Janet Evanovich - Full Bloom

"Which meant snooping on me," she reminded. "You got a lot of nerve coming here, you know that?"

"You're still mad at me."

"Duh. If I weren't practicing anger management I'd pull out my rolling pin. I might just have to have a relapse and do it anyway."

"Put yourself in Eve's place."

"No thank you. The woman is nutso." But she had put herself in Eve's place as much as she could, and her anger and resentment toward the woman had cooled. Not all of it, though.

"Her son and only child had been missing more than three years when she hired me, Annie. She was sick with worry."

"And positive I was behind his disappearance. That stinks. At least I don't have to feel guilty for all the mean things I've said about her."

"I think some of the blame should fall on her son for telling her how unhappy he was in his marriage."

"Don't worry; I've said plenty of bad things about Charles, too."

Wes looked like he might smile and then seemed to think better of it. "What would you have done differently, Annie? Had it been your son? And knowing Lamar Tevis was in charge of the investigation," he added.

"I certainly wouldn't have accused me."

"It took me about five minutes after meeting you to realize you weren't responsible for his disappearance. I would have decided sooner had I been conscious."

"I think that would have been a perfect time to tell the truth."

"I wanted to."

"What you wanted was to get me into bed."

"That, too."

Annie glanced at the clock on the wall. "Are we done yet?"

He stepped closer. "Darlin', we haven't even started."

Her toes tingled at the endearment, at the look in his eyes that made her stomach feel like warm taffy.

"I'm busy, Wes."

"I have to tell you something," he said. "About Charles."

Annie couldn't hide her irritation. "I'm tired of talking about Charles, okay? I just want to get on with my life."

"Donna Schaefer didn't kill him, Annie. I think someone else came in after she left. Probably the same person who dragged him to the backyard and buried him."

Annie felt a chill race up her spine. "Norm?"

"Could be. I want you to be careful. He's already mad because I pulled him into the investigation, and because you made him look stupid at Jimbo's. Erdle told me."

"I can take care of myself," she said.

"You won't have to. Danny is so lovesick over you he'll come running every time you call."

"Danny is gone."

Wes's brows drew together. "Gone where?"

"He had a job offer in Charleston."

"Where in Charleston?"

"I don't know," she said impatiently. "He just left, okay? I don't have any way of reaching him." She felt a lump in her throat "Can we not talk about it right now?"

"Annie—"

"Look, I'm not mad anymore, okay? And I appreciate your giving me the heads-up about Norm. But I really have a ton of work to do, and I just need to be alone for a while." What she needed was to be away from him. So she could think.

Wes nodded. "I'm, uh, on my way to Columbia," he said. "Something came up with a case that I thought was over and done with."

Annie felt a sinking sensation in her stomach. He was leaving. "I see," she said, keeping her voice even.

"I'll be back."

"Of course."

"I'm coming back because I don't want to be away from you."

She tried to look away, but she couldn't let go of his eyes, and the thought of him leaving, even for a day, made her want to reach out to him and ask him to stay.

"My timing is probably way off, but I want you to think about something while I'm gone, Annie," Wes said softly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet jeweler's box.

Annie's stomach dived to her toes and her lips went numb. "Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit." She looked at his face. "Is that what I think it is?"

He smiled. "Only one way to find out."

Annie started to reach for it and then snatched her hand away. "Um, I don't think—"

"Afraid?" he said gently.

All the air had been sucked from her body. She gulped in a mouthful. "Terrified," she managed.

"Take a chance, Annie. Take a chance on me. On us."

"It feels like things are moving so fast."

"I think sometimes you just know," Wes said.

She had heard those words before. Annie opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"Why don't you think about it?" He set the box on the table. "You know how to reach me."

When Lovelle and Theenie came downstairs some time later, they found Annie sitting at the kitchen table staring at the box.

"Holy cow, is that what I think it is?" she said, echoing Annie's own words.

"I think so," Annie said, "but I'm afraid to look."

Theenie put a hand to her mouth. "Wes asked you to marry him?"

"Uh-huh."

"Well, what did you say?" Lovelle demanded impatiently.

Annie was prevented from answering when Destiny plodded down the last couple of stairs, groaning aloud. "I'm exhausted," she said. "I was up half the night talking to Lacey, but I finally, after Lord knows how many hours, got through to her."

"How did you manage that?" Theenie asked.

"Well, the name Fairchild kept popping up in my mind, and I kept getting a funny feeling about it, so I did a little research and discovered the Fairchild family lived in this area when the house was a bordello. I suspected Jonathan Fairchild was a customer. I managed to get a picture, and when I showed it to Lacey she became agitated. Finally, she pointed to the marks on her neck."

"So he killed her?" Theenie asked.

Destiny nodded. "I don't know why. Maybe he had a thing for Lacey and resented her sleeping with other men. Or maybe he just got rough with her. It'll probably come to me later, but the good thing, once Lacey saw that picture, she suddenly realized she was dead. And then she remembered her lover being hanged, and she couldn't wait to go to the light. I hope they're happy, because I'm so far behind with my mail I'll never get caught up."

"You mean she's really gone?" Lovelle said, sounding disappointed.

"Yup. Now I'll be able to get some sleep." Destiny sighed. "Damn, I'm good."

"I'm going to miss her," Theenie said. "It was so nice having a spirit in the house. And kind of sexy, too, what with her stealing our underwear."

"Cotton underwear is not sexy, Theenie," Lovelle said. "Face it."

Theenie ignored her. "At least we know she's finally at peace."

"I need coffee," Destiny said, "and lots of it." She started for the coffeepot, paused, and looked at Annie. "You haven't said a word. What's wrong?"

"She's contemplating," Theenie whispered, stepping aside so Destiny could get a look.

Destiny crossed the room and stared down at the box. "Hmm, let me guess."

"She's afraid to open it," Lovelle said.

Destiny frowned. "That's nonsense. A jar of pickles is hard to open, a stuck window is hard to open, but we're talking jewelry here. I can rip that lid off with my bare teeth from the other side of the room. Come on, Annie, give it up."

Annie knew she would have to look sooner or later. She took a deep breath and lifted the lid. The ring flashed at her.

"Oh, my Lord!" Theenie said.

Lovelle sighed. "Boy-oh-boy."

"Very nice," Destiny said. "A full karat, great clarity, no visible flaws, perfect Tiffany setting. I take it Wes gave it to you?"

Annie nodded. Her heart was pounding so loud she was certain Doc could hear it next door. "I can't think. I must be in shock."

"It's beautiful," Lovelle said.

Theenie began picking her nails. "Yes, but it's likely to snag on the blankets when she makes the beds."

"So, does this mean you're engaged?" Destiny asked.

"Um."

"Not that I'm surprised," Destiny said. "I've been having visions. Max and Jamie aren't the only ones getting married in this house. I didn't want to say anything on account I wanted it to be a surprise. When is the big event? No, don't tell me; I already know. You're going to be a May bride. Better start making plans."