Fudge-Laced Felonies (11 page)

“I know we don’t know each other well, but maybe we could remedy that with a quick meal at the diner to get to know each other better.”

“Uh, I, uh—” Terri Lee’s giggle drifted to me. I could not think of a single reason not to go out with Nate.

His face split with a broad grin, and he rose from his chair. “Great. I’ll pick you up at five.”

My eyes threatened to burst with tears. I mourned something I’d never had. I raised my gaze. Ethan stared at me, frowning. I lowered my head and rushed into the sanctuary seeking solace in the arms of my heavenly Father.

Since the diner ranked a three on the casual scale, I dressed in a pair of linen drawstring pants and tailored blouse for dinner. Aunt Eunice giggled like a teenager when I told her who’d invited me. Although I knew the scenery across the table would be nice, I couldn’t drum up a drop of excitement.

The doorbell rang, and Truly flew to the front door, vibrating the walls with her shrill barks. Aunt Eunice opened the door and ushered Nate inside. I took a deep breath and went to join them.

Nate stood at the foot of the stairs, one hand resting on the banister. He held a fistful of carnations in his other hand. I had to admit, the guy acted like a gentleman and he oozed charm. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, the bell rang again, sending Truly into a frenzy.

Ethan stood peering through the glass panel. He didn’t look happy.

Aunt Eunice bustled from the kitchen, glancing at Nate before she opened the front door and stepped aside. “Ethan! How nice to see you.”

“Eunice.” He nodded at her. “Nate. Summer.” He extended a hand to Nate. “Y’all going somewhere?”

“To the diner.” Nate accepted the offered hand, clearly not perceptive to the tension in the air. “Summer accepted my invitation to dinner.”

Ethan’s eyes turned to blue ice. “Great. Have a good time.” He turned to Aunt Eunice. “Roy said you were having problems with a leaky faucet?”

“Yes. In the kitchen.”

I forced a smile, and Nate ushered me from the house. That’s the kind of luck I had. The kind where Ethan would show up as I left on a date. I mentally kicked myself. Why should I care if he was upset? Didn’t he just go out with Terri Lee?

Nate kept up a running conversation during the short drive into town. I tried to pay attention. Really. But if there was to be a test on what he talked about while he drove, I’d flunk it.

Cars jammed the parking lot outside the diner when we pulled up. Some of them with drivers casting curious glances our way and shouting greetings. And still Nate talked. I’d never met a man who spewed words the way he did. And all along he remained a gentleman, steering me with a hand on my elbow in the direction he wanted me to go.

The hostess seated us in a booth in the far corner. After stepping aside for me to slide in, Nate scooted in next to me. Okay, now I was uncomfortable. It’d been so long since I’d been on a date I wasn’t sure how to react. So, I said nothing. I’d been mooning over Ethan so long that I hadn’t been interested in anyone else.

“Would you like me to order for you?”

“No.” I snapped my menu open. “I’ve been here plenty of times. I think I can order for myself.”

“Wonderful.” Despite my snappish attitude, his smile didn’t fade.

The waitress arrived with glasses of ice water, and

Nate ordered meat loaf with the works. I asked for a chef salad. Before I knew it, Nate had placed his arm along the back of the booth. I stiffened and glared at the offending appendage.

“Does this bother you?”

“Yes, actually.” I shifted in my seat to look at him. His being in such close proximity caused me to break into a sweat. “No offense, Nate, but I don’t know you very well, and you’re coming on kind of strong.”

“You’re right.” He slid from the booth. “That’s always been a problem of mine. Getting in people’s personal space. I apologize. I meant no disrespect.”

He did look embarrassed, and I felt twinges of guilt at being so rude. “No, I’m sorry.” I offered up a sheepish smile.

Nate settled back against the seat opposite me. “So, how do you like working for your aunt?”

“Actually, she works for me. You wouldn’t know it by the way she bosses me around, but that’s the way we’ve always been. I love owning my own business. It’s always been a dream of mine. Owning my own candy store.”

I straightened to make room for the waitress to place my salad. “People are in a good mood when they come in to buy candy. I’d like to expand to a bakery someday. But that’ll take a partner. I don’t bake.”

Nate slapped a hand on the table and laughed, rattling glasses. “You’re a riot, Summer. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.”

Great. I shoved a forkful of salad in my mouth. I mean, he was gorgeous, but Nate seemed—fake. Too perfect. Too much of a gentleman. How many men go around wanting to hear all about the woman they’re with?

I haven’t met any, in fact. If I wasn’t talking, he was. And the only time the man stopped talking was when he had food in his mouth. It made him suspicious in my mind. Untrustworthy and another name on my suspect list.

Then, to make my evening more complete, Terri Lee waltzed in. She caught a glimpse of us and made a beeline for our table. “Summer, who’s your friend?” She cocked one hip and actually tossed her hair over her shoulder. I thought they only did that in movies. “I’m Terri Lee Rupert.”

Call me crazy, but she looked at Nate as if they already knew each other. She seemed delighted to see him, and he seemed annoyed. Not at all like the man who’d asked me on this date.

“Terri Lee, this is Nate Landon. He’s new to town.”

“How nice.” She blinded us with a thousand-watt smile, her white teeth flashing between ruby-red lips, and spun around to leave as quickly as she’d arrived.

Being the investigator I was quickly becoming, I studied Nate’s face from behind my water glass. He’d stopped talking. Clue number one. Clue number two: the stormy look on his face. Yep. Terri Lee and Nate already knew each other, and things didn’t look rosy in that corner. Was Nate also familiar with Mountain Shadows’ ex-con, Duane? I shrugged. Why couldn’t I just enjoy the attentions of a handsome man without thinking he had ulterior motives? He was a man; therefore he most likely knew Terri Lee. The woman had always gotten around. Even during high school.

After an obvious struggle to remain composed and restore the pleasant look on his face, Nate leaned across the table, took my hand in his, and said, “I heard things have been exciting at your place lately. Someone mentioned you’d found a fortune in diamonds.”

I choked, spewing water across the table. “What?” Nate removed his hand from mine and reached for a napkin. “It’s all over town you’d found some diamonds on your property.” He swiped the napkin across his face, removing the drops of water I’d sprayed.

“Actually, Ethan and I did.” With great precision, I placed my glass on the table. “Why?”

“Just making small talk. How many were there?” Nate winked. “Did you keep some for yourself?”

My back stiffened. “No, I didn’t.” Although, God forgive me, I wanted to. “I turned them over to the police.”

“Pity.” Nate shrugged. “I would’ve liked to have seen them. I heard they’re worth millions. With the right clarity—” He opened the dessert menu. “Dessert?”

I flipped through the menu, wondering why Nate invited me to dinner. “Did you invite me to dinner to grill me?”

“No.” He looked taken aback. Hurt even. His eyes widened. “I wanted to get to know you. I noticed you at church. Asked about you. I’m just curious. It isn’t every day someone finds that kind of loot. Enough to change someone’s life. Those diamonds could buy you the bakery to add to your business.”

“But they aren’t mine.” I couldn’t help but remember how I’d thought the same thing.

“What if they’re never claimed?”

Now that I hadn’t thought of. Was there such a possibility? I chewed the inside of my lip. Nate was right. The money could completely rearrange my life. I’d have to check with Joe to see what would happen if no one made a claim.

Nate reverted to his charming, talkative self, and to my surprise, I agreed when he mentioned taking a walk downtown. The temperature hovered around ninety degrees. Folks smiled, waved, and called out greetings. I didn’t pull away when Nate took my hand in his. He wasn’t Ethan, but maybe if Ethan were lost to me, he’d be the next best thing.

The next few days, Nate showed up at the candy store around lunchtime and took me across the street to the diner. My heart still hitched whenever I spotted Ethan, but the dull throb slowly diminished. Funny thing is, despite Terri Lee’s constant tales of their dating, I rarely saw them together.

When I did see Ethan, he seemed to watch Nate and me with eagle eyes. His gaze stayed glued on us as if he were a chaperone from the Victorian era. Nate didn’t notice, or didn’t care, but Ethan’s scrutiny unnerved me.

The following Saturday happened to be the day for the annual Fourth of July picnic at the church. Months ago I’d volunteered to man the buffet tables with Ethan as my partner. Nate had agreed to organize a coed softball game.

The day burned as only a summer day in the Ozark Mountain foothills could, with the humidity hovering somewhere around 1,000 percent. I thanked God for the foresight to skip high fashion and wear shorts and a T-shirt. My flip-flops with the red, white, and blue tassels were as festive as I got.

Ethan appeared at my side with a battery-operated fan. “I know it’ll only blow around the hot air, but maybe we can fool ourselves into thinking it’s cooler.”

“Thank you. You’re a godsend. Set it right there.” I pointed to a spot in the center of the table. “That way we can oscillate it to hit both of us.”

“Good idea.” Our conversation screeched to a halt for the next hour. By then folks had arrived, laden with their offerings of food, and we were too busy serving to manage much more than an “Excuse me” or “Sorry” when we bumped into each other. How I wished he’d planned the bumps as a ploy to touch me.

Terri Lee arrived about halfway through the day, attired in what I could only describe as almost dressed. The shorts would’ve fit a five-year-old, and the halter top, well, let’s say the red scrap of fabric covered only what it had to. And who wore heels to a picnic? If the woman wanted attention, her wish came true. Forks suspended in midair as men paused in shoveling their food to ogle her.

I sneaked a glance from the corner of my eye at Ethan and smiled. One quick look at Terri Lee, and he’d gone back to work. I was glad to know Ethan still guarded what went through his eyes and ears. Nate, on the other hand, stood on the pitcher’s mound with his mouth hanging open. I wanted to stuff a ball in his gaping hole.

Ruby approached the table holding a plate out for a helping of potato salad, and my own mouth dropped to the ground. The diamonds sprinkled across the gold band she wore on her right hand had to add up to about three carats. My gaze traveled upward. She wore a necklace to match!

“Nice jewelry, Ruby.”

“Thank you, Summer.” She turned her hand to catch the sun’s light. “I know they’re a bit much for a picnic, but you know a girl and her diamonds.”

“Not really. Haven’t had the pleasure.” I plopped a healthy serving of salad on her plate. “Are they new?”

“Fairly new.” She smiled her thanks and moved on to

Ethan for a helping of fried chicken.

Once the line of people passed, I filled a plate of my own and sat in the nearest chair to enjoy my lunch. Ethan pulled up a seat of his own and joined me. We ate while listening to the good-natured jests coming from the ball field.

April giggled as she struck out, and Joe stepped up to wrap his arms around her on the pretense of showing her how to bat. I felt a certain amount of pride at having a part in getting them together.

My spine tingled, and I turned to face Ethan, finding him staring at me. His cobalt eyes looked sad. My heart lurched.

“Summer, I—”

Mabel’s approach cut him off. She wore her camera slung around her neck. “I’m taking photos of the picnic. Smile, you two.”

I gave her a closed-lipped smile and wished she’d go away.

“I’ll be sure to get a copy to you.” Mabel replaced her lens cap. “You look so good together.”

Must she rub salt in my open wound? To make matters worse, Terri Lee sauntered over and leaned against the table.

“Hey, Ethan. Summer. I have to admit I’ve missed the simple fun of these picnics. Takes you back to it all, doesn’t it?”

“Back to what?” I tossed my plate in the garbage. “The simple life. Back to what really matters.” She pushed forward and stood behind Ethan, her well-manicured hands massaging his shoulders. “Simple food, friends, and hope for the future.”

Ethan stood, sliding free from her grasp. “Think I’ll join that softball game. See the two of you later.”

“That man.” Terri Lee folded her arms across her chest. “He’s an angel, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is.” I stacked the dishes.

“He’s the primary reason I’m sticking around this one-horse town.”

“Uh-huh.” Him and about a dozen others.

“How are you and Nate getting along? He’s a looker.”

“We’re just friends.” I took the pile of used paper plates and deposited them in the garbage. Then I turned, crossing my arms. “What do you want, Terri Lee?”

“What do you mean?”

“We aren’t exactly bosom buddies. Why all the small talk?”

She leaned closer, whispering in my ear. “Just getting reacquainted with an old friend.” Terri Lee removed the sunglasses she wore on top of her head and placed them over her eyes. “Enjoy the rest of the Fourth.”

If her behind shook any harder as she sashayed away, the woman would’ve broken something. I couldn’t help but wish she had. I spent the rest of the evening wondering what Ethan wanted to tell me.

Night fell around nine o’clock, and I spread a blanket on the ground to watch the fireworks. I sat cross-legged and looked around.

Families nearby also prepared for the night festivities. Mothers laid toddlers down to sleep, the soft grass a pillow beneath their heads. Older children squeezed in one last game of hide-and-seek, and Nate stretched out on the blanket beside me.