A Story to Kill Read Online Free Page B

plate of eggs, bacon, and hash browns in front of him.
    â€œGood morning yourself. I didn’t expect you until last call for breakfast. Usually, you spend your morning in the office.” Shauna grabbed a pitcher of orange juice and filled a glass, holding it out for her. “OJ?”
    Cat set her coffee down. “I think I’m good. Can I talk to you?”
    â€œOf course. I have the strata in the oven. Once I’m done slicing up the fruit bowl, I should be ready for guests.” Shauna wiped her hands on her apron. “What do you want to talk about?”
    â€œCan I talk to you in the dining room?” Cat raised her eyebrows.
    â€œShe wants to know what I’m doing here eating breakfast.” Seth clarified the question. “Good morning, Cat. Nice to see you’re still grumpy first thing in the morning.”
    â€œI am not grumpy.” Cat sighed and sat down at the table. “Okay, so I want to know what the heck you’re doing here.”
    Shauna set a plate in front of her, filled with the same food as Seth’s. The smell of bacon made Cat’s stomach growl. “It’s part of the contract. On weeks we’re in session, since he’s on call for emergencies during the week, he gets a meal a day, just to make sure he checks in with us.”
    Cat decided she really needed to read better the contracts Shauna was asking her to sign. She grabbed a piece of the crunchy bacon and shrugged. “I guess that’s okay.”
    Seth looked up from reading the morning paper. “I take it you didn’t read the fine print?”
    She pointed the bacon at him. “Not your concern, mister. Besides, I trust my staff.”
    â€œWell, isn’t that just dandy. I’m ‘staff ’ now, instead of your best friend.” Shauna sat down at the table and sipped on her coffee. “Next, you’ll be having me wear a uniform during our retreat weeks.”
    Not a bad idea . Cat brushed the thought away; no use getting Shauna worked up on the first day of their business adventure. “Look, I didn’t mean anything.”
    Shauna waved away her apology. “No worries. Eat your breakfast so you’ll feel more human.”
    They sat in silence for a while, Cat eating, Seth reading the paper and polishing off the food, and Shauna making a list of something in her notebook. Cat caved first and set her fork down. “So, Seth, we’re meeting at two?”
    â€œThat’s the plan.” He didn’t look up.
    â€œI don’t think that will work today. Can we change our meeting to Tuesday, same time?” Maybe by then she’d have her emotions under control and would be about ready to talk about the attic, not just Seth and their history.
    â€œYou’re the boss.” He opened the sports page of the paper.
    Cat rolled her eyes and decided she’d had enough breakfast. And definitely enough of the company around the table. She took her plate to the sink and rinsed it before putting it in the dishwasher. When Seth was in a room, she could feel his presence, just like always. Heck, she could smell him. Musk, mixed with Stetson cologne and Irish Spring from his shower. Her fingers itched, wanting to touch him. She licked her dry lips before turning around.
    â€œOkay, then, the dining room looks great. Let me know when everyone’s eaten, and I’ll walk them over to the library.” She glanced at her watch. “Come get me at ten if I’m not down by then.”
    She fled out of the room, not waiting for a response. She thought she heard Seth’s gentle chuckle, but maybe that was just the wind on the siding. Heading upstairs, she ran into Rose.
    â€œAm I too early for coffee?” Rose looked down at Cat’s travel mug.
    Cat turned sideways on the stairs and nodded toward the dining room. “Nope, it’s all set up. There’s a few treats to keep you from starving before Shauna serves a full