Page 1 of Deathtoll
Chapter One
Kate
Don’t everdance like nobody’s watching.
Because somebody will be watching. And they’ll be smirking. And then you’ll have to choose between dying of embarrassment or murdering them. And what kind of choices are those? Damn bad.
Kate Bridges was browsing the Broslin Farm Market, scrutinizing cookie labels and wiggling to the90s Hitssoundtrack from the loudspeakers, when she looked up and saw Murph Dolan coming toward her.
Because life likes to ambush the shit out of you, just when you least expect it. She wasn’t supposed to run into him for another hour yet, at Hope Hill, at work.
“Nice moves.” His raspy voice went straight to her heart.
Every freaking time.
So did his eyes—the color of the finest dark chocolate—as they filled with feral hunger for a second before he shuttered his gaze. Then there were his muscles, flexing as he pushed his cart. Muscles she’dlicked…
Kate’s visceral reaction to him was a primal response to the man who’d kept her safe and made her body melt in bed. And in any number of other places: on the kitchen table, against the wall, backseat of the car, shower, bathtub, etc., etc.
Don’t think about Murph naked!
Easier said than done when he was standingthisclose with thatformer soldier, ex-cop, still-in-excellent-shape body. He probably worked out just to torture her.
He’d been the last man she’d seen naked. And it’d been months ago, and—
“Here is a universal truth of life.” She slammed the lid on thinking how much she missed…thingsshe wasn’t going to admit missing.
She aimed for an unfailingly neutral tone. “The second you find a product you like, stores will let you have it maybe twice before it’s discontinued. They’ll dangle it in front of your nose just enough so you fall in love and can really mourn the loss.”
Should not have said “fall in love.”
She winced.
Please respond with something light, then move along. Don’t bring up anything that’ll make my heart bleed in aisle three, dammit.
Disappointment flashed in his eyes, as if he was thinkingIs grocery store stock really what you want to talk about?But then he played along. “So, you know you’re gluten sensitive for sure?”
The acute sense of relief settled over Kate like her weighted blanket, which she had to use since she’d left Murph, so she could get at leastsomesleep without him.
To give her eyes something to do other than mournfully stare at him, she checked the list of ingredients on another box of cookies. “I don’t know what else to try. I’ve already given up dairy.”
“You could see a doctor.”
“It’s not that bad. My stomach is just off.” She slid the box back on the shelf and picked another one, all-natural, organic, almond flour cookies that cost a fortune. Everything in the special-diet aisle did.
“I wouldn’t recommend dietary restrictions for anyone.” She used the box to gesture at the $7.99 price tag on the shelf. “Unless they win the lottery first.”
Instead of agreeing with her on that, Murph slid his gaze to her torso. Lingered. “You lost a lot of weight.”
“I’m starting to gain it back.” She dropped the cookies into her cart, appreciating that at least they smelled like real vanilla, then pulled her phone from her pocket to check the time. “I need to go. I don’t want to be late for work.”
“Why are you grocery shopping in the morning?”
“Picking up a birthday treat for a patient. Might as well grab a few other things.”
“You have your car back from the shop?”
“Tomorrow. Emma is driving me. She flew up from LA.”
