Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 105868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Heat moved through Ace. That was sweet of her but probably not the right way to go. “I’d rather handle this without turning it into a spectacle.”
“That was Stella’s advice, too.”
He reached for her phone. “You know I can’t just ignore this.”
“I kind of wish you would.”
“How about I just talk to her?” Damian’s worried. He’ll find her eventually.”
May leaned back enough to look up at him. Her blue eyes seemed darker in the dim light. “I don’t…” She hesitated, then sighed. “Okay. Go ahead. I am a little worried about her.”
He pressed the speaker button and punched in the number. It rang once and immediately shifted to a disconnected tone. He frowned and tried again. The same thing happened. Whatever line had been there was already gone.
“Huh.” May blinked. “I can’t believe that happened so fast. Stella must’ve been a really good spy.”
“Must have been? I’m guessing she still is.”
“Maybe.” May looked unsettled now. “She said she was in town to save Damian’s butt. I don’t know what that means.”
Ace exhaled slowly. “It doesn’t sound simple.”
“No.”
“We’ll find her. One way or another.” Ace kissed May before she could respond. Her lips were soft and warm, and she melted into him with a quiet sound that went straight through his chest.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
He stood, lifting her easily in his arms, and carried her down the hallway toward the bedroom. “Well,” he said, brushing his mouth against her neck, “since neither one of us is sleeping…”
She laughed softly and wrapped her arms around him. “That’s true.”
He set her down on the bed and followed her there, bracing himself over her for a second before lowering his mouth to hers again. Her hands spread across his chest, warm and certain.
Yeah.
This was a far better way to spend the early morning than drowning in cold water.
Chapter Thirty-Two
May straightened her glasses and settled back into the booth at the Green Plate across from Amka and Ophelia, with Daisy tucked in beside her. It felt good to have friends pressed in close with the world so chaotic around her. For the first time in days she wasn’t the only one holding the weight of everything. They each had baskets of chicken wings in front of them because that’s what Gus had cooked for lunch. They were honey barbecue, sticky and sweet.
Daisy wiped her fingers on a napkin. “I don’t know what we’re going to do. I don’t have time to fly to Fairbanks or Anchorage. Do you guys?”
“No,” Ophelia said immediately. “Not even close. Brock and I have been tracking down different suspects in these murders and we’re getting nowhere. I really don’t have time to lose an entire day.”
Amka took a slow sip of her tea. “That’s not to mention the weather keeps turning on us. What if we got stuck outside of town?”
May swallowed. “I can’t. I’m on duty all the time.” It wasn’t entirely true with Dr. Patterson back, but it felt true. Patients didn’t schedule illness around weddings or murder investigations. And Ace. She trusted him to handle himself. Still, worry sat low and constant in her stomach.
Flossy shuffled down from the counter and paused at their booth. “Hello, ladies.”
“Hi, Flossy,” May said, automatically scanning her face and posture. Good color. Steady breathing. No tightness around the mouth. The woman’s cholesterol and anxiety were controlled, but May never quite stopped assessing.
“How’s your back doing?” Amka asked.
“Much better, thank you,” Flossy said.
May lifted one eyebrow.
Flossy waved her off. “I didn’t need a doctor. It was just a little strain. Amka helped me carry in my groceries.” She leaned in closer. “I couldn’t help overhearing you talking about flying to the city.”
May nodded. “We were going to get bridesmaid dresses since the wedding’s this Saturday, but we’re all pressed for time.”
Flossy clapped her gnarled hands together. “Perfect. I have an idea.”
Ophelia stretched her arm. “Oh yeah? What’s your idea?”
“Lottie and Tillie Whitlow inherited their aunt Sylvia’s house and just moved up here last week. Have you met them?”
“No,” Daisy said.
“This is news,” Amka added, brows drawing down.
Flossy’s eyes gleamed. “I met them yesterday, and get this. Lottie is a seamstress and wants to open a shop in town.”
“In Knife’s Edge? Do we have enough people to support a seamstress?” Daisy asked.
“Sure we do,” Flossy said firmly. “People always need clothing, especially during tourist season. The school needs costumes for plays. There are curtains, cushions, repairs. Hemming alone could keep someone busy, and I’d like to help her out. Those girls seem like they need it.”
Ophelia tapped her fingers on the table. “Interesting.”
“Where is this place?” Amka asked.
“Oh honey, it’s right at the end of First Street, just past Puck’s Bar. They’re planning to turn the front of the house into a shop.”
Ophelia took a sip of her soda. “I know that place. I thought it was abandoned.”