Beverly Barton 3 Book Bundle

When she stared at him quizzically, he explained, “It’s just that most women won’t eat like you did in front of a man. They pretend they have these delicate little appetites and nibble at their food.”

“You’ll learn soon enough that I’m not like most women.”

“What I said, I meant as a compliment, not an insult.”

“I didn’t take it as an insult.”

“Good.”

“I can put on some decaf coffee, if you’d like.”

Jim shook his head. “As tempting as that is, I’ll pass.” He scooted back his chair, stood and stretched. “After I help you clean up, I’d better head on home. Six o’clock will roll around in a hurry.”

She stood, picked up his plate and stacked it on top of hers. “You don’t have to stay and help me clean up. It won’t take a minute to put these things in the dishwasher. You go on and get a good night’s rest. We’ve still got a murder case to solve.”

“If you’re sure you don’t need my help.”

“I’m sure.”

She walked him to the front porch, then stood there and watched him as he got in his old truck. He paused, looked back at her and waved before he started the engine. She lifted her hand and waved, a soft smile on her lips. All of a sudden, Jim didn’t want to leave. He didn’t want to go back to his cold, lonely duplex. He wanted to stay here in this warm, inviting home… with Bernie.

Hellfire, what was wrong with him? He wasn’t attracted to Bernie, didn’t feel “that way” about her, so why was it that he didn’t want to leave her?

Because you felt comfortable with her, as if you’d knownher all your life.

He rolled down the window and called to her, “See you in the morning, boss.”

Laughing, she shook her head and called back to him, “That’s Sheriff Granger to you, deputy.”

“Thanks for supper.”

“You’re welcome.”

“And thanks for the good company.”

“Same here.”

“Sleep tight.”

“You, too.”

Damn it, Norton, go home, will you? If you keep hangingaround, she’s going to think you don’t want to leave.

I don’t.

Go home. You can’t stay here and sleep on Bernie’s couch,even if you want to and she might actually let you. What would the neighbors think? Chuckling to himself, Jim put the truck’s gears into reverse and backed out of the driveway, then headed down Jefferson. Halfway to his duplex apartment an odd thought hit him. Not once while he’d been with Bernie had he thought about her beautiful sister.

Chapter 9 (#uf0f29a13-839e-557e-a55f-f4749208704f)

Thomasina had worn a dress today instead of her usual slacks and blouse. Wanting to get into the old-fashioned romantic mood Brandon was setting for their relationship, she felt a dress was appropriate. Besides, she had great legs and she could showcase them in a just-above-the-knee hemline. Nothing too sexy, just slightly alluring. Of course, she’d had to contend with a few lascivious stares from her young male students, but she had simply ignored them.

Fingering the pearls around her neck, she thought about what Brandon might say or do when he saw that she was wearing his gift. Would he simply smile at her or would he tell her how pleased he was to see her wearing the pearls? Surely he would understand that her wearing the pearls was a sign of her willingness to begin a meaningful relationship.

She had arrived early this morning, hoping to meet up with Brandon in the faculty lounge since he, too, had an eight o’clock class, but he’d been a no-show. Her disappointment must have shown on her face because Marianne Clark had asked her if something was wrong. She’d lied to the middle-aged busybody who was teaching basic biology for the summer quarter.

“I’m fine,” Thomasina had said. “Just thinking about how to motivate my students. Not too many of them are actually interested in history.”

And today during the morning classes, she had been as disinterested in the rise and fall of the Roman Empire as her students had been. She’d caught herself daydreaming more than once, and for the past thirty minutes, she had practically counted the minutes until her midday break. When the class ended, she grabbed the sack lunch she’d brought, rushed out of her building and headed straight toward the arts department. If she didn’t catch a glimpse of Brandon, she could walk casually by his office, which was adjacent to the art studio. And if anyone asked her what she was doing there, she had the perfect excuse. The students’ artwork was on display for the entire month of July. Sketches, paintings, sculptures.

As nervous as a thirteen-year-old on her first date, Thomasina made her way down the corridor toward the studio. The door stood wide open, so she simply paused and glanced inside, doing her best to act nonchalantly. The studio was empty. A couple of students passed by and spoke. She smiled at them, nodded and walked past Brandon’s office. The door was closed. Approaching the door cautiously, not wanting anyone to realize that she was checking to see if Dr. Kelley was in, she eased over to the closed door and listened. Nothing. Not a sound. But he could be in there, eating quietly or reading or just resting.

Why don’t you knock on the door and say hello? Tell himyou came over to look at the students’ artwork. But if she did that, would she appear too eager? Would her making the next move be appropriate or would he prefer for her to wait for him to take things to the next level?

But she didn’t want to wait, was tired of waiting. She wanted to hurry things up just a little, to at least reach the point where they acknowledged the fact that they had a relationship.

Garnering all her courage, Thomasina curled her hand into a fist, reached up and knocked on the door. Her heartbeat thundered maddeningly in her ears.

No response.

She knocked again. A little harder and for twice as long.

“He’s not there,” a familiar male voice said.

Sucking in a deep breath, Thomasina turned and faced Scotty Joe Walters with a smile. The handsome young deputy was in charge of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education. programs in the Adams County schools and assisted with the neighborhood watch programs and the senior citizens programs such as T.R.I.A.D. The junior college provided the sheriff’s department with a storage area for books, booklets, pamphlets, and other items used with the various programs and they also allowed the sheriff’s department to use their auditorium facilities for various group meetings and events. Scotty Joe was such a familiar face around Adams County Junior College that he seemed like a member of the staff. Everyone liked the good-looking deputy. The guy was always friendly and cordial, and he had the kind of gentlemanly manners every mother wished her son had. She wasn’t sure how old he was. Mid-to-late twenties would be her guess.

“I beg your pardon?” Thomasina acted innocent, as if she had no idea what he’d meant.

“Dr. Kelley. He’s not in his office,” Scotty Joe said. “You were looking for him, weren’t you?”

“Well, actually, I came over to take a look at the student art that’s being displayed this month and I just thought I’d say hi to Brandon while I’m in his building.”

“You just missed him. Robyn Granger picked him up in her snazzy little yellow sports car. I figure they’re headed out somewhere for lunch.”

“Oh.” Please, dear God, don’t let what I’m feeling showon my face. Don’t let Scotty Joe figure out that I’m hurt anddisappointed and on the verge of bursting into tears.

“Hey, you okay, Thomasina? You look sort of green or something.”

“It’s nothing. I didn’t eat breakfast and I guess I’m just hungry,” she lied as she held the tears at bay.

“Is that your lunch you’ve got with you?” He eyed the small brown paper bag she held so tightly that her nails bit into the flesh of her palm.

Easing her death grip on the bag, she nodded, but heaven help her, she couldn’t respond verbally because she was choking down her on-the-verge-of-erupting tears.

“I brought my lunch, too,” he said. “Bologna sandwich, dill pickles, a bag of chips, and a couple of brownies from Cummings Bakery.” He held up his brown paper bag, which was twice the size of hers since hers contained only a banana and a bag filled with carrot sticks, raw broccoli, and raw cauliflower. “Want to join me? We could get a couple of Cokes from the machine down the hall, then go out to the gazebo and share our lunches.”

The tears Thomasina had been struggling to control suddenly broke free and trickled from her eyes and down her cheeks.

“Hey, gal, don’t do that.” He reached out as if he was going to touch her, but let his hand hang there in midair. “Don’t waste your tears on him. He’s not worth it.”