“I guess I’ll see you all there.” He stretches a tight smile my way—albeit short-lived. “It just so happens to be my first stop of the day.” His jaw tenses as he stares hard my way, and that’s all I need for my stomach to explode with heat.
Shep takes off, and I glare in his wake. I’ll be darned if he gets to the good stuff without me.
Thea and I toss my lasagna together, and before I know it, Jackson, Tilly, Regina, and I are out the door.
Kiera Hillerman, we’re coming for you.
After our brilliantly, yet all too brief tour of Main Street, not to mention pointing out the stunning falls behind the manor, Jackson drives us straight to Sterling Lake in his pricey SUV with all its fancy bells and whistles.
Goober’s corporate offices are in a four-story building covered with mirrored windows and clean black lines set out like a grid. Inside, the air is cool and crisp, a welcome compared to the heat still clinging from summer’s death throes. The floors are shiny and white, the reception area is comprised of white marble countertops, and even the secretary has a gleaming white smile.
Jackson puts in his request to see the queen of Gooberville herself, and soon we’re ushered upstairs, through a labyrinth of halls, until we enter into the holy of holies, the nexus of Kiera Hillerman’s—neck?
Standing approximately fifteen feet ahead of us is Shepherd Wexler himself who looks to be sniffing his prime suspect at the moment, right at the nape of her neck.
“Hello, Shep.” I don’t hesitate implementing just the right amount of sarcasm.
Shep turns our way and offers our motley crew a once-over.
“I see the tour is finished.” He lifts a brow in my direction.
Jackson chuckles. “The girls and I had a grand time.” He nods to the blonde with the bad orange spray tan. “Kiera, a few friends of mine were interested in touring the facility. I hope you don’t mind that we’ve stopped in unannounced.”
“Not at all.” She frowns our way. “Welcome to the laboratory.” Kiera has donned a simple blue dress that looks more like a glorified extra-long T-shirt that just so happens to show off that wayward colored tan. “The tour begins and ends here.” She holds out her svelte arms to a spacious facility that looks less mad scientist’s laboratory and more soup kitchen for the rich and famous, with its expansive marble counters and rows of stainless appliances. A bevy of women clad in black stand around in clusters while sneaking sideways glances to both Shep and Jackson. I’m guessing having two hot men in the vicinity is the reason for all the spontaneous giggling.
“In fact, I’m thrilled you girls are here.” She points to a trio of beakers on the counter next to her. “We’re auditioning scents for our next gender neutral perfume, but regardless of the unisex implications, I want it to drive men wild—especially while on the neck of a beautiful woman. Why don’t you girls come here? I’ll dab a little behind your ears and we’ll see which one these two men prefer.”
You don’t have to tell Tilly and Regina twice. They’re at the front of the proverbial line getting doused by Kiera and her little glass wand. Jackson heads over to observe the delicate operation while I scoot on over to the hunky homicide detective giving me the stink eye.
“Did you get anything?” I whisper. “Never mind. Don’t answer that. It was clear from what I saw, you were about to get something.” I make a face at the thought.
Shep’s chest vibrates with a silent laugh.
“I was just getting to the good part when you barged in.” His brows dip down into a hard V, like a bird in flight. “Bowie, I asked you not to investigate. You don’t follow orders very well.”
“Now you’re catching on.” A thought comes to me and I take in a quick breath. “Hey? I bet whoever poisoned Madeline Swanson had access to all sorts of dicey ingredients. Maybe they acquired it via their very own lab?” I tick my head over to Kiera, aka the potential killer, but Shep merely exhales as if he were exasperated with me.
Tilly waves me over. “Bowie? It’s your turn. Hurry up. I want to get to the sniffing.” She snorts and giggles as she looks over at Jackson.
I head over and Kiera quickly dabs a little of the oily solution behind each of my ears as the scents of gardenias and plumerias overtake me.
“Ooh, wow, I like this,” I muse “But are you sure it’s considered genderless? I mean, it’s a bit floral—in a good way.”
She nods as if she’s already considered this. “It’s supposed to be on the lighter side. Tilly has the fresh cotton on a tropical isle scent, and Regina is wearing sandalwood and ash.”
The fact that Regina smells like the aftermath of a bonfire seems fitting.
Kiera lines us up about six feet apart and Jackson sniffs Regina first.
“Excellent scent.” His lips come shy of hers and she strategically turns her head in time and we’re forced to watch lips brush over one another. They share a dark laugh as he makes his way to Tilly, and my bestie wastes no time in doing the same.
“I’m two for two.” Jackson laughs as he looks over at Shep.
But Shep isn’t laughing as Jackson makes his way over to me. In fact, Shep looks downright angry.
Jackson Mortimer towers over me by a head as he bows in close and I can feel his breath tickling my neck.
He touches his nose to my ear, and I break out in a string of giggles as if the cute boy in class just asked me to dance. Although, I get the feeling Jackson here wants to sniff his way around more than my ear.
A hand lands over Jackson’s shoulder and effectively plucks him off me.
Shep frowns my way a moment before stepping in close.
