Page 12 of Murder By the Millions
“How silly,” Vanna said as she inserted a tray of scones into one of the oversized ovens. “A mall doesn’t necessarily ruin the landscape. Some are quite beautiful. Have you ever seen the mall in Melbourne, Australia? Stunning architecture. It features faceted gold ceiling panels and travertine flooring. And Palm Court in Miami, Florida, is breathtaking with its blue glass façade.”
Tegan gawked at her sister.
“I subscribe toArchitectural Digest,” Vanna said. “I find it relaxing to browse.” She switched on the oven light and peeked at the scones. “You heard Jason. He said it’s going to be classy, and he promised he’d keep the town’s heritage and current architectural style in mind.”
“We’ll see.” I inserted the filled muffin pans into another oven, set a timer for eighteen minutes, and took the mixing bowls to the sink. “By the way, Tegan,” I said over my shoulder, “I think Patrick has the hots for you.”
“He does not.”
Vanna joined me at the sink and deposited her dirty items on the drainboard. “I liked Patrick for a nanosecond, until I found out he’s a raw-food omnivore. Can you imagine?”
I chuckled. “There’s nothing horrible about it. It means he eats raw fish, meat, dried meat, and plant-based foods.”
“But nothing is cooked. Spare me!” Vanna wriggled with displeasure. “Also, he didn’t go to college. Straight out of high school he started working for the family business.”
“Lots of people wind up working in a family business,” Tegan stated.
“It’s a farm.” Vanna made a face like she’d smelled something rotten.
“A family farm,” I clarified, “with over two hundred acres. They grow farm products and also offer a farm stay in their opulent barn. Plus they have classes and events to teach people about organic living.”
Tegan’s eyes widened. “How do you know so much about them?”
“Because I consulted them when I wanted to find the best places around Asheville to buy eggs and fruit. They told me Patrick gave up farm life eight years ago to become a home renovator.”
“To his credit, he reads a ton more books than you do, Sis.”
“Pfft.” Vanna fetched another mixing bowl. “I must say I’m intrigued by Jason Gardner.” She disappeared into the walk-in refrigerator and reemerged with a colander of rinsed raspberries. “He’s my style, right down to his adorable grin. And the way he dresses? Pure class.”
Tegan hopped off her stool, plucked a raspberry from the colander, and popped it into her mouth. “Allie, how’s it going with you and Zach?”
Zach Armstrong was a detective for the Bramblewood Police Department. He and I first met at Feast for the Eyes, and I’d been instantly attracted to him. He had a strong jaw, mesmerizingly dark eyes, and a dry wit.
“You haven’t spoken about him for a few weeks,” Tegan went on, “so I’ve been afraid to ask.”
I ogled her skeptically. Tegan was never afraid to ask about my love life. Ever. Why, almost every time I’d slept over at her house while growing up, she’d wakened me from a sound sleep to pelt me with questions about this or that boy. To be fair, I had been reluctant to discuss Zach of late. “Dating didn’t work out.”
“Why not?” Tegan squawked. “You two are perfect for each other. The girl next door and the policeman? A match made in heaven.”
I wasn’t a girl next door by any stretch of the imagination. Yes, I had an easy smile—nothing sensual about it—but I had ample curves. Plus I had sage-green eyes, which my ex-fiancé had told me were smoldering.
“Well?” Tegan tapped the counter.
“We …” I crinkled my mouth.
“Out with it.”
“We kissed.”
“Woot!”
“Once.”
“Once?” Vanna echoed. “On the lips or the cheek?”
“On the lips. It didn’t click. For either of us.”
The memory was still etched in my mind. I’d been looking forward to our first kiss. During the initial weeks of seriously dating, we’d gone to the theater and hiked and talked about myriad subjects. We’d never argued. I knew our first kiss was going to be amazing. But then it wasn’t. It had felt like our lips were made of sandpaper. I figured, when the truth hit the pavement, he still missed his first wife. They’d married right out of high school, and she died a year later from complications of COPD. They’d known she was sick when they said their vows. Her death wasn’t a surprise. But he’d loved her with all his heart. Now, fifteen years later, I got the impression he still wasn’t ready to move on.
