and water, then power-walked into the shop, determined to seek out a book that could help me find my inner goddess.
Toby looked up as I entered the shop. He’d been reading the newspaper and the shop was empty, a typical early morning shift. “You know you’re off today, right?”
I stepped over to the counter. “Can’t a girl get a coffee without getting the third degree?”
“A girl, sure. You, on the other hand, must have a reason to leave your cozy house before noon.” He started a skinny mocha for me. “Everything okay?”
When Toby’s gaze didn’t meet my eyes, I started doubting my impulse. I should have waited until tomorrow, and no one would have been the wiser.
After pulling off the two psychobabble books on the shelf that dealt with displaying confidence in relationships and finding your Zen, I glanced at my watch. Too early to call Amy for lunch, but I could stop by on my way home and visit for a few minutes. Besides, Greg hadn’t called last night, so I was beginning to think that Darla’s nose for news had been spot-on with Kent’s murder.
“You want this to go?” Toby glanced at the books under my arm. “You doing some light reading today?”
I shrugged, feeling uncomfortable with his scrutiny. “Let’s just say, I’ve been told I roll too fast when challenged. I figure learning some new tricks might not be a bad idea.”
“Jackie been giving you trouble again?” He poured my mocha in a travel mug and handed it to me. “I think you’re perfect just the way you are. And I know one more person who’d say the same thing.”
“I love that author.” Leslie from the bank tapped the top book titled Be a Tiger, Not a Kitty Cat, or what I would subtitle, “How to Be a Predatory Animal in the Office.” “We had the author come in for a bank conference I went to last summer. She’s a pistol. Doesn’t take crap from anyone.”
The lady standing next to her nodded. “She told her manager to get his stuff together or she was reporting him to the corporate office. She got fired and sued the company. Then she wrote the book. I think she speaks all over the nation.”
Great, I’d run into a true believer. I smiled. “Thanks for the reference. I’m sure I’ll love it.”
The other woman shook her head. “I hated the book. I guess I’m just not that type of person. I’m not someone who would get in anyone’s face.”
“Anne, you’re too nice. You should have sued Kent last summer when he started hitting on you.” Leslie leaned closer to the table. “He was a pig. I hate to speak ill of the dead, but I swear to God, the man should have been shot years ago.”
“Leslie.” Anne’s face scrunched together, and I could see she was fighting tears. The woman’s blond hair was cut in a cute pixie. Not the redhead I’d seen Kent sucking face with in the car at the beach. The man was a pig, Leslie had gotten that part right.
“Two large coffees and two slices of that black forest cheesecake.” Leslie put her hand on her friend’s arm. “I’ll get Anne settled at a table and be right back to pay.”
Toby watched the two walk away. “I wonder if Greg knows about her. Man, that guy made me look like a choirboy.”
“I take it you didn’t know about his multiple friends.” I kept my voice low and watched as Leslie and Anne argued quietly at the far table. “She doesn’t look like Kent’s type.”
“I think she looks exactly like his type. Female. The man was a horndog, plain and simple. Sherry’s better off without him, even though from what Greg says, she’s pretty broken up about the whole thing.”
I wanted to ask more about what they’d talked about, but the good side of me told me to trust my boyfriend. Greg hadn’t called last night because he was busy with the case, that was all. Still, I stalled. “So what’s going on with the case? I didn’t hear from your boss last night.”
Toby held his hands up in mock surrender. “No way. You’re not getting
Toby looked up as I entered the shop. He’d been reading the newspaper and the shop was empty, a typical early morning shift. “You know you’re off today, right?”
I stepped over to the counter. “Can’t a girl get a coffee without getting the third degree?”
“A girl, sure. You, on the other hand, must have a reason to leave your cozy house before noon.” He started a skinny mocha for me. “Everything okay?”
When Toby’s gaze didn’t meet my eyes, I started doubting my impulse. I should have waited until tomorrow, and no one would have been the wiser.
After pulling off the two psychobabble books on the shelf that dealt with displaying confidence in relationships and finding your Zen, I glanced at my watch. Too early to call Amy for lunch, but I could stop by on my way home and visit for a few minutes. Besides, Greg hadn’t called last night, so I was beginning to think that Darla’s nose for news had been spot-on with Kent’s murder.
“You want this to go?” Toby glanced at the books under my arm. “You doing some light reading today?”
I shrugged, feeling uncomfortable with his scrutiny. “Let’s just say, I’ve been told I roll too fast when challenged. I figure learning some new tricks might not be a bad idea.”
“Jackie been giving you trouble again?” He poured my mocha in a travel mug and handed it to me. “I think you’re perfect just the way you are. And I know one more person who’d say the same thing.”
“I love that author.” Leslie from the bank tapped the top book titled Be a Tiger, Not a Kitty Cat, or what I would subtitle, “How to Be a Predatory Animal in the Office.” “We had the author come in for a bank conference I went to last summer. She’s a pistol. Doesn’t take crap from anyone.”
The lady standing next to her nodded. “She told her manager to get his stuff together or she was reporting him to the corporate office. She got fired and sued the company. Then she wrote the book. I think she speaks all over the nation.”
Great, I’d run into a true believer. I smiled. “Thanks for the reference. I’m sure I’ll love it.”
The other woman shook her head. “I hated the book. I guess I’m just not that type of person. I’m not someone who would get in anyone’s face.”
“Anne, you’re too nice. You should have sued Kent last summer when he started hitting on you.” Leslie leaned closer to the table. “He was a pig. I hate to speak ill of the dead, but I swear to God, the man should have been shot years ago.”
“Leslie.” Anne’s face scrunched together, and I could see she was fighting tears. The woman’s blond hair was cut in a cute pixie. Not the redhead I’d seen Kent sucking face with in the car at the beach. The man was a pig, Leslie had gotten that part right.
“Two large coffees and two slices of that black forest cheesecake.” Leslie put her hand on her friend’s arm. “I’ll get Anne settled at a table and be right back to pay.”
Toby watched the two walk away. “I wonder if Greg knows about her. Man, that guy made me look like a choirboy.”
“I take it you didn’t know about his multiple friends.” I kept my voice low and watched as Leslie and Anne argued quietly at the far table. “She doesn’t look like Kent’s type.”
“I think she looks exactly like his type. Female. The man was a horndog, plain and simple. Sherry’s better off without him, even though from what Greg says, she’s pretty broken up about the whole thing.”
I wanted to ask more about what they’d talked about, but the good side of me told me to trust my boyfriend. Greg hadn’t called last night because he was busy with the case, that was all. Still, I stalled. “So what’s going on with the case? I didn’t hear from your boss last night.”
Toby held his hands up in mock surrender. “No way. You’re not getting
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