Page 22 of Bachelor Cop Finally Caught? (Hot off the Press! 2)

“Sure. I’d be happy to help.”

They made their way through the crowd of laughing, chattering women and into the blessed quiet of the kitchen. Marjorie opened the refrigerator door and peered in, shaking her head. “Cameron rearranged everything in the kitchen a couple of weeks ago and neither Serena nor I have been able to find anything since.”

Lindsey smiled, thinking of her editor’s occasional, almost manic bursts of energy. He said mindless activity helped him think when he needed to solve a problem or make tough decisions—both situations he had faced regularly since taking over the struggling small-town newspaper his wife’s family had founded two generations earlier. Lindsey knew it hadn’t been easy for Cameron to move from a reporting job in Dallas to a managing editor position in Edstown, but he seemed to be thriving on the challenge—and so was the newspaper.

“So how’s it working out for you?” she asked Marjorie. “Living in the guest house, I mean?”

Setting covered trays on the counter, Marjorie dived into the fridge again. “It’s working out very well, actually. The arrangement gives us all privacy when we need it, and yet we’re still very close—which I like. It’s funny. My husband built that nice little house for my mother. Now they’re both gone and I’m the aging mother-in-law living in the guest house.”

Lindsey looked up from arranging canapés to give Marjorie an affectionately chiding look. “You’re hardly an old woman.”

“Thank you, sweetie. But I’m still older than your own mother would have been, God rest her soul, so I can’t help feeling quite maternal toward you. I have a feeling something’s bothering you tonight, Lindsey. Is there anything you’d like to talk to me about?”

Apparently, Lindsey’s emotions were visible to everyone except Dan. “I’m just a little stressed right now. Trying to decide what direction to take in my life.”

“I heard you’re thinking about selling your house.”

“Yes. I’ll be talking to a real estate agent next week.”

“Did something happen yesterday to bring you to that decision?”

Lindsey was tempted to tell Marjorie the whole story, but all she said was, “Let’s just say I’m finally learning to accept reality.”

A burst of laughter from the other room made Marjorie glance that way before turning back to Lindsey. “Tell me, dear—have you ever tried telling Dan that you’re in love with him?”

Lindsey had to swallow a couple of times before she could respond to Marjorie’s wholly unexpected question. “How…?”

Marjorie gave her a softly sympathetic smile. “Your mother and I were friends. We were always amused by the obvious crush you had on Dan when you were a little girl. Your mother thought you got over it when Dan married Melanie. I wasn’t so sure. And lately, well…”

Lindsey groaned and covered her cheeks with her hands. “Is it that obvious?”

“Only because I’ve known you so long. I happened to see you dancing with him at the mixer, and I recognized the look in your eyes. I’m sure it isn’t obvious to everyone.”

“It certainly isn’t to Dan.” Lindsey dropped her hands to her side. “He doesn’t have a clue.”

“Which brings me back to my question. Have you ever tried to tell him?”

“Not in so many words. But I’ve done everything short of that to try to get my point across. I’ve changed my appearance and my behavior—well, most of the time, anyway,” she added, wincing as she remembered the way she’d yelled at him yesterday about not sharing his arson clues with her.

“That could be part of your frustration,” Marjorie suggested. “You want him to admire you for the person you are—not someone you’re pretending to be.”

“You’re right,” Lindsey conceded after a painful moment. How would she really have felt if Dan had suddenly shown interest in her because she’d started painting her face, wearing different clothes and acting as if she needed him to take care of her? What she really wanted was for Dan to appreciate her for what she was—just the way she cared for him, flaws and all.

&nb

sp; Running her hand through her hair, she sighed. “That’s why I’ve decided to leave town. I need to make a fresh start. Move on.”

“Dan was hurt very badly when his marriage broke up. Humiliated, as well. You can’t blame him for being cautious about such things now.”

“I’ve told myself that too many times to count. But it’s been more than two years. He’s had time to recover—he just hasn’t met a woman who makes him want to take the plunge again,” she added sadly.

“Or maybe he just needs a nudge to make him realize that woman has been right in front of him for some time.”

“A nudge? I’ve done everything but hit him upside the head.”

Marjorie looked suddenly thoughtful. “Then maybe you need a little help.”

Lindsey was definitely starting to get nervous. “Um, Marjorie…”

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