Read Online Morning Cup of Murder by Vanessa Gray Bartal - Free Book Online Page B

they sizing each other up, or was it her overactive imagination? But why would they? Jason had made it clear he wasn’t interested, and she had known Tosh for less than an hour.
    “I should get back to it,” Jason said. “Nice meeting you.” Turning to Lacy, he paused and tipped his head. “Stay out of trouble, Lacy.”
    She scowled at him. “When have I ever been in trouble, Jason?”
    He shrugged. “Just be careful.”
    Her frown followed him as he walked away.
    “Did you guys date in high school?” Tosh asked.
    “No. We’ve never dated. We barely even know each other.”
    “Hmm,” Tosh said. “Interesting.”
    “Why is that interesting?”
    He shrugged. “It just is. So tell me about your grandmother. What happened?”
    She set down her fork and launched into the story of her grandmother’s shocking and bizarre arrest.
    “So this detective thinks she did it, even though he only possesses the sketchiest of evidence,” Tosh said.
    “Yes,” Lacy returned, her anger at the overbearing Detective Brenner bubbling to the surface once again.
    “And your grandmother’s group of friends insists your grandmother didn’t do it, but they’re also acting suspiciously.”
    “Yes,” Lacy agreed. It was nice to have a sounding board to unload her worries on.
    “And your grandmother refused to see you,” Tosh said.
    “Yes.” Lacy’s voice wobbled a little then.
    Tosh gave her a sympathetic smile. “So what’s your next move?”
    The waitress returned to the table with their check before Lacy could answer. Tosh waved away her offer to pay, insisting that he would pay since he was the one who asked. He took their bill to the register and paid while Lacy trailed behind him, feeling helpless and flustered. If he asked her out and paid, did that make this a date? If so, how had she found herself on a date with a stranger?
    “I’m going to follow you home to make sure you get there safely,” Tosh said. “My mother would kill me if I didn’t,” he added when Lacy opened her mouth to protest.
    Her house was only a few blocks away, so the drive was very short. He walked her to the porch and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest in a casual position. “Before we were interrupted at the restaurant, you were telling me what you plan to do next to help your grandmother.”
    She smiled at him, inordinately pleased that he was such a good listener and seemingly so interested in her mundane life. She glanced around, wetting her lips with her tongue, trying to decide if she trusted him. Oddly, she realized she did. Maybe it was his unassuming manner, or maybe it was the fact that he was a pastor. Whatever the reason, she found herself leaning in to whisper.
    “I’m going to search the dead woman’s house.”
    Tosh looked down at her, his mouth slightly agape with surprise. “Do you have permission to do that?”
    She shook her head.
    “Isn’t that sort of dangerous and against the law?”
    Suddenly she realized she had just confessed her plan to do something illegal to her grandmother’s new pastor. Was he honor-bound to report her to the police? He smiled as if reading her thoughts.
    “Won’t your policeman friend frown on that sort of behavior?” he asked.
    Her eyes narrowed and she leaned against the doorframe, mimicking his pose. “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Jason and I don’t agree on much.”
    “Still, that seems risky.” He bit his lip and looked away. “I wish I could go with you and be a lookout.”
    She was so surprised she laughed out loud.
    He grinned down at her. “What? You don’t think pastors ever want to do something crazy and adventurous? But it probably wouldn’t do for my first official act here to be breaking into a dead woman’s house.”
    “No, it wouldn’t do at all,” she agreed.
    He reached out and touched his index finger to her hand. “Be careful.”
    She looked at his hand touching hers and felt her cheeks heat with a blush. “I