Tea Cups and Carnage by Lynn Cahoon

procedures so I don’t have to make these kinds of calls.” And then she hung up on me.
    “Apparently, I broke a new rule regarding bank deposits today.” I looked at Emma. “Your Aunt Jackie is going off her rocker. Maybe we need to send her off on a vacation.”
    Emma lifted her head and looked at the door. Realizing no one was there, she lay back down and fell asleep.
    I chalked my aunt’s edginess up to losing the check earlier this week, but before I went to bed, I did a Google search on dementia, just to see if she had any symptoms.
    When I decided her actions didn’t fit the symptoms, I deleted the history. No need for her to find that on my web history by accident.
    She’d kill me for sure.
     

Chapter 7
     
    Walking through town first thing in the morning was the best part of my day. The street sweepers had already removed the dirt and trash from the day before. The city greenhouse guys were walking through town, watering the flowers. Besides them and the birds chirping in the trees, the town was an empty slate. Anything could happen today. Anyone could walk into town. I’d had my share of celebrity sightings. But mostly, I liked the days when normal people came in and surprised me with their unique lives.
    I saw Greg sitting at the iron table in front of my shop as I crossed the street. I planted a quick kiss on him as I pulled out my store keys. “What’s the occasion?”
    He pulled me down on his lap and kissed me more thoroughly this time. When he was finished, he ran his thumb across my lips. “Can’t a guy miss his girl?”
    Smiling, I leaned my head into his chest. “I missed you last night too.” I’d gotten used to spending our evenings together so when he was on a case or out of town, I felt his absence. I rested there for a second, listening to his heartbeat. “Darla came by yesterday to pump me for information about the dead guy at the motel.”
    “Information you didn’t have, right?’ He chuckled. “I have to give her credit, even with a full house at the winery this week, she’s keeping on the story like white on rice.”
    “She said that the guy had been staying at the hotel for a while. Do you have an identity yet?” I didn’t want to raise my head but I knew I’d start having customers arrive soon and the commuters would want their coffee.
    “I have to say I’ve been proud of you staying out of the investigation.” He nuzzled the top of my head with his lips. “Darryl Corbin.”
    This time my head did raise and I stared into his face. “You’re kidding. Any relation to Kathi and Ivy?”
    “That’s the interesting part. Apparently he’s from the same small little town outside San Antonio where Kathi and Ivy lived. I’m assuming some kind of relationship. I’m actually waiting for our new shop owner to arrive across the street so I can ask her a few informal questions.” He nodded to the building still only partially renovated for Tea Hee.
    “So this wasn’t just an ‘I miss Jill’ trip.” I stood and unlocked the door. “I’m disappointed, mister.”
    He came up behind me and nuzzled my neck as I put my keys back in the tote bag. Chills ran down my body and a smile curved my lips. I met his gaze in the reflection of the window. Heat seared through me as I saw the desire in his eyes.
    “Wrong place, wrong time.” I pulled open the door and flipped on the lights. Crossing over to the coffee bar, I turned on the machines and after throwing my tote into the back, washed my hands. “You want something?”
    “Yes.”
    I shook my head and laughed. “Let me rephrase that. Do you want some coffee?”
    We locked gazes for a second, then he laughed as well and sat on a stool at the bar. “Please.”
    I started the two main coffeepots and then a smaller one for my few decaf drinkers. I pulled out a slice of Sadie’s Apple Caramel cheesecake and sat it and a fork in front of him. “Here.”
    He took a bite, then groaned. “Just when I think her creations