Killer Closet Case: a Danger Cove B&B Mystery (Danger Cove Mysteries Book 6) Read Free Page A

turned back to me. "Anyway, now Patricia's taken to making my life miserable in retaliation, and she's totally stalking Mal with the pretense of getting him to start on her house sooner." Her demeanor flipped right back to flirty, and her face lit up. "Speaking of Mal…" She let out a dreamy sigh. "I can't wait for you to meet him. He's handsome, intelligent, a hard worker, and still has a bit of a sexy Scottish accent too. I'd listen to him read the entire freaking phone book."
    "I can still hear you," Dad called from the other room.
    Mom giggled and patted my hand. "So, really, what's on your mind?"
    I slumped onto one of the tall chairs at the counter, heaving a huge sigh of defeat. What was the harm in letting them know I'd be staying on a little longer than their trip? "Dad pretty much nailed it. Can I stay with you guys for a while? Like, maybe longer than just a B&B-sitting stint? I need to regroup and figure out life."
    "He shoots. He scores!" Dad added from his chair in the other room, snickering.
    Mom let out a very unladylike snort as she sat next to me. Not that ladylike was something we really practiced in our family, mind you. "You must want to live here forever, if you're waiting to get a handle on life." She pushed my hair behind my ear and wound a curl around her finger as she cupped my face. "You're smart, beautiful, and have your whole life in front of you. You can do or be anything you set your mind to. You'll find your niche in life. Promise."
    I leaned into her hand and let out an exasperated sigh.
    She sucked in her bottom lip, nibbling on it, undoubtedly trying to decide whether to start with the I told you so or the we still love you no matter what spiel. Instead, like most talks we have, she went in an entirely different direction. "I'd sell a kidney for your curls. It's not fair that the gene skipped my generation." She released a forlorn sigh. "At least you got my red hair." My curl slipped from her fingers as she flipped a hand in resignation. "I'll just get another perm, I suppose."
    "You most certainly will not," Dad bellowed. "The last time you went down to The Clip and Sip salon, you stumbled back home three sheets to the wind with green hair."
    "It was green highlights for St. Paddy's Day, for crying out loud, and I'd only had a couple of drinks." Mom's chin tilted with defiance as she leaned toward me. "That just makes me want one even more," she whispered directly into my ear.
    It was like someone was shining a giant magnifying glass on my rebellious nature. Life seemed a bit clearer with this revelation, not that I necessarily liked what I saw.
    The doorbell rang twice, and Mom popped onto her feet. "Mail call! I bet our tickets are here!"
    Whew. Lecture bullet dodged. Well, I was given a brief reprieve, anyway.
    I followed her into the living room as she made her way through, but I stopped to flop on the couch next to Dad's chair while she continued on to the front door.
    I ran my hand across Dad's old patchwork quilt draped over the arm of the couch. That thing predated me. It's rumored to even predate Mom, but I'm sure she washed it in bleach before she ever allowed it anywhere near her. I stared at Dad's paper, hoping he'd at least lower it, pretending to acknowledge me. Nope. I cleared my throat. "So, you guys are pushing your normal time limit at one place. How soon will you be moving on?"
    He shrugged, paper crinkling and lowering to his lap. "Your mom says she kind of likes it here, and, I have to admit, I've been enjoying helping this guy with odds and ends. Most of our prior contractors have shooed me away when I've offered to paint or clean up. I actually like this guy. Just don't tell your mother I said that."
    I blinked at my dad few times, wondering what made this place so damned special. It couldn't be just some magical contractor. I was just about to ask exactly that, when Mom squealed from the lobby.
    Dad jumped up, the blanket tumbling into a pile at his feet, and shoved