Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies (An Adams Grove Novel) by Nancy Naigle

“Wait a second.”
    He opened the box and took a bite of one of the bear claws. He turned to Kasey. “You were right. But then you always are.”
    To Derek at Mac’s Bakery
    Best bear claws around!
    ~ Cody Tuggle
    “Thank you so much!” Derek placed the cardboard up on the rack just below where the prices were hung.
    As they walked out, Kasey said, “Thanks for being so nice to him. You made his day.”
    “Made mine too.”
    When Kasey pulled into the driveway, most of the guys were up and moving around. They’d already rolled some of the bigger boxes out of the trailer and were wheeling Cody’s motorcycle down the ramp.
    “Want to go for a ride on my bike?”
    “No. You’ve got places to go.”
    “Come on. It’ll be fun. It’s a gorgeous day and there’s plenty of time before I’ll head out.”
    “I don’t have a helmet,” she said.
    “I’ve got an extra.” They climbed out of the car and Cody took the box of pastries over to the guys. “Best bear claws in the world, says our hostess.”
    The guys dug in and nodded their approval.
    Cody disappeared into the trailer and walked back out with a helmet. “Just a quick ride.”
    She looked unsure, but finally came around. “Just a quick one and you can’t go real fast.”
    “Promise,” he said. He laid the black half helmet on her head and helped her buckle it and then put on his own. He straddled the bike and Kasey put one foot on the back foot peg and swung her leg over like she’d done it a time or two.
    He started the bike and the pop-pop… pop-pop… pop-pop pause echoed through the custom pipes. “Ready?”
    “Yes.”
    He’d kind of hoped she’d be clinging to him like Velcro but she seemed perfectly fine with one hand on the back rail.
    He talked to her over his shoulder. “You’ve ridden before.”
    She leaned forward. “Don’t get that many gigs shooting cars and motorcycles without riding a few.”
    Cody lowered his arm and let it hang on the outside of her leg as they rode through the scenic countryside. It felt good to let go and just ride. Kasey was the perfect passenger. Totally neutral through all the curves and he liked it when she giggled when he patted her thigh just to let her know he knew she was there.
    They only passed a few cars on the ride. He’d promised to keep it short but he could have ridden all day with her on the back of his bike. He turned left at the end of the next road and all of a sudden, Kasey freaked out.
    “No,” she slapped his shoulder. “Don’t go this way.”
    “Why not?”
    “Scott’s mom lives down this way.”
    “So?”
    “So, I don’t want to start any gossip.”
    Gossip in general, or just gossip about you and me?
Cody turned around at the next wide spot and headed back to her house.
    Kasey stood on the pegs of the bike and lifted herself up and off, stepping down as she unhooked the helmet. “That was fun.”
    It was until you went paranoid on me.
The Jake thing he could understand, but maybe it wasn’t about the kidnapping and more about just who she was. “Thanks for coming along. You’re an old pro. I thought I was treating you to something new.”
    “Well, it was new with you.”
    “We’ll do it again sometime. I’d love to take you for a ride down my favorite path at home. It goes by an old grist mill. Really pretty.” Only he somehow doubted she’d ever agree to really do it.
    “Sounds beautiful. I’ll bring the camera.”
    “Of course you will.”
    She stood there for an awkward moment. “I guess you probably ought to head on down to Raleigh now.”
    “Yeah. Might as well shove off.”
So why aren’t I moving?
    Kasey shrugged. “Wish me luck at Arty’s tonight. If he asks about you, I’ll say that I just talked to you and you said you were getting married and leaving the music business.”
    Cody whistled. “Yeah, do that. It’ll send him right off the deep end. Be sure to have your camera ready for that shot.”
    “Count on it.”
    He pushed the bike