Family Case of Murder by Vanessa Gray Bartal Page B

convenient.”
    “You know this particular feature is called a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, and yet you expect me to believe you’re not a woman,” she said.
    He stepped into the room and lifted her onto the counter. “Close your eyes.” She complied, resting her arms on his shoulders in case he was of a mind to kiss her, which she thoroughly hoped he was. She tried to tamp down her disappointment when he spoke instead. “At the hospital the other night when you snarled at me like a feral dog, I sort of came to the conclusion that food is important to you, that it helps you cope.”
    “Mmm, hmm,” she murmured.
    “And I figured that this weekend was going to be sort of stress-inducing and you might need some backup, so I brought these.” He shoved a package into her lap and she looked down. It was dark chocolate, the good kind from Belgium .
    “Jason,” she dropped her hands from his shoulders and clutched the package to her chest. “I think this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.” She set the package aside so she could throw her arms around his neck. “I love you!”
    The words hung suspended between them, leaden and full of unintended meaning.
    “I was being…” she started.
    “Flippant,” he supplied.
    “Yes, only that never works out so well with you, which is why I invited Tosh first.” She removed her arms and pulled back to look at him. “I thought there was going to be a lot of drama this weekend, and I didn’t want to add our own special brand to the mix. But I was wrong because so far I’ve had a blast. If I had to be trapped with the Addams family, I’m glad you’re the one to share the experience.”
    “That’s the only reason I was your second choice?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.
    “Not exactly. You know I’ve been sort of sad the last few months since I moved back home.”
    He nodded.
    “I thought this weekend was going to be like that, times ten, and I didn’t want you to bear witness to my pathetic state. But it hasn’t been like that. Instead of seeing everything I lost, and despite the fact that we’re acting out a page from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, I’m seeing everything I’ve gained. I can finally say I’m glad I’m not the one the monkey chose.”
    “If I had a nickel for every time a woman said those words to me,” he said. “And, for the record, I am incredibly glad the monkey was too stupid to know what he was letting go. Furthermore, I’m having an absurdly good time with you, too. This proves my theory that away from work, family, the pastor, and murderers, we work amazingly well together. Speaking of the monkey, since he’s not here, can we take that off?” He glanced at her turban. “It’s disconcerting to feel like the woman you’re about to kiss has the Michelin Man perched over her face.”
    “Sure,” Lacy said, already unwinding the uncomfortable scarf. She tossed it aside and closed her eyes when Jason ran his fingers through her hair.
    “I love your hair, Red. Makes me sad you have to keep it covered up.”
    She clutched his shirt and tugged him closer because what else was there to do after he ran his fingers through her hair? He leaned in and a prim voice to their right cleared her throat.
    “Miss Enid requests your presence in the drawing room.” Hildy stood in the entryway to the bathroom, staring, but after she made her pronouncement, she turned and walked away.
    “How long had she been there?” Lacy asked.
    “Are we sure she doesn’t work for your grandfather? They both seem to have the same goal of keeping my lips off you.”
    “We should probably go,” Lacy said.
    “Okay, but no matter what happens out there, remember that we’re sticking together. It’s you and me; we’re a team.”
    “A team,” she repeated. “Right.”
    He lifted her from the counter and clasped her hand, leading her toward the drawing room. Everyone else was already gathered and waiting on them. Belatedly Lacy