Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92668 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92668 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“We’ll be sure to stock up on the custard creams for the next interview,” Noah said dryly.
“Oh, good.” I hit him with my best glare. “At least I’ll have something to throw at you.”
Gwen snorted into her martini.
“And to think, I was about to tell you that you can retrieve your car tomorrow lunchtime.” Noah pushed off the chair to stand up straight. “Maybe I’ll tack another twenty-four hours onto it before we release it.”
“Probably for the best,” I said nonchalantly, swigging the last bit of wine in the glass. “I’d just be tempted to run you over with it.”
His lips quirked into the tiniest of smiles, and it was gone so quickly I wasn’t entirely sure if I’d even seen it.
“Is it wise to threaten him with murder when you’re already a suspect in a case?” Brandon asked, nudging my shoulder.
“Yes,” I answered. “At least I’ll actually be guilty of his murder.”
Gwen grinned. “I like you again.”
“She’s talking about killing me. You’re my grandmother. How can you like her for that?” Noah asked.
Gwen sipped her martini again. “The feeling is mutual, what can I say?”
“Is this about that bloody cottage pie?”
“Well done,” Ash mumbled. “You had to bring up the cottage pie.”
“It’s always about the cottage pie,” Gwen ground out, her eyes spitting fire. “Always.”
Jamie bent down and put a card in front of me. “I was going to call you in the morning. Call this number after ten and they’ll arrange for you to collect your car.”
“Thanks,” I said, picking it up. “Any idea when I can get back into the bed and breakfast?”
“A few days,” Noah answered.
“Look at that.” I looked at Jamie. “You spoke without moving your lips. It’s magic.”
Ash laughed with a mouthful of wine, snorting the liquid straight up her nose. She pinched it, banging her other hand against the table. “Shit.”
Jamie cleared his throat and stood up straight. “You two have got to sort out your issues.”
“There are no issues,” I answered firmly.
“There are issues,” Brandon echoed, patting me on the shoulder. “I’d be pissed off if he arrested me, too.”
“I didn’t arrest her.” Noah sighed.
“Why are you so insistent about that?” Ash asked, grinning mischievously at her brother. “Is it because that’s not how you’ve dreamed of handcuffing her?”
I plucked my purse out of my bag and pushed Jamie out of the way. “Yep. This wine is not strong enough for the week I’m having.”
Ash cackled as I walked towards the inside of the pub, and Gwen yelled, “Make mine a Pornstar!”
I rubbed my temples with two fingers as I stepped inside. It was so much darker in here, and I almost walked right into a table, so I stopped for a moment to let my eyes adjust.
Wow.
Talk about night and day.
It took a few seconds, but my eyes acclimatised to the darker environment, and I made my way through the pub and down the few stairs that separated the front and back. It was pretty busy, like I’d expected it to be, so I slid into a space at the end of the bar and rested on it.
“Move over,” Noah said, nudging me along.
“Ugh.” I shuffled up a couple of inches. “What are you doing here?”
He held up his card. “Buying drinks. What people usually come to the pub for.”
“And of the three of you, it was decided that you were the best option to follow me here?”
“It’s my turn to get a round in.”
I reached over and tilted his card towards me. “Contactless. You could have given one of them your card.”
“And let them loose with my bank account? Absolutely not.” He chuckled and rested on the bar next to me. “Besides, we haven’t had a chance to talk yet.”
“Oh, we’ve had plenty of time to talk,” I replied, deliberately not looking at him.
What could I say?
I was a sucker for green eyes.
And stubbly beards.
And nice arms. Especially those little lower arm half-sleeves. Forearms were sexy as hell.
And I did not need distracting from my path of hating him, thank you very much.
“That doesn’t really count,” Noah said slowly. “It wasn’t really a conversation.”
“Good. I don’t want to have a conversation with you.”
“Lottie, I know the way we left things was—”
“What can I get you, Charlotte, hun?” Tracy asked, smiling at me from behind the bar.
I reeled off the order, including the Pornstar whatever-it-was for Gwen, and she nodded and turned to get it.
“The way we left things was ten years ago,” I said, finally angling my body so I could meet Noah’s gaze. “There’s no need to talk about it now.”
“Clearly, there is.”
“You were formally questioning me a couple of days ago over a murder that I know I’m a suspect in, Noah,” I reminded him. “You probably shouldn’t even be standing here talking to me right now.”
His lips pulled to one side in an annoyingly delicious smile. “You’re having dinner with my twin sister and my grandmother.”