Innkeeping with Murder by Tim Myers

evening?”
    Alex looked up from his seat on the porch to
see Elise standing directly in front of him. He’d forgotten all
about her, and it took him a second to react.
    She must have caught the vacant look in his
eyes. “Funny, I thought I was more memorable than that.”
    “I’m sorry,” Alex said as he sighed. “I’ve
been sitting here since they took Reg’s body away. I must be in
some kind of funk. We were really close.” He shook his head, then
added, “I’m having a tough time with it.”
    A look of concern swept over her face. “I’m
sorry you lost your friend.” She added, “You’d probably prefer to
be alone. If that’s all for today, I’m going to go into town and
get something to eat.”
    Alex realized that in his haste to hire
Elise, they hadn’t even discussed salary. He got up from his seat
abruptly and said, “Why don’t we go together? Dinner’s on me. It’ll
give us a chance to talk, plus I can write the meal off on my taxes
as a job interview.”
    “I don’t see how you can interview me if I’ve
already got the job.” There was a sudden coolness to her words, and
ordinarily Alex would have taken the rebuff in stride and moved
on.
    Instead, he said sternly, “I’m not making a
pass, Elise; I’ve already got a girlfriend, but she’s out of town
on business and I just don’t want to eat by myself tonight. You’re
certainly under no obligation to eat with me.
    Elise’s eyes softened. “I’m sorry, Alex, I
overreacted. I guess I’m kind of defensive.”
    “Don’t worry about it, it’s not a problem,”
Alex said as he stayed in his chair.
    Elise stood there a moment, then said gently,
“If the dinner invitation is still open, I’d be happy to join you
tonight.”
    Alex said with a slight smile, “Maybe you
should buy, then. That way there won’t be any doubt in your mind
that it’s not a date.”
    Elise laughed for the first time since Alex
had met her. It was a rich throaty sound that instantly warmed the
air between them. “I’ll be glad to, if you’ll pay me for today’s
work.”
    “Tell you what, I’ll buy dinner tonight after
all. We haven’t even discussed your salary yet.”
    Alex considered their choices for dinner.
    Elkton Falls had only two decent restaurants,
Buck’s Grill and Mamma Ravolini’s. Buck’s was basically a diner
with booths and a front bar, while Mamma’s as the townsfolk
referred to the latter, was a sit-down restaurant run by an older
woman named Irma Bean.
    The closest Irma had ever been to Italy was
watching a documentary on Public Television, but she believed the
name Mamma Ravolini’s sounded more appropriate for her
pasta-oriented menu than Bean’s Family Restaurant. Alex’s
girlfriend, Sandra, was always dragging him to Charlotte to try the
Queen’s City’s latest and greatest, but Alex preferred the food in
Elkton Falls.
    Their choice was narrowed even more since
Buck’s only served breakfast and lunch. “How’s Italian sound?”
    Elise smiled. “Mamma Ravolini’s it is. I’ve
been in town two weeks, and I still haven’t had a chance to eat
there. The local branch of Dantons isn’t schooled in the fine art
of food preparation. They’ve been taking advantage of my background
and keeping me in the kitchen since I arrived.” Elise added, “If
we’ve got hot water now I’d like to grab a shower before we
go.”
    “According to my handyman, we should have
plenty of hot water, so help yourself.” He glanced at his watch and
grinned. “But I thought you were starving.”
    Elise said, “If I’m not ready in fifteen
minutes, you have my permission to go on without me.”
    Alex didn’t believe her, but he figured he
might as well use his time productively and pay some bills. He was
writing the third check when Elsie joined him.
    She was dressed in a floral print dress that
fell just below her knees. Her hair had been brushed out and was
pulled back away from her face. In short, she looked
delightful.
    He got up