“Right.” I nod. “I won’t.”
“Promise?” he asks, and it sounds nice, but it’s actually loaded with something familiar.
“Promise.” How will he know one way or the other? Hell, he didn’t even know my neighbor was murdered. And trust me, everyone knew about the murder, because things like that don’t happen in Ames, Iowa. Ever.
Chapter Ten
Gage
“What was with that guy?” Finch asks as he bites into another cookie.
“No idea.” Well, I do. Daisy alluded to the fact that she and her dad weren’t close. “There’s something familiar about him.”
Finch shrugs. “He looks like your average old white guy.”
Old? I wouldn’t call Dr. Buchanan old. Older, yes. From the little bit of gray in his hair and some wrinkles around his eyes, my guess is he’s in his late forties or early fifties. But why argue with a kid who’s twenty-three if he’s a day? “Yeah.” I reach for another cookie.
“These are damn good,” Finch mumbles with his mouth full.
He’s right. “They are.” Damn good. It makes me wonder what else she’s good at. You know, in the cooking arena.
“She’s cute.” Finch seems to think I appreciate his opinion or something.
“I hadn’t noticed.” Yes I had. Take today, for example. She had on another one of her giant sweatshirts, but this one sort of fell off one shoulder, revealing creamy skin and a black strap. It could have been a bra strap or one those tank tops women wear. Whatever it was, it was certainly distracting. Her shoulder looked narrow, and given the fact that she’s rather short, I’m not surprised the rest of her is compact. Sometimes, when she moves, I’ve caught a glimpse of body beneath all that fabric and what I’ve seen makes me smile. Curves. At least my hope is she’s got curves.
Hope? Why would I hope? I can’t be thinking about Daisy Buchanan in any way other than as an eyewitness.
I make a scoffing sound, which makes the human garbage disposal stop chewing for the first time since I opened up the container and ask, “What?”
“Nothing.” Replacing the lid, I point to the bedroom. “Let’s keep going. I’d like to get home sometime tonight.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
We don’t find anything else in Kara Becker’s apartment. That doesn’t mean she didn’t keep things elsewhere, of course. I’d love to go through her bedroom in her father’s home, because we’re missing a significant item: her computer. Everyone’s got a computer. But I’ll need to check with the captain about that. I’d hope Kara’s father would give us access to her things at home, but who knows. He’s been a constant figure at the station since Kara’s death. He sits in the captain’s office waiting for updates which is sad. I feel for him, I really do, but he needs to take a little responsibility for the way Kara was. His help is needed. I’d like to sit down with Mr. Becker to get his insight into Kara’s activities the few months leading up to her death. There may be something he noticed that can help us understand her motives. I’d also like to know if he knew about her desire to move west.
Sitting on my couch, I’m about to eat the last of the cookies. I stare down at the empty plastic container and frown. I’ve eaten a dozen cookies since she handed them to me, and while I’m full as a tick, I could eat more.
“What did she put in these things?” I know they have chocolate chips and oatmeal. I also taste coconut along with some crunchy bits in them too. Nuts? Whatever it is, they taste like nothing I’ve ever eaten before. They’re addictive.
Leaning my head back, I chew slowly so I can savor the last one. What Finch said was true for me too. It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten anything homemade. Sure, I cook for myself, but it’s nothing special and never anything sweet. I cook a protein and a vegetable almost every day. That’s about it.
Sighing, I look at the empty container again. All that remains are crumbs. Maybe if I wash the container and give it back to her, she’ll fill it up again.
What? It doesn’t hurt to be optimistic.
Chapter Eleven
Daisy
“Hi?” I say it like it’s a question because it is. Why is Gage Golden at my door at eight in the morning?
Not that I’m complaining.
“Hey.” He smiles, and it lights up his whole face. He must be a morning person. Unlike me.
That’s when I cringe remembering what I’m wearing. The world’s oldest pajama pants and a tight tank top. No bra.
Sure, I should have thought through the opening of my door, but when I saw him through the peephole, I grabbed the doorknob and wrenched it open. No thinking done whatsoever.
Crossing my arms to hide my chest, I step behind the door a little bit. “Hi.” This time it’s not a question.
“I brought you back your container.” Looking down, I see his outstretched hand. It’s holding the now empty cookie container.
“Wow, you guys ate them all? Already?” Taking it from him, I hold it in front of my chest like a shield
With a sexy chuckle, Gage says, “I had to fight Finch for the last few.”
I blush because, well, that was a cool thing for him to say. “You liked them?”
I’m holding my breath waiting to hear what he’s about to say.
He leans in closer and lowers his voice like he’s telling me a secret. “Those were the best damn cookies I’ve ever had, Daisy.”
Holy shit-balls. Whenever he says my name, my nipples get hard. Sorry if that was a little too much info, but it’s true. He says my name, and it’s like I don’t mind it. My name, that is. For years, ever since I read The Great Gatsby, I’ve hated my name. Like detested it. But that changed the day Gage Golden let it cross his lips—his sexy, sexy lips—so now I’d like to thank my father
