Corpse in the Crystal Ball (32 page)

For the first time in a long time, I actually believed it.

A week later, Morty dashed by me in his nightcap and dressing gown with something hanging out of his mouth. That was
never
a good sign.

“What are you up to, mister?” I started to follow him, but I stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

Granny was pacing about, muttering to herself, her own nightcap and dressing gown flowing at the top of the stairs.

“Anything wrong, Granny?”

She stopped, still far enough away so I couldn’t get a close look. “I can’t seem to find my teeth,” she gummed. Granny never let anyone see her without her teeth.

Morty
.

“They’re down here. I’ll send them up with Morty.” Why couldn’t he just chase mice like a normal cat?

“Thank you, dear.”

I marched into the kitchen and sure enough Morty stood there with Granny’s teeth held tight in his own choppers, making his mouth look like a caricature. “You have caused enough mischief, mister.” I thrust my finger toward the stairs. “Go. Now. And stop being naughty.”

He just arched a brow at me, smirked, and then headed up the stairs when he was darn good and ready. As much as he acted annoyed with Granny for constantly dressing him up, he was having a blast playing with her. I sighed yet couldn’t help but chuckle. He and Granny sure kept life interesting.

Life was good again. Mom and Dad had left, since we just celebrated Easter this past week, promising not to return until the next holiday. Kevin (aka Nicholas Bruno) was in jail where he belonged, awaiting trial for the murders of Isabel Gonzales, Roz Sanderson, Miranda Stone, and the real Kevin Brown. Ted Baxter might not be a murderer, but he was still in jail since he did try to assault me and I pressed charges.

Jo and Cole were actually going to give their relationship a shot, and I couldn’t be happier for them. Sean was, well, Sean, and everyone loved him for it. Even Chuck Webb and Abigail Brook had shocked everyone by running off together and eloping. After all they’d been through, they’d somehow bonded and Abby finally landed a man of her own.

Because the authorities couldn’t prove where the money had come from and Isabel had surprised everyone by having a secret will drawn up once she reached Divinity, Selena inherited everything. I was actually glad for her. I’d misjudged her, probably out of jealousy. Now she could afford to chase her dreams of becoming an actor, and Mitch could be happy with the real love of his life.

The doorbell rang.

“Who on earth could that be?” I muttered out loud, then went to answer the door.

Business was booming these days once more, but I didn’t have anyone scheduled this late. Peeking out the window, I pressed my lips together as a slice of pain ripped through my heart. What could
he
possibly want? I opened the door.

“Ready to have that talk?” Mitch asked, standing there on crutches still looking battered and bruised and yet amazing in his faded gray NYPD sweat suit. His thick black hair was mussed and he looked as though he hadn’t shaved in days.

“Talk about what?” I asked hesitantly, crossing my arms over my
MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR
T-shirt.

“Us,” he answered softly.

He’d remembered
.

“I thought you left town with Selena?” I hedged, still uncertain and not willing to be hurt anymore.

“I did. Can I come in?” He acted annoyed.

“Why?”

“I owe you that talk.” The man did
not
have a way with words.

“What’s the point?”

“What do you mean ‘what’s the point?’” He looked confused and frustrated. “Tink, you still don’t make a damn bit of sense. Are you going to let me in or what?”

“No. You’re the one who acted like you were into me, only you really weren’t. I heard you.” Okay, so maybe everything wasn’t going to be just fine. Damn him for making me realize just how much I really did need him.

“Okay, I guess we’re going to have this talk in the
doorway. Call 911 if I pass out.” He sighed, looking weary. I almost caved, but then I figured he deserved a bit of pain, given all the pain he’d caused me lately. “Heard me say what?” he finally asked.

“That you were going to propose to Selena and not Isabel.”

A guilty look swept over his features.

“Aha! See, I was right. I knew it.”

He cursed. “I repeat, you really don’t know anything.” Once again, he snaked a hand behind my neck, pulled me into him, and kissed me hard.

As always, electricity zipped through my veins and chills traveled across my nerve endings until every cell in my body was alive. I tore my mouth away and stumbled back a step. “M-Maybe you should come in.”

“You think?” He wobbled in and barely made it to the couch before he tumbled down. Struggling, he managed to sit upright.

“Why did you do that?” I asked as I sat in the chair across from him, crossing my yoga pants legs—I’d finally broken down and bought a pair—not daring to get too close.

He looked me square in the eye and said, “Because you drive me crazy, dammit!”

“Crazy good or crazy bad?” I asked, biting my bottom lip.

He huffed out a breath and scrubbed a hand over his face, then shook his head. “Beats the hell out of me. I’m still trying to figure it all out myself.”

“What about Selena? I thought you loved her. Didn’t you just go out of town with her?” I was almost afraid to ask.

“I helped her get settled. I know it sounds crazy, but I
feel like I let my sister down in not taking good enough care of her. I didn’t want to let Selena down, too. Besides, I owed it to Isabel to see her sister settled. To make up for—I don’t know—everything, I guess.” He sighed, looking worn-out and sad.

“As for loving either of them, I’m not sure I ever did. Hell, I don’t know. You know I’m not good with words. I thought I loved Isabel, but then I loved Selena’s spirit. I was a kid, and that was a long time ago. Things change. I’ve changed.” He touched my cheek as he looked deep into my eyes. “Before, there was no you. Now there is. It’s as simple as that.”

“That’s not simple. What exactly does that mean?”

“Damned if I know. Look, are we going to do this thing or not?”

“Is that your idea of asking me out on a date?”

He shrugged, looking mighty uncomfortable. “Maybe.”

My smile came slow and sweet as I slowly walked over to the couch in front of him. He flinched and raised a wary brow at me, sporting a scowl on those hard, firm, full, delicious lips of his.

“Yes,” was all I said.

“Yes what?”

“Yes, I’ll go out on a date with you.” I sat down beside him and propped my bare feet on the coffee table next to his, rested my head on his shoulder, and risked a peek up at him.

He relaxed and actually smiled back, looking sexy beyond belief as he stared down into my eyes. “Good. I’m glad.” He grunted.

And I had to laugh.

He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Detective Gorilla. Nothing at all.” I snuggled in next to him, and he wrapped me in his strong arms.

It wasn’t much, but it was definitely a start.