Page 42 of Blackwood

If I could have physically kicked myself, I would have. My biggest lead had been right in front of me the whole time. “How would I find him?”

“You don’t.” She stabbed a finger at me. “Stay away from him. You know how I told you Garrett was evil? Maybe, and I meanmaybe,I was wrong about him. But I’m not about Danny. Something ain’t right in his head.” She scowled at the counters and tossed her dish rag into the sink. “Well, I’ve done all I can right this minute. This place needs a real scrub down, not my half measures.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulders. “Anyway, I’m so glad I finally got to come spend some time with you. Holler at me if you need anything. I’m always at the diner, and you have my cell.”

“Yes.” I nodded as she pulled me into a crushing hug.

“Watch out for Garrett.” She buried her whisper in my hair. “I’ve heard things about him. Bad things he likes to do to women.”

I returned her hug. “He’s a teddy bear, I promise.”Unless you run from him.

“If you want to stay with me in town, just say the word.” She grabbed her bright pink bag off the table and pulled her keys out. “I’ll get all over Sheriff Crow about it.”

“Will do.” I stowed the two containers of food she’d brought in the fridge. “Thanks for the food. Though the Garrett diet is doing wonders for my figure.”

“No excuse for a grown man not knowing how to cook.” Her disapproving tone came back with a vengeance as she strode into the hall, and I followed with a limp. She’d let her hair go natural, the brown curls fluffing in a cute halo around her head.

The library doors opened right as we passed by. Garrett looked up, surprise raising his eyebrows. “Bonnie. I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I’ve been here for half an hour.”

“Food?” A hopeful smile gave him a boyish look.

“In the fridge.” She scoured him with a harsh stare. “But save some for your prisoner. She’s getting too skinny.”

“Maybe you should bring food more often.”

“Do I look like a Meals on Wheels to you, Blackwood?”

He glanced to me, unsure. “Um, no?”

“No is correct. Learn how to cook.” She pointed at me. “Let this little bit here teach you.”

He glanced at me. “You know how to cook?”

“I dabble.” I shrugged. “But I haven’t had a chance to try since my leg’s been messed up.”

“Here’s what I’ll do.” Bonnie pulled the heavy front door open. “I’ll stop by the store and bring you two everything you’ll need for a week.” She flicked her gaze to Garrett. “Give me a credit card.”

He fumbled around in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.

“I’ll be back after my shift, and I’ll use this”—She plucked the card from his hand—“to pay for my gas.”

“That would be perfect! Thanks, Bonnie.” I smiled, excited at the thought of having something other than a Garrett special. Maybe it should have put me off, the thought of cooking in this kitchen to the point of almost playing house with him. But good food wasn’t something I could pass up, no matter how awkward it got.

Garrett frowned, but didn’t raise a fuss.

“All right. See you in a few hours.” I closed the door as she walked down the front porch stairs.

Leaning back against it, I eyed Garrett. “What’s with you?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m not a big fan of visitors.”

“Water is wet.” I rolled my eyes. “This will be great. It can’t be worse than what you make, right?”

“You have a point. You already eat?”

“Yep.”

“Plans for the rest of the day? More snooping?” He stuffed his hands into his jeans, the movement bringing my gaze down to his belt and lower.

---