back to work.”

Great. Just what she didn’t want to happen. And what Shane had warned her about. “Thanks for asking for me.”

“No problem. I’m glad to help you out. I was hired by Carlton right out of high school, and my loyalties are to him. His sons give me the creeps.”

“Yeah, me too. If you find out anything else, let me know.”

After disconnecting the call, she held the phone in her hand for several moments. Shane probably wasn’t asleep yet. He’d been gone for less than thirty minutes.

Decision made, she put the call through. She now had a name. Maybe Shane could