“And he’s going to leave his wife in the spring, so there’s that,” Trudy said, continuing to tally the points. “Tax reasons, of course.”
“Of course,” Gia nodded.
There was a knock on the bathroom door.
“Come in,” Gia called cheerily.
The married, tax-conscious Thomas poked his head in the door. He looked relieved when he didn’t spot any blood.
“I’m so sorry. I’ve been monopolizing Trudy. I’m sure you two want to get back to your romantic dinner,” Gia said apologetically.
“Uh. Yeah.” Thomas didn’t sound very enthusiastic.
“It was really nice to meet you,” Gia said, sliding off the vanity. “Have a great night.” She skirted around Trudy and Thomas held the door for her.
Gia settled back in her seat across from Beckett.
“I was starting to get worried,” he said, his hand snaking out to grab hers.
“I think we should go,” Gia said firmly.
Beckett glanced down at his plate and half-finished steak and then back up at Gia.
“Check please.” With the check paid and the leftovers hastily boxed, Gia led the way out holding Beckett’s hand. When they passed Trudy’s table she felt Beckett stumble and then suddenly he was leading the way, dragging her out of the restaurant.
Gia hid her smile.
“Are you sure you don’t mind leaving? We could go back in for dessert,” she said sweetly.
Beckett opened her door and all but shoved her into the seat. “No. Let’s get you home,” he said, slamming the door in her face and jogging to the driver’s side. He accelerated out of the parking lot so fast the SUV fishtailed and Gia had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.
“Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said, putting her hand on his thigh.
Beckett accelerated harder. “Nope. Everything is fine. Just excited to get home and …”
“See what I have on under my dress?” Gia prompted.
“Huh?”
“Do you want to talk about Trudy?”
Beckett’s foot slipped off the gas pedal. “Fuck.”
Gia did laugh now.
“You wouldn’t be laughing if you knew —”
“About the fire?” Gia asked innocently.
“So she followed you into the bathroom. Damnit. I purposely picked this place so we could have a nice, romantic dinner away from the prying eyes of Blue Moon. And instead I march you into the she devil’s den.”
“Tell me about the fire,” Gia laughed.
“Why are you laughing? You were just cornered by a succubus.”
“She didn’t do anything awful. She just told me I would never be the Mrs. Beckett Pierce that she would because I’m a — and I’m paraphrasing here — gutter-raised, soap-making dirty hippie.”
Beckett stepped on the brakes. “I’m going back there and murdering her. I don’t think any court would convict me.”
Gia laid a hand on his arm. “Beckett, it’s fine. The whole thing was funny and a little sad. I got to meet her boyfriend, Thomas. He’s married, but as soon as he gets his refund in the spring he’s filing for divorce.”
Beckett covered his face with his hands and growled in frustration.
“She had no right to verbally attack you. Mrs. Beckett Pierce, my ass. That woman was gunning for a proposal from day one and when I called it off, you know what she did?”
“She set something on fire.”
“She set my welcome mat on fire and you know what she did while I was hosing it off?”
“No, but I bet it’s something really good.”
“She handcuffed herself to the stairs in the foyer and said she wasn’t leaving until I gave her another chance.”
“Ah. So that’s how she became acquainted with Sheriff Cardona.”
“You two sure had a lot to say,” Beckett grumbled.
“She’s a peach. How long did you date?”
“I think it was a grand total of three weeks. She brought a tape measure with her to get drapery measurements.”
Gia snickered.
“You shouldn’t be laughing. The woman insulted you and tried to make you feel insecure about our relationship. On our first fucking date!”
“Well, I mean the woman is clearly gorgeous and ruthless with impeccable taste. I would have felt deeply insecure if I didn’t have such a leg up in the sanity department,” Gia placated.
“She say anything else?”
“Only that Blue Moon is a bucolic, patchouli-scented hellhole and that you will give her another chance.”
He swore again. “I’d better call Cardona and make sure she doesn’t go poking her nose around our place.”
Gia felt a warm tickle in her belly. Our place.
“Pull over.” Her words were quiet, but they carried the weight of urgency.
Beckett immediately veered for the side of the road. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling okay?” He found a small pull-off, shrouded in trees, and threw the SUV into park.
“What —”
His question was cut off by Gia’s sneak attack. She released her seatbelt and dove across the console, lips finding his mouth.
It took Beckett no time at all to catch up.