Peggy Dulle - Liza Wilcox 01 - Death Is Clowning Around Read Online Free Page B

office.”
    “Why?”
    He smiled. “I went into their store and bought food for the dogs in our K-9 patrol cars. She was sitting there on the counter when I checked out. You should have seen her face. It lit right up and she asked if I had any puppies. I told her yes and that day and everyday until she went to school, she’d come over and help me feed the dogs and then play with them. The older dogs were getting so attached to her that sometimes they wouldn’t go out on patrol until she had come over and played with them.” He laughed quietly to himself, not seeming to really want to share those memories with anyone.
    “It sounds like she was really important to you, too.”
    “Yeah.” His face broadened with a huge smile. “She called me Sheriff D because I was the one who let her play with the dogs.”
    “It was nice of her mom to let her come over.”
    “She was a good mom to Jessie and Todd, especially with their dad working out of town. But she had her own demons, especially alcohol.”
    “Was alcohol involved in her mom’s accident?”
    “Oh, yeah,” he shook his head. “She was drunk as a skunk when she plowed into that ditch.”
    “Do you think she did it on purpose?”
    “Yes.” He said somberly, his voice was low.
    I ignored his obvious somber mood and pushed forward. “Was the accident right after Jessie was taken?”
    “No it was only a few years ago.”
    “That’s weird, too. Why wait that long?”
    “I don’t know. People do strange things sometimes.”
    He started fiddling with his fork, moving what was left of his piecrust from one side to the other. Our conversation about Jessie was over. It sure hadn’t helped Tom’s mood. When we’d first arrived he was nervous but excited; now he was sullen and withdrawn. I drained the last of my soda.
    “Would you like another?” he asked.
    “Not really. The caffeine will keep me up if I drink it too late.”
    “I’ll walk you back to the inn.” He stood. His manner, though still polite, was brusque.
    “Thanks.” I swallowed hard against the tightness in my throat. I was responsible for the downturn in his mood and it had spoiled our evening. As a teacher I always worked hard to make my students feel better not worse. Maybe coming to Gainsville hadn’t been such a good idea.
    Tom paid the cashier and we walked back to my room. I wasn’t sure what to say or do. I hadn’t been on a date in a long time. And was this actually a date or just part of my investigation? Neither of us spoke. I kept shifting my weight, trying to quiet the butterflies in my stomach and my racing pulse.
    “This is weird.” He smiled and his eyes glistened. His tone was warm and gentle again.
    “Yeah, I agree. Thanks for the pie and soda.” I gave him a quirky smile.
    He reached over and stroked the side of my face. “You are most welcome, Liza. Will I see you tomorrow at the egg hunt?”
    It took all my strength not to react to his touch and to answer his question with an even tone. “Yes, I plan to be there.”
    “Okay.” He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    I closed the door behind him and leaned my back against it. My body had reacted to that little kiss like a volcano erupting. After several deep breaths my pulse finally settled down. I shook my head. What was happening to me? It wasn’t like he was the first handsome man I’d had pie and diet Coke with. Why couldn’t I keep my body under control? It seemed like every time he got near me, I had an overwhelming desire to rip his clothes off.
    At thirty-two years old, I certainly wasn’t a prude, but the feelings I had around him scared me. I didn’t feel in control. And it wasn’t like I hadn’t had other relationships that went to the physical level before. Of course, John and I had dated several years before we’d slept together. Actually, I think we only did then because we felt like it was the next step rather than an actual need. A year ago I’d ended