| |
“THIS PLACE IS REALLY beautiful,” Dana said, not mentioning that she’d already eaten at the Victorian. Still, she didn’t have a full plate of dinner and she could use a nice appetizer right now as she discussed the case with Detective Troy.
Troy had taken her to a nice and cozy place on the East side. An upscale tavern restaurant and bar. The place was almost full. The sound of chatter, music and laughter filled the air. There were sounds of glasses clinking and cutlery scraping on plates. The dim lighting of the place gave it a cozy feel. Actually, it was the perfect place to discuss business where nobody could hear your business.
“Not half as beautiful as you are,” Detective Troy replied, his voice was deep and silky and made her insides swirl with delight.
Dana blushed. “Thanks.”
“That’s really a beautiful dress, Dana.” Troy’s sexy ocean blue eyes penetrated Dana, captivating her. She was mesmerized by his magnetic charm and his gaze. His sweet lips curved slightly into a grin of approval. She couldn’t help but gush.
“Thanks. I got it in New York when...” Dana stopped herself. What was she about to say? “You look really nice yourself,” she said, instead.
And boy did he ever. Detective Troy looked hot and yummy in his dark Italian-cut designer suit. Troy had obviously gone home to change and shower off. His hair was recently shampooed and slicked back in a sexy way. His groomed stubble had been touched up nicely. The scent of his delicious cologne sent waves of desire through Dana.
“Thanks,” Troy replied.
Just then the waiter came to take their orders. The waiter was dressed in a crisp white shirt with a small black bow tie and had dress black pants on. He had jet black slicked back hair with an earring pierced in his left lobe.
“Good evening, sir. Ma’am. Can I tell you about our specials of the day?” The waiter pointed them to the laminated menu card on the table in the leather menu holder.
“Sure,” Dana said. Suddenly, she had an appetite and not just for delicious food.
“Ladies, first,” Troy said, gesturing to the waiter to take her order first when she was ready.
Dana grinned. She eyed the menu.
The waiter said, “We have grilled sirloin steak and lobster special with broccoli and mashed potato or baked potato and fries. Then we have the grilled juicy beef burger with onion rings or fries and shrimps on the side. Both come with a tossed garden salad or Cesar salad.”
“Mmm, it all sounds delicious. But I’ll try the steak and potatoes, please with the tossed garden salad, no dressing.”
“Same here,” Troy said, grinning. He didn’t even look at the menu, Dana noticed. In fact, if she didn’t know any better, she’d think he was looking at her the whole time, as if she was on the menu.
Gosh, was it getting hot in there all of a sudden?
“Sure thing,” the waiter said, jotting down the order on his small notepad. “Can I get you two something to drink?”
Troy ordered a beer and Dana ordered one, too. She also ordered sparkling water.
The waiter soon left them alone in their cozy corner of the restaurant. There was a bar over by the far corner where some patrons sat on the leather bar stools and cheered as they watched a basketball game on the massive overhead flat TV screen. The atmosphere seemed so energetic yet cozy.
Troy was smart to bring them there. It wasn’t too romantic, but it wasn’t too casual either. It was just perfect. Right in between.
Man, was Katie right about not wearing that butt ugly bulky sweater with the leggings. What had Dana been thinking? That would have been the wrong choice tonight. She had no idea that Troy would be so finely dressed. Not that he wasn’t usually. He was always in a hot suit and silky tie. His black leather shoes were always polished and fine. Everything about him from head to toe spelled luxury. Sometimes it was hard to realize that he was some hot shot detective instead of a GQ cover model.
Still, Grandma Rae’s words of wisdom came ringing through: “You have to make time for yourself and for relationships. Relationships don’t come easy. It’s like a garden that needs tending to, nurturing and growing.”
Well, Dana decided right then that she was going to start making the effort and making time. She loved her business like crazy but she needed to have balance, right?
Mixed feelings surged through Dana. She really wanted this to work. She was denying it the whole time, but she really liked Troy. She felt so comfortable around him, even though they’d end up getting entwined in murder cases and he’d always try to protect her by keeping her away from them.
There was a magnetic chemistry between them that was so strong, so palpable. How could they even deny it existed between them?
Well, she hoped he felt the same way, too. She’d been brushing him off the whole time. She hoped he still felt that way.
The waiter soon returned with their drinks and salads and some appetizers, warm bread-like biscuits with buttered centers, and told them their entrees would be ready soon.
“So, you were saying earlier at your office about wanting to speak with me about...something...” Dana said, breaking off some of the warm biscuit and tossing a piece in her mouth. It melted off her tongue like warm butter. Mmm. It was delicious.
Dana was trying not to sound too nervous, but she hoped he hadn’t forgotten about what he was about to say at his office when she’d told him about being Ned’s alibi—just before Ned was released.
“Oh, right. It’s been a while since we actually spoke since Valentine’s. So sorry again about breaking our date.”
“Hey, no worries. How is your mom doing?”
“Better.”
“Good,” she said, feeling torn inside. They were supposed to have gone out on a date after a Valentine’s concert held by superstar Gigi before it was cancelled when Gigi’s backup dancer ended up murdered back stage. After they’d found the killer, Troy was supposed to take her out but cancelled at the last minute to take his mother to an emergency beauty appointment.
“I want to make it up to you. I’ve been so busy lately handling so many cases but I was just wondering...”
Her heart raced like mad in her chest.
Just then the waiter interrupted them and brought their entrees.
“Mmm, it looks so good.” She couldn’t help but drool over the food. It was laid out so creatively on the plate.
“The chef here is really good,” Troy said.
“You come here often?” Dana said to Troy.
“Oh, he always brings the Missus here,” the waiter chimed in.
His missus?
“How is Mrs. Anders?” The waiter interjected again.
“Mrs. Anders?” Dana almost choked on her beer.
“Yes,” Troy arched a sexy brow. “My mother.”
“Oh, um....right, of course.” Dana felt silly. How very sweet of him to take his mother out from time to time. That spoke a lot about the man. He wasn’t too busy for his mama.
“Are you all right, Dana?” Troy offered her a napkin to wipe her mouth and her dress since she’d spilled beer on herself after spewing some out of her mouth. Never mind the beer, embarrassment washed over her.
“I’m good, thanks. I just...” Dana got up. “I’ll be right back, I’m just going to the...”
Just then Dana’s eyes caught a man sitting by the bar over by the far corner.
“What is it, Dana?” Troy said, getting up, noticing Dana’s gaze. His eyes followed her direction.
“That’s him!”
“That’s him who?”
“The man outside the Ned’s Antique Store. The suspicious guy that was...”
The man took a look at Dana as if he felt her eyes on him, then he placed his beer down on the counter at the bar and picked up his jacket and started to walk toward the back.
“Dana, what are you doing?” Troy said, following Dana as she made her way over to him.
“Troy that man was following me the other day!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. He was following me near Ned’s Antique store and watching me and the store. I think he knows something about the crash and the murder.”
Troy hurried after the man ahead of Dana but it was too late. The man had already left the bar. When Troy got outside, the man had literally vanished into thin air.
“Are you sure it was him?” Troy asked again.
“I’m very sure.”
Troy pulled out his cell phone and made a quick phone call to the station. Was he going to have a police sketch artist draw him then compare his profile to mug shuts on file? She sure hoped so.