Page 55 of After You

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As Levi Spencerappeared next to their table, Hannah found herself slightly tongue-tied for a moment. Again.

“Okay, Kade, I’m willing to talk about the millionaire being the sidekick.” Levi pulled out a chair at the table and took a seat without invitation. “And okay, he can be completely alive. But maybe he could still be morosely interested in brains.”

Michael Kade regarded Levi with an expression that was partly amused and partly exasperated. “The protagonist’s sidekick is completely alive but still wants to eat brains?”

“I’m just saying that it might be worth talking about.”

“Do you know what authors like even less than negative reviews?” Kade asked.

“Readers who tell them how to write their books?” Levi guessed.

“You got it inone.”

“I understand,” Levi said, nodding. “Regarding mostreaders.”

Kade sighed. “I think I know my next victim.”

“The loveable, eccentric millionaire?” Levi asked, his eyes lighting up as if being a murder victim was even better than getting to help solve the murders.

“Let me guess, you have an idea about how he should die. And it involves something about his brains.”

“You really are good at this,” Levi toldhim.

Suddenly Kyle was next to Hannah. He wrapped a big hand around her upper arm. “We need totalk.”

Yep, she’d known she wasn’t getting out of this bar without talking to Kyle tonight. As it happened, however, this was great timing. She couldn’t listen to Levi and Kade talk about murder and brain matter.

She looked up at Kyle and nodded. “Yes, great. Okay. Let’sgo.”

Kyle was clearly surprised. “Really?”

“I hate when Kade talks about his murder scenes,” she said, shooting Kade a frown. “Derek can totally read that scene,” shesaid.

“Derek can read it,” Kade agreed. “But you have to, too. You know thedeal.”

Hannah groaned as she got to her feet. “Then no extra detailed descriptions of the brains.”

“Oh, come on,” Levi protested.

“That’s a good point,” Kade said. He looked at Kyle. “You willing to give me some insight into how brains look andfeel?”

Hannah grabbed Kyle’s arm and pulled him away from the table before he and Kade could make a stupid coffee date or something. “Over here?” she asked, starting for the jukebox.

Kyle stopped. “Kitchen,” he said simply. He took her hand and headed in that direction.

There were several people gathered around the bar with water, coffee, and soda, discussing remodel plans, but Kyle pulled her around behind the bar and through the swinging doors that led to the kitchen, without a pause. No one seemed to give them much notice. Except Derek. And he gave Kyle awink.

Hannah wondered about that wink for a second, but quickly another thought occurred toher.

“Oh crap,” she said as the doors swung shut behind them. “Was I supposed to say no to talking privately?”

Kyle shook his head. “No.”

“But I’m supposed to be resistingyou.”

“Yes, but not avoiding me entirely.” He looked and sounded totally frustrated suddenly. “Like you’ve been doing since our breakfast at Dottie’s.”

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