“Yuck!” Dani made a face. “That line sounds just as cheesy as the other eight hundred times that I heard it.”
“Just don’t say I never gave us a second chance.” Kipp shrugged.
“Well, now that we have that settled, you can leave.” Dani crossed her arms.
“One more thing.” Kipp paused. “Do you remember that book of poetry that I lent you when you helped me clear out Mother’s house after she died? It was in a box of my great-great-great-grandmother’s things that looked as if it hadn’t been opened in the last century. We only found it because the carton’s bottom broke and its contents fell out onto the floor.”
“Lent?” Dani raised her eyebrows. “You gave it to me.”
“Whatever.” Kipp shrugged. “It turns out that Mother promised it to my cousin and she’s been bugging me about it.”
“What took you so long to ask you for it?” Dani asked. “Your mother died more than a year and a half ago.”
“My cousin was out of the country doing missionary work and hadn’t heard about Mother’s death.”
“I haven’t unpacked all my boxes yet, but you can have it when I find it.”
“I need it right now.” Kipp grabbed her hand and tried to pull her toward the door. “I’ll help you look.”
“Hold it right there, mister.” Dani jerked her hand from his grasp and poked him in the chest with her index finger. “There are a lot of boxes and I have other plans for the evening. I’ll text you when I run across it.”
“No!” Kipp yelped. “Get it now.”
“If you don’t leave this instant, I’m keeping the book.”
“Fine.” Kipp’s expression smoothed. “Don’t get yourself in a tizzy. I’ll stop by tomorrow to pick it up.”
“You need to wait for my text.”
“Don’t take too long,” Kipp ordered and headed down the front steps.
“With that kind of attitude, I might never find it!” Dani yelled after him.
As soon as Kipp left, Dani called her best friend, Kelsey Zahler. After her stressful day full of crazy cops, irrational ex-boyfriends, and hot uncles, she needed a sympathetic ear.
Since Kelsey had gotten married and had a couple of babies, the two women didn’t see as much of each other as they had in high school and college. But when Dani wanted a shoulder to cry on, Kelsey was still her number one choice.
Miracle of miracles, Kelsey answered on the first ring and suggested that they meet around nine for a drink at their old hangout. By then, Kelsey’s kids would be in bed and her husband would be home to keep an eye on them.
Dani fed her boarders dinner and told them that she would be out for the evening, then went upstairs to get ready. She was dressed and pacing the floor by eight fifteen.
Although it was still a little early, she scooped up her purse and headed for the van. She was too twitchy to sit around the house and she could always buzz the gut—cruise around Towanda’s downtown a few times if she got really desperate.
Climbing into the huge, white vehicle with the Chef-to-Go logo painted on the side, Dani wished for the hundredth time that she had been able to keep her sporty little Audi. But she’d had to sell the Cabriolet to pay for the van. Besides, she certainly couldn’t afford two vehicles.
As Dani drove toward her hometown, she realized that her route took her past the entrance to Regina Bourne’s neighborhood and she impulsively turned into the development. Spotting Chelsea and Trent Karnes’s house, she wondered once again if the couple would still want her to cook for them. After the dessert debacle at the luau when Regina had threatened to ruin Dani’s business, her first thought had been that the Karneses would never hire her to be their personal chef again. And they certainly wouldn’t permit her in their home if Mikeloff spread the word that she was a murderer.
Groaning, Dani pulled the van to the curb and studied the Bournes’ house. She couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary—not that she’d really expected a neon sign flashing MURDER. Still, something had compelled her to revisit the place. Good thing the detective hadn’t caught her there. Wasn’t it some kind of cop motto that criminals always return to the scene of the crime?
Suddenly, Dani felt as if someone was watching her and quickly eased the van back onto the street and headed to her hometown.
Clouds rolled overhead, playing peekaboo with the moon, and the darkness fit her mood. She turned on the van’s radio, searching for some cheerful music. Instead, she found the Beatles singing “Yesterday,” one of the most depressing songs ever recorded.
Hitting the radio’s Off button, Dani drove the rest of the way to the bar and grill in silence. Dani secured a coveted corner booth to wait for her friend. Unfortunately, it was under a hyperactive ceiling fan and, shivering, she slid along the bench until she found a sheltered spot.
When a waitress wearing the establishment’s obligatory short shorts and cropped football jersey approached, Dani asked for a pitcher of margaritas. As the girl trudged away, Dani wondered if the bar had ever had a male server, and if so, what kind of equivalently skimpy outfit he’d be required to wear. No shirt and bicycle shorts?
A few seconds after the waitress returned with Dani’s order, a shapely redhead strutted into the room. When she saw Dani, she ran over, dragged her to her feet, and hugged her.
“Kel,” Dani gasped. “Need to breathe.”
“Wuss,” Kelsey laughed as she released her hold and they sat down. She spotted the pitcher, grabbed the handle, and poured for them both. “Nectar of the gods!”
“I’m so glad you were able to meet me.” Dani smiled at her friend. “It’s been so long, and it’s really good to see you.”
“I’m sorry I keep having to cancel.” Kelsey
