“Morning.” She groans as she makes her way over.
“Afternoon,” I correct. “Glad to see you survived the serial killer meet and greet at the Dirty Habit last night.”
A greasy grin glides over her face. “Survived or conquered? Let’s just say I had an interesting night that began in the alley and ended in the back seat of a windowless van.”
“Good Lord.” I shudder. “Do you own a stun gun?”
“Nope.” She gives Shep a quick wink.
“Then I know what to get you for Christmas,” I say.
“So”—Tilly bops to my side, the slight scent of booze still emanating off her—“where to next? Your little adventures are virtual good luck charms for me. My little Jaime wants me to thank you, too. She liked having the entire house to herself last night. It turns out, teenagers have more fun without their parents around.”
“Go figure.” Shep blinks a smile her way.
I choose to ignore Shep’s stab at sarcasm even if it wasn’t directed at me. Instead, I turn my full attention to my new bestie.
“I’m glad you asked what’s next, Tilly. Get your appetite ready because we’re headed to Sterling Lake for dinner.”
“Ooh!” Tilly’s eyes grow ten times their size. “You mind if I bring Butch the bartender along? He’s already begging for more.”
“Bring whoever you want,” I say. “The more the merrier.” And the less suspicious.
Shep lowers his chin a notch as he lands those pale blue lasers my way.
“Why are you going to Sterling Lake?” he grumbles as if the thought offended him. “Wait a minute. You’re going to investigate, aren’t you?” His brows pinch. “Bowie, you’re not a detective. This case doesn’t involve you.”
“The blood on my new dress begs to differ. Besides, I don’t owe you any explanation as to where I eat my dinner. Just like you don’t owe me any explanation as to who you eat your lunch with.”
He nods as if he knew that’s where this would circle back to.
“For the record”—he leans in—“it’s not what you think.”
Tilly chortles. “That’s what they all say. If you really care about your fiancée, you’ll join us tonight and pick up the tab.” She elbows me in the ribs. “Shut up and go with it. Butch is slow to part with his tips, and so am I.”
Shep examines me with a satisfied look on his smugly handsome face that suggests I’ve been bested.
“I’ll be glad to join you,” he says. “Pick you up at seven?”
Tilly bumps her hip to mine. “It’s a date. Don’t be late.”
“Eatie Some Ziti here we come.” I shrug over at Shep. “It’s not what you think.” I don’t mind one bit throwing his words right back at him. “It’s research. I’m looking for some great Italian menu items to swipe.”
Hilary waves and garners Shep’s attention before demanding a cup of coffee for herself as well.
I quickly pour two and slide them over his way.
“We wouldn’t want to keep the other woman waiting.”
Shep takes the coffee and pauses a moment to bear a hole through my skull with his gaze.
“Research?” He hikes a brow my way as if implying he knows better.
“Are you suspicious of my intentions, Honey Bunch?”
His lips curl up one side. “I think I know how your brain works, Sweet Cheeks.”
“You wish,” I say as he takes off.
I’m about to turn to Tilly when that warm, fuzzy feeling takes over. The room darkens around me and I feel a tingling running up from my toes to my scalp. A vision appears in my mind’s eye. I recognize the woman with caramel-blonde hair, the pinched nose, the persnickety look on her face—it’s Hilary Campbell. She’s stuffed herself into a shiny silver dress that screams I’m single and she’s looking up with a lusty greed at someone who’s wearing a suit—Shep I’m assuming. “If what you’re saying is true about her, I’ll be sure to have her arrested. Don’t you worry about a thing. You can keep your hands clean.”
A breath hitches in my throat as I look over at the two of them. Shep is about to spill my secret to that wily witch.
I’ll be darned if I’m about to let that happen. Hilary Campbell not only wants a piece of my man, she wants a piece of me, too. Oh, I’ll give it to her and I’ll make sure it hurts.
But first, I’m about to shake down her best friend.
And who knows?
I might just take out my wrath on Kadie Beaumont first.
Chapter 8
Sterling Lake is located northeast of Starry Falls. It might be relatively close in proximity, but make no mistake, it is a far cry from our humble, cozy neck of the Vermont woods.
Tilly and her date, Butch, are meeting us here, so all the way over I tried to convince Shep that under no circumstances was he to share anything about my life with Hilary. And all the way over, Shep tried to convince me that he would never even dream of doing such a thing. Of course, he has no idea that I’ve all but seen it play out at some point in the future.
While on occasion my sibylline status has been a curse, it’s times like these that it’s been a blessing.
Shep helps me out of the car and I stretch my legs, looking up at the red brick building with its green and white sign that reads Eatie Some Ziti. The windows are festooned with white Battenberg lace curtains and a faux candle on the ledge burns bright from the other side of the glass. Couples dressed in suits and fancy dresses scurry into the place at record speed as if the name of the establishment was code for free truffles.
Shep steps in front of me and furrows his brows as his
