Long Slow Burn Read Online Free Page B

dumped him.
    â€œOof, I need more coffee.” Kent yawned loudly. “Anyway, here’s the deal. Kim’s friend Marie called. She’s throwing Kim a thirtieth-birthday surprise party and wants us to help.”
    He liked that idea. Kim needed more fun in her life. “How?”
    â€œYou’ll have to ask her. From me she wants childhood memories and all that.” His voice shifted into a caricature of a fussy female. “Let’s put together a super fun-filled scrapbook! ”
    â€œNo way.”
    â€œI got her number and told her you’d call her. Ready?”
    â€œHang on.” Nathan put the bottles down on the sidewalk, found a pen in his jacket but no paper so he scrawled Marie’s number on the liquor store bag. “Got it, thanks.”
    â€œBasketball Sunday?”
    â€œI’m there.” He hung up, tore the edge off the bag and dialed Marie. “Hey, this is Kim’s roommate, Nathan. Kent called me.…”
    â€œWow, that was fast.” The voice was rich and friendly. “What did he tell you?”
    â€œThat you need my help with Kim’s party.”
    â€œWe do, we do. I haven’t yet met with my partner in crime, Candy, but we’ve talked a little. We’ll need information about Kim so we can come up with the party’s theme.”
    Nathan winced. Theme? All you needed for a party was people, a room and a keg. “Okay.”
    â€œWe’ll pick Kent’s brain for her friends and stories, but there might be one or two personal items you can find or steal, since you’ll have the most access to her. Maybe stories you can coax out of her. Are you willing to do that?”
    Scrapbooking couldn’t be far behind. But Nathan would be happy for any excuse to interact with Kim. As long as nothing involved him using glitter. “Sure.”
    â€œTerrific. Is this the best number to reach you at?”
    â€œThis is my cell, yeah.”
    â€œExcellent. Thanks for getting back to me so fast, Nathan. This will be great to do for Kim. She’s such a sweetheart.”
    He agreed with that and hung up, not sure how he felt about stealing personal items—like what?—but hearingabout Kim’s life and memories was part of his plan for getting to know her better, anyway. He turned—nearly forgetting the wine—and started back toward home. Parties meant presents. This would be a great opportunity to do something really special for her. Something she’d notice and appreciate, and be touched by. Something to make her think of him in a new light.
    What that could be he had no idea, but he had time.
    Five minutes later he’d carried the bottles safely into the house and unloaded the reds, put the whites in the refrigerator. Kim was sitting at the Shaker-style natural-finish table, scooping balls of dough onto a baking sheet.
    â€œCan I help with anything?”
    â€œNo, thanks, Nathan.” She smiled tightly. “I’ve got it.”
    â€œC’mon, there must be something.” He lifted his hands to show them empty and willing, anxious to make up for his earlier bungling. “I’m no chef, but I’m not inept, either.”
    She considered him. “How are you at putting snacks into bowls?”
    â€œExpert.”
    â€œWithout eating them all?”
    â€œOh.” He made himself look pained. “I can try.”
    â€œGood enough.” She smiled, pointing to a can of nuts, bags of chips and pretzels, and bowls, all on a tray on the counter.
    Nathan pulled up a chair opposite and started his task, glancing at Kim once in a while. She was definitely on edge, her expression inward and thoughtful. She was too serious, too reserved. He loved goosing her into life, making her laugh. She needed someone like him around.
    He poured pretzels into the last bowl. “I’m done here. What else can I help with? And don’t say you have it all covered. I’ve got time