Particles of Murder (A Shadow of Death Romantic Suspense Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

purposefully misleading in order to make viewers like them. She’s an anthropology professor, so I tried to get her to talk about her research, but she doesn’t seem to care much about it.”
    “Ouch,” I say. I can feel my tension starting to melt away, and a warmth spreads under my skin. “I’ve never thought blind dates were a good idea. I mean, the person you are when you’re around your friends has to be different from the person you are in a romantic relationship.”
    “Exactly,” he says. “They’re not even really friends. Just co-workers. I don’t have time to make friends past the people I work with. I don’t know why I thought I’d have time for a relationship. I probably shouldn’t be complaining—she’s likely talking about me right now, too. I wonder what she’s saying? I did mention Victoria’s death. That probably wasn’t the best conversation piece.”
    “Well, at least that means she won’t be desperate to get back with you,” I say. “Nobody has time to date anymore. We all just want some instant pleasure so we can continue on with our lives without changing anything. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.”
    “Maybe you shouldn’t think about whether it’s good or bad,” he says. “There’s not enough time on Earth to dwell on those things. You do what makes you happy because we’re all just wasting time until we die.”
    “I hope you told your date that because that is the most morbid thing I’ve ever been told in bar,” I say.
    “Sorry,” he says, laughing. “I’ve read too many books with existential questions and a nihilistic outlook.”
    I watch him in the corner of my eye as he finishes his drink. If it’s happiness I should be pursuing, I can think of a few ways to find some quick joy that I may or may not regret in the morning.

    * * *
    W hen John and I stumble into my apartment, he sits down on my white carpet in the center of my living room.
    “Shouldn’t you have a coffee table in here or something?” he mumbles. “Why is there nothing but this rug?”
    “Because I like that rug,” I say. “It’s a great rug.”
    He laughs. “You’re drunk.”
    “You’re the one sitting on the floor.” A second passes before I sit down beside him. I smile. “Have you ever played two truths and a lie?”
    “I don’t know what it is,” he says, “but it vaguely sounds like every relationship I’ve ever had.”
    I giggle. I never giggle. “Okay, it’s when you tell me three things about yourself except one of them is a lie. I have to guess which one is the lie.”
    He shakes his head. “You need to go first. I can’t…I’m not sure if I understand right now.”
    “Okay. Three things about me. Hmm. My parents own a magic shop. I hate my red hair, although everyone else is always commenting about it. I have an older brother.”
    “Mmmm.” He skims the carpet with the palm of his hand. I can imagine the soft texture against each of his fingers. He looks back up at me, smiling. “You can’t hate your hair.”
    I laugh. “I do. I hate it. So much. It’s all people notice about me when they see me. Everywhere I go, people refer to me as the redhead.”
    “It’s not the only thing people notice,” he says. “You also have stunning green eyes. I’ve never seen that color before. It’s…it reminds me of those vintage green bottles.”
    “Yeah, you’re definitely drunk now,” I say. “I don’t have an older brother. I have a younger brother. He actually goes to Tuskmirth College, and he’s studying sociology. His name’s Liam.”
    “Liam…what’s your last name?”
    “Solano.”
    “Liam Solano…I’ve never met him.”
    “You can tell just from his name? You remember every student you’ve had?”
    “Absolutely,” he says.
    “I don’t know if I believe that,” I say. “Which is good because it’s your turn. Two truths and a lie.”
    “I don’t know. What would you even want to know? Hmm. I’ve been teaching for a