A Story to Kill Read Free

she was dropping off coffee or food.
    Which she should be doing, rather than watch the way Seth’s muscles rippled in the sun, especially after he surrendered to the heat and stripped off the T-shirt to the tank underneath. “I’m not hungry right now,” she called back.
    Well, she was hungry, just not for the soup and sandwich Shauna had prepared.

Chapter 2
    â€œYou knew.” Cat watched as her uncle stirred three teaspoons of sugar into his coffee. He reached for a fourth time, but she moved the sugar bowl out of his reach.
    Uncle Pete sighed, then sipped his coffee, wincing at the bitterness that he couldn’t possibly taste with all the sugar in the cup. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
    â€œReally, you want to play dumb?” She sipped her own coffee. “Fine. Seth Howard. You knew he was the handyman Shauna had hired.”
    â€œGuilty as charged. But in my defense, there is only one handyman in town, so it wasn’t much of a leap.” Uncle Pete shrugged. “So did he get you all ready for the arrivals today?”
    Seth had worked long hours every day since he’d started. Luckily, Cat had been able to hole up in her office for most of that time. And she’d even got a little bit of writing done. Her deadline was fast approaching, and she wasn’t nearly as close to done as she wanted to be on the latest book. However, she hadn’t been able to avoid running into him in the kitchen several times. Shauna had started teasing her when she’d grab coffee and disappear, if Seth happened to be getting a drink—or worse, chatting with Shauna.
    â€œThe rooms are ready. I still want to remodel the attic into a library sitting area, but I’m sure Seth has other commitments.” Or at least she hoped that was true. She needed time without worrying about running into him around the next corner all day long.
    Shauna set a basket of muffins on the table and joined them. “Actually, he doesn’t, so he wants to sit down with you on Monday and talk about what you want done upstairs. I said bookshelves, a couple built-in desks, and a window seat under that grand stained-glass window in front.”
    â€œWell, then there’s no need for me to talk to him. You seem to have it handled.” Cat hadn’t meant for the words to come out as bitter as they sounded.
    Shauna tore apart a banana nut muffin and buttered the insides keeping her gaze on the food. “I’m not playing in your backyard, Cat. I have no interest in the man. Although, he is fine to look at.”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about.” Cat grabbed a muffin and mirrored Shauna’s actions.
    Shauna turned to Uncle Pete. “Has she always been a big fat liar?”
    He was busy with his own muffin. “Pretty much, especially when it came to that boy. You wouldn’t believe the places I found them during their high school years. Windows in that Camaro of his were always steamed up by the time I’d see the car parked on some back road.”
    â€œYou know I’m right here, listening to all of this, right?” Cat focused on a drop of melted butter that was just about to drip off the muffin. “I’m not afraid of meeting with the man. I just have a lot of work to do, especially since we’ll have guests coming in today.”
    This was the opening session of the writer’s retreat, and she’d planned to hold one a month for the first year. Then she’d reevaluate the venture. The next three months’ sessions were already starting to fill. And that was with little-to-no advertising. Writers wanted a place to get away from their daily lives and just write. But if the Warm Springs Writer’s Retreat got any more popular, Cat would be the one needing a space to hide.
    â€œYou don’t have to do anything except eat breakfast with the group and take them to the library to set up their