Love Rising: Spring (Mandrake Falls Series Romance Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

this
just one big joke to you?” She had crossed her arms over her chest and was
glaring at him. She looked like she was trying not to cry.
    “Calm down, Joce . I don’t know
what you’re upset about. I just woke up. I haven’t even had any coffee yet. It’s
Monday. This is my day off. Let me make us some coffee and you can tell me what’s
going on.”
    Jocelyn flounced to the large curved window and stared at
the spring morning beyond. The apartment was tucked into the attic of the
theater, impracticably designed to be a rich man’s love nest for his mistress. Mrs.
Murdoch had told him the whole story. When Miss Shannon had the place, she hired
a cleaning company to wash seventy years of grime from the woodwork and get the
squirrel’s nest out of the chimney. The living room was too big for Jeremy’s
meager furnishings. There was a couch in front of the fireplace, another chair
for reading and a small table that he dragged around as needed. No television
or rug but the floor was hardwood, old and highly polished. He had one lamp. No
curtains. Spartan digs for a guy who mostly worked and rarely entertained
females.
    From her unusually straight posture, Jeremy could see
Jocelyn was upset but he wasn’t going to be rushed. “Please. Joce —sit down. Relax. I’ll be right back.”
    His hands shook a little as he spooned coffee into the
basket. She’s in the living room . He
examined his sweatshirt, remembering there was a spaghetti sauce stain on it when
he pulled it out of the laundry hamper. There it was. A blob of
reddish-orange. He whipped the sweatshirt off, turned it inside out and
pulled it back on. Better.
    Jeremy hopped up and down to wake up, to get the blood
flowing to his brain. He felt like he was in shock or something. Not thinking.
Snap out of it. She’s in my apartment. He
clutched his head and sucked in three deep breaths.
    Calm down, you idiot .
    He searched the cupboard for a clean cup for her coffee. The
milk was still okay but the cream had gone off. No sugar. Did she take sugar?
Jeremy couldn’t remember. If you love a
woman, you should know how she takes her coffee.
    Was his breath okay? He held his hand to his mouth and
breathed into it. Just as he thought—morning breath. Would she think it weird if he left her to go brush his teeth? Yes. She would.
Any girl would. She’d think he was going to make a pass at her if he brushed
his teeth.
    Better keep your
distance.
    Sounds like a plan .
    Jeremy filled their mugs with fresh brewed coffee and then
looked around for something to put them on. He found a tray at the back of the
cupboard. He pondered its appearance in his apartment and then realized Miss
Shannon must have left it behind. At the last minute, he cut up the day-old
cinnamon bun he was saving for dessert and added it to the tray. Jeremy took a
breath and carried everything into the living room.
    Jocelyn was huddled on the floor under the throw blanket, staring
at the cold and sooty hearth.
    “Can you make a fire in this thing or is it just for show.”
    “Are you cold?” he asked, surprised.
    “I rode my bike here. It’s March. There’s still snow on the
ground so yeah, I’m cold.”
    “You don’t have to bite my head off. It was an innocent
question.”
    He set the tray on the floor beside her. “Here, drink this.
The coffee’s hot. It’ll warm you up. Yes, I can make a fire in this thing. It’s
a working fireplace,” he added proudly. “And then you can tell me what’s going
on.”

 

Chapter 3: Who Dun It?

 
    THEY BENT over the sheet of paper like a forensics team. The
paper was fine quality, unlined, pamphlet-sized. There was a straggling word or
two at the frayed edge where it had been torn.
    “I know what this is,” Shelby said excitedly. “Don’t you
guys recognize it? Doesn’t anybody go to church anymore?”
    “Weddings and funerals,” said Jason, “and I’m usually
working them, so no, I haven’t got a clue what it is. What is