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

back and turned it toward the road, then took off.
    When he got to the end of the driveway he could see her still standing there staring at him.
    What are you thinking right now, Kasey? I sure would love to know.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    J ust as Cody reached the stop sign on Route 58 and Nickel Creek Road, huge raindrops fell with the weight of malt balls and they were coming fast. A lightning bolt flashed, followed by an immediate crack of thunder. A little too close for comfort.
    It’s got to be a sign.
    He turned around and headed back to Kasey’s house, squinting against the pummeling rain. She must have heard his motorcycle because when he turned into the driveway she was already motioning from the front door for him to pull around to the garage.
    He drove the Harley into the garage bay and gave it one rev before he shut it down and took off his helmet. “Where the heck did that come from?” His shirt was soaking wet so he took it off too and draped it over the handlebars. “I guess that road trip wasn’t meant to be.”
    “You aren’t letting a little thing like rain stop you, are you?”
    “You’re giving this visit more potential than it deserves. It’s fine. There’ll be another time.”
    “Or not.” She walked over to a cabinet next to the door and then tossed a key chain to Cody. He snagged it in midair.
    He looked at them.
Ford keys?
“What’s this for?”
    “The car in the other garage behind the house.”
    “Why are you so determined to get me out of your hair?”
    “It’s not that. You helped me. I’m helping you.” She walked toward the garage door. “Follow me.”
    He unsaddled from the bike and took her hand. “Ready?”
    “Yes.” She took off running with him at her side. “That is the coldest rain,” she squealed.
    “Yeah, it is. At least
you
have your shirt on.” He tugged her along faster toward the backyard.
    She grabbed the handle on the carriage house garage and Cody helped her open the door.
    A blue tarp covered a car in the middle of the space. This garage must have been intended as her husband’s man cave.
    She lifted one corner. “Help me uncover it.”
    He grabbed the other side of the cover and they walked it forward. The baby-blue Thunderbird looked showroom ready. “It’s a beauty.” Cody stood back, admiring it.
    “I used to love riding in this car with Nick. I come out and start it once a week for good measure. Other than that, it’s just sitting here.”
    He looked at her like she was crazy. “Kasey, I can’t drive this car. I bet it’s never been in the rain.” He hadn’t seen an old Thunderbird this nice since he took his ’39 Chevy down to the Barrett-Jackson auction to raise money for Wounded Warriors. “Nineteen fifty-seven?”
    “Good guess. You know your cars. It’s fine to drive it in the rain. It’s a dependable car, and Nick drove it all the time.He loved this car. I think sometimes he drove it in the rain just as an excuse to spend more time shining it up.”
    He walked around to the side and opened the door. “Man. You just don’t see them like this every day.”
    “There’s another one almost just like it right here in Adams Grove, believe it or not.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah, except it’s not stock like this one. That one has satellite radio and power everything. Scott Calvin has one. He was driving it the day we met.”
    “What are the odds?”
Even just hearing that guy’s name bugs me.
He closed the door. “I’m not sure I feel right about driving this. I appreciate it, but I’ll wait.”
    “In the grand scheme of things it’s just transportation. It won’t rust. It’s just sitting in here gathering spiders. Drive it. That’s what it was made for.”
    He opened the driver’s side door and sat inside. “She’s a beauty.” He was so tempted. Not even because he wanted to see Lou, but because it would be fun to drive this machine. “You sure?”
    “Yeah. I’m sure. I know it’s not too low-key, but then you never