“Did she say anything?” Ryan asked, keeping her voice casual. “About the case?”
Steven looked thoughtful, then shook his head. “Why?”
“No reason.” Ryan looked down at the papers, flipping the envelope over, the photo tucked with it. “If there’s anything else you remember, please give us a call.”
Steven nodded, then turned around and left without another word.
“What do you think that’s about?” Dane asked, his voice low.
“Hell if I know,” Ryan said wryly.
Friday 30th September; 12noon
Liv sank onto the stool she used to sit on behind the counter, keeping an eye on Mocha as she napped against the far wall. Gram was working on her crochet at home, and Liv had thought it would be nice to get Mocha out of the house for once. Maybe they needed to get a second dog.
She stifled a yawn. She hadn’t slept well, not after her snooping. She kept having dreams that Cairo was coming after her, begging to be saved. That someone was stalking her, stalking Cairo, stalking Gram.
Liv shivered at the memory. Everything was fine. But how could it be with a murderer on the loose?
The door jangled and she stood, plastering a smile on her face as she turned to greet the customer. Then she froze.
Ryan stood in the doorway, her hand still on the door. It felt like time hung without moving, like they stood there forever.
Then Mocha got up from her bed and sauntered over to Ryan, sniffing her slacks intently. Ryan’s gaze fell to the dog, and a small smile lit up her face.
Ryan truly was gorgeous. Even after a decade, she hadn’t changed. There were faint lines here and there, but all they did were make her more beautiful. When Ryan lifted her head to smile at Liv, it made the fluttering break out in her stomach.
It also threatened to break her heart.
“Can I help you?” Liv asked, leaning forward slightly.
“What’s your recommendation?” Ryan looked at her with sharp eyes.
Liv blinked. “What do you mean?” Did Ryan know she had been poking into the case? Probably. Ryan wasn’t stupid, and she knew Liv had a habit for getting into things she didn’t necessarily need to stick her nose into.
“For coffee.” Ryan pointed to the menu. “It’s changed since I was here last.”
Liv relaxed, feeling her shoulders sag a touch. “If you like flavored coffees, the marshmallow mocha is quite good.”
“I’ll take one of those, then.” Ryan nodded, pulling out her wallet and sliding it across the counter.
Liv reached for it, her fingertips brushing the leather. It was smooth and buttery under her fingers, and she inhaled sharply, her mind flashing back to the feel of Ryan’s skin and lips under her, the way they had twined together and become one.
“It’s on the house,” Liv said before she could get her brain back under control.
Ryan studied her for a moment, and the fire was still in her eyes just like it had been when they were younger. “How are you, Liv?” The soft huskiness of her voice sent shivers down Liv’s spine.
Liv exhaled quietly, turning to make the drink. It gave her an excuse to not look at Ryan, at least. “Fine, thanks. You?” She was always fine. No matter how much she wanted to jump over the counter and throw herself at Ryan and kiss the sense out of her. But she had burned that bridge long ago.
No matter how Ryan was looking at her. No, they needed more than their raw sexual attraction to be happy. They had already proved that.
Ryan hadn’t answered by the time Liv pushed the warm drink across the counter. There was a horde of butterflies in Liv’s stomach now, and her skin prickled out of excitement and nerves. She could feel her breath coming just a bit faster, her heartbeat pulsing in her ears. She was on edge, and it was all because of Ryan.
“Thanks.” Ryan took the coffee. “Do you have any sandwiches?” She looked over at the small cooler, then back at Liv.
“There’s a few there. If you want anything custom, just ask.” And she would make it, like a putz. A sucker. Why was she acting so weird? She shoved the thought aside. She knew why it was. But that was all they had, sexual attraction. She couldn’t connect with anyone. It wasn’t worth it.
Ryan went and picked up a sandwich, selecting a table at random and sitting down with her coffee and sandwich. Liv highly doubted it was a coincidence that Ryan sat so she could see Liv while she ate.
Mocha, however, was far more interested than Liv was. She wandered over to the table, rising up on her hind legs and doing what Liv called ‘the meerkat’.
“She’s going to eat your food,” Liv said wryly.
“Hi, girl.” Ryan scooted her food to the center of the table, ensuring that all wrappers were tucked around it. “Who’s this?”
“Her name’s Mocha,” Liv said. “She’s my Gram’s.”
“You have a grandmother here?” The barest hint of red tinted Ryan’s cheeks. “I mean, of course you have a grandma. I just didn’t know she was here.”
Liv bit her lip, not certain what to say. “Yeah.”
Ryan scratched Mocha’s head, not pressuring Liv at all. Liv gratefully returned to her countertop, cleaning it off just so she had something to do.
She watched as Ryan leaned down and pulled out a folder, spreading the papers over the table. She would have bet good money that it had something to do with Cairo’s case. She knew Ryan was involved, and had been from the day Cairo had seen her at the crime scene.
And if she was actually investigating it, then she didn’t think it was a suicide either.
Picking up the wet rag she was using to wipe off the counter, she started at the far table and started
