“Fine, he’s my cousin’s husband,” Kipp said quickly. “You always were such a suspicious bit—” He cut himself off, appearing to come to the realization that insulting Dani was not in his best interest. Sulking, he said, “Satisfied?”
“Whatever.” Dani shrugged. “But I don’t think it’s worth what you think.”
“What do you mean?” Kipp squeaked, his pupils dilating. “I told you, it’s just sentimental value.”
“Forget it, moron,” the Hulk growled. “The chick knows that the book ain’t for no cousin.” He scowled at Dani. “But she also better know that trying to keep it wouldn’t be good for her health.”
“Are you threatening her?” Spencer snarled, pushing Dani farther away from the men. He swiftly bent over and unholstered his weapon. “Because if anything happens to her, you’ll answer to me.”
“Cool your jets, Romeo.” The Hulk held out his palm. “Juliet hands over the book, we leave, and neither of you ever has to see us again.”
Spencer looked down at Dani and asked, “If you’re sure you want to give it to him, go get it and let’s get rid of the trash.”
“I’m sure.” Dani turned and jogged down the hallway, snatched the book from the kitchen, and hurried back to the foyer. “Here.”
Kipp reached for the bag, but the Incredible Hulk snatched the Ziploc before he got a grip on the plastic. Tucking the book under his arm, the Hulk took a pair of white cotton gloves from his pocket.
As he stuffed his huge fingers into gloves so big that they had to be a special-order item, Dani bit her lips to stop the giggles that threatened to erupt from her throat. The incongruity of a man who looked like a mutant version of Mickey Mouse delicately turning the pages of a thin volume of poetry that almost disappeared in his gigantic mitts was nearly enough for her to lose it completely.
Attempting to regain her self-control, she examined Kipp. Sweat was pouring from his forehead and he looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else.
“Since we all agree that there’s no cousin,” Dani said thoughtfully, “what took you so long to ask for the book back from me?”
“I needed some quick cash to, uh…to, uh…help out a friend.” Kipp shot a frightened look at his escort. “So I was going through Mother’s things hoping to find something I could sell when I found a letter offering a hundred thousand dollars if the family’s copy of Edgar Allan Poe’s Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems proved to be a first edition and in good condition.”
“And you recalled giving it to me.” Dani rested a hip on the wall.
“Yeah.” Kipp shrugged. “I remembered that you were a big fan of Poe, and when I couldn’t find the book, I figured it must have been the one you asked for.” He narrowed his eyes. “At first, I thought you’d played me. That you knew it was valuable and had sold it to buy this place. But then I heard you inherited the mansion and you sure never lived like you had a hundred grand, so I decided what the hell, maybe you had no idea of its worth.”
“And you figured why not ask me to return it,” Dani said.
“Well, yeah.” Kipp sidled closer and reached out to her. “You were always so sweet and generous. I knew you wouldn’t mind.”
In a maneuver too fast for Dani really to see and before her ex could touch her, Spencer appeared between her and Kipp and warned, “Stay back.”
“I’ll deal with this.” Dani stepped around Spencer and poked Kipp in the chest with her index finger. “What you mean is that since I was dumb enough not to realize I was the other woman, I’d probably be idiot enough to hand over the book without a fuss.”
“You always did choose to think the worst of me,” Kipp whined.
“Whatever.” Dani crossed her arms. “You’re a big-shot doctor. Why would you need to sell your family’s antiques to get money?”
“I…uh…I,” Kip stuttered again. “I already told you a friend needed it and I was trying to help him out of a bad situation.”
“Liar.” Dani lifted her chin. “You never gave anyone anything. Heck! Most of the time you didn’t even take me out. I cooked dinner and you drank my wine and we watched movies that I paid to stream.”
“You said you were fine with our stay-at-home date nights,” Kipp protested.
“Like I had a choice.” Dani scowled. “Now tell me the truth.”
“Fine. I needed the money for me.” Kipp pouted. “My investments aren’t liquid at this time and rather than taking a loss—”
“He’s in hock up to his ears.” The Hulk had finished with the book, returned it to the ziplock bag, taken off his gloves, and now put a heavy hand on Kipp’s shoulder.
“And you’re the debt collector,” Spencer said. “Who’s your boss?”
“Probably best for you both if I don’t say.” The Hulk grinned revealing several gold teeth, one with a ruby-eyed skull on it. “Especially since this book ain’t worth no hundred grand.”
Kipp gulped. “Maybe you’re wrong. To the right collector—”
“Boss man checked with a couple and they told me what to look for.” The Hulk pushed Kipp toward the door. “If you’re lucky, you’ll get half that and only need to come up with fifty Gs more.”
As Dani watched Kipp being shoved onto the porch, she shouted, “Did you break into my house last night searching for the book?”
“It wasn’t me,” Kipp yelled, giving the ogre behind him a significant look.
“Okay.” For a second Dani was relieved to know it hadn’t been Regina’s murderer or Detective Mikeloff. Then she turned to Spencer and asked, “Shouldn’t we do something? What if the guy kills Kipp?”
“You can’t get money from a dead man.” Spencer turned the key in the dead bolt and put the chain in place. “Dr. Dumbass will be fine.”
“I suppose you’re right. People like him always land on
