Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 99(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 99(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Goddamn it.
Of course, today would turn to shit. I clench my jaw so hard my back molars grind together, sending a jolt of pain straight to my temple. I snatch my keys off the desk, and the metal bites into my palm. I jab two fingers toward Kil in a sharp "follow me" gesture. The leather of my shoulder holster creaks as I stride toward the elevator, each step hammering my frustration into the dingy linoleum.
There goes my early out. There goes my fucking date with the only woman who’s ever made me feel like this.
While Kil navigates the SUV through afternoon traffic toward the dusty outskirts of town, I pull out my phone and type out a quick message to Poppy.
Me
It fucking kills me to cancel tonight, but I have a new case. Rain check on dinner? I’m sorry.
Three dots appear, then disappear, then reappear. It feels like hours while I wait for her to respond.
Kitten
No worries, Detective. Go solve a murder. We can reschedule. :)
Me
How about tomorrow night, same time?
Fuck. The thought of spending another twenty-four hours without seeing her causes my heart to literally ache, but I know I’ll be tied up until tomorrow at the earliest.
Kitten
Sounds like a plan to me.
Me
See you then.
I put my phone away, preparing myself to concentrate on the case. We pull up outside the brightly lit convenience store and see the scene is already hopping.
There are patrol units everywhere. Yellow tape is stretched across the parking lot from the pumps all the way to the front door. After Kil parks, I unhook my seatbelt, muttering. “Let’s get this shit over with.” So I can get back to wooing my girl.
CHAPTER FIVE
POPPY
After reading Jack’s text cancelling—no, make that postponing our date, I drop onto my bed. Darn. That really sucks.
Moonpie looks up from her sixth nap of the day and judges me silently. “Don’t start, Moonpie,” I say, dropping my phone onto the duvet next to me. “He’s got a job to do.” I don’t know why I’m explaining this to my cat, but here we are.
I pull her close, and she endures my smothering with the resigned grace of someone who knows how good they have it. Her purrs are low and judgmental, but I’ll take what I can get.
After a while, I decide to put on a movie that makes me feel better about being alone. I end up picking “You’ve Got Mail” because if I’m going to wallow, I might as well do it with one of my favorite movies. While the opening credits play, I head to the kitchen and grab the emergency tub of Rocky Road ice cream hidden behind all my healthy looking frozen food.
Moonpie attempts to lick the ice cream off my spoon, but I manage to pull it away in time. Then I can’t handle her withering stare so I end up giving her a scoop of plain old vanilla in her own bowl. She circles it once, sniffs, and then looks back at me like, “This doesn’t have chocolate in it.”
I make it through twenty minutes of Meg Ryan before my phone buzzes again. My mood lifts a little when I see a text from Jack.
Detective Hottie
How’s your night going?
Me
It’s okay. How’s your case?
Detective Hottie
It sucks because I had to miss my date with you. What are you up to?
Well, that definitely improves my mood. But also… it kind of bums me out all over again.
The way my chest aches over a cancelled dinner with Jack is absolutely ridiculous. I barely know the guy, and I’m already acting like a lovesick fool. I mean, who gets this upset over a rescheduled date? Me, apparently. Leave it to me to fall for a guy who makes my stomach do Olympic level flips every time he texts.
Me
I’m watching a movie and eating ice cream with Moonpie.
Detective Hottie
Lucky Moonpie. Save me a bite.
Holy hell. A bite? A bite of what? I type out that question then erase it. Damn. I suck at flirting. I delete the words and start again.
Me
You can have all the bites you want tomorrow night.
Detective Hottie
I’m going to hold you to that. See you soon, kitten.
I send a thumbs up and drop my phone on the end table. Moonpie tucks herself into the crook of my arm, purrs loud enough to drown out my thoughts, and promptly falls asleep. I’m honestly jealous because I know there’s no way I’m going to get any sleep tonight.
The next morning starts with a text from Mrs. Winters in 5B, letting me know she won’t need me to clean her apartment on Tuesday. Fudge. That’s going to put a dent into my grocery fund for the week. Oh well, I guess I’ll have ramen for dinner one night this week.
I set my coffee cup under the coffeemaker and slip a pod into the cradle. While my much-needed shot of caffeine brews, I make a to-do list for the day.