Love you to Death Read Free Page A

So you’re Ashley’s ‘Hot Lawn Guy.’” She’d talked about him so often that Elise was beginning to wonder if Ashley was making him up. No guy was as helpful as the Hot Lawn Guy without wanting something in return.
    “Uh. I mow her lawn, yeah.”
    “And fix her car, and get rid of wasp’s nests, and repair broken garbage disposals. She talks about you all the time.”
    He shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, as if she’d embarrassed him. “Ashley likes to talk.”
    Elise couldn’t make out much in the dark, but she’d felt enough of Trent’s body pressed against hers to know the guy was in great shape. He was helpful, and apparently modest about it.
    It was a wonder Ashley hadn’t fallen in love with him at least three times by now, but she’d always said he wasn’t her type. Maybe he was gay.
    He reached over to flip on the light.
    “Don’t bother. I already tried. The fuse must be blown.”
    “I’ll take care of it,” he said. “As soon as the police get here and I sort things out.”
    Elise heaved out a weary sigh, dreading the job she had to do now. “They were on my list of people to talk to anyway. I guess now is as good a time as any.”
    Suspicion tightened his voice. “Talk to about what?”
    “About my missing sister and what they’re doing to find her.”

C HAPTER T WO

    E lise met the officer at the door to her sister’s home. He was in his fifties, she guessed, with short salt-and-pepper hair and a matching mustache. Although he wasn’t wearing his uniform, his car bore the emblem of the Haven Police Department.
    He looked her up and down briefly, then his gaze went over her shoulder to the man standing just behind her. “Morning, Trent,” he said. “Wanna tell me what’s going on here?”
    “Sorry, Bob. False alarm. I thought she was a kid out for a little B and E.”
    Officer Bob’s mouth turned down at the corners as he looked at her. “Did you break in?”
    “No. This is my sister’s place. I used a key.” All of which was technically the truth, even if it didn’t convey what really happened.
    “Good. It’s too damn early for paperwork,” said the officer. “And trouble. What’s your name, ma’am?”
    “Elise McBride, Ashley’s sister.”
    “Ah. You’re the one who called in the missing person’s report.”
    “Yes, sir. That’s why I’m here. To find Ashley. I’m hoping you can help.”
    In the houses around them, people wakened by the sirens peered out lighted windows.
    The officer’s thick chest collapsed on a heavy sigh. “Let’s take this inside, kids. No sense in making a scene on the front porch.”
    Elise stepped back to make room for the officer, grazing Trent’s bare chest with her arm. The heat from his skin soaked into her, and until now, she hadn’t realized she was cold. Stupid nerves.
    He moved out of her way, taking all that warmth with him, and the officer shut the door behind them.
    “Why’s it so dark in here?” he asked.
    “A fuse blew,” said Trent. “Happens all the time. I’ll take care of it.” He crossed the room like he lived here, opened a door and went downstairs.
    Elise briefly wondered just how close he’d been to Ashley that he knew her fuses blew often, and exactly where to go to fix them. Her sister told her about all her boyfriends—in great detail, much to Elise’s dismay. In all those breathless ramblings, Ashley hadn’t mentioned Trent as anything more than Hot Lawn Guy.
    “So, Ms. McBride. How ’bout you tell me why you showed up here at three in the morning?”
    Elise shrugged. “I got off the plane in Chicago, rented a car and drove here. It took as long as it took.”
    “Where’d you come in from?”
    The power came back on, bathing them in light. From the kitchen, an appliance beeped, begging for attention. The ceiling fan in the living room started spinning in a lazy circle.
    Elise blinked as her eyes adjusted. “Hong Kong.”
    His bushy brows lifted. “That’s a long way