Page 19 of Artful Deceit

“So far, no one has seen anything. Whoever it is has a talent for going unnoticed. We’ve also had a few people report missing jewellery. Just odd pieces, so they thought it was lost, but since the reports of the break-ins they’re now suspecting they might have been stolen.”

“I guess an item of jewellery or two could easily go unnoticed. That’s pretty sneaky.”

“Yeah.” He pulled over on the street behind the promenade.

“Are you allowed to use the police car as a taxi?”

“No. Definitely not.” He grinned. “Don’t tell on me, will you?”

She looked lost in thought. “I had a weird conversation today,” she said, then fell silent again.

“Are you going to tell me about it?” he asked when she looked as though she’d lost her train of thought.

Her cheeks flushed again. “It was kind of stupid, but this woman was asking me about you… wanted to know if you were single…”

His eyebrows drew together. “Which woman?”

“Oh.” She grimaced. “She’s on an art retreat. Saffron. She mentioned she’d met you.”

“I think I know who you mean. Where did you meet her?”

Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she spoke. “At the ice cream shop.”

“She’s one of the group I met the other night. I think she was flirting with me. Or maybe she’s one of those people who flirt with everyone.”

“No. I think it was just you.”

“And she wanted to know if I’m single?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“Yeah.”

“What did you say?”

She shrugged. “That I didn’t know.”

A laugh escaped him. “You don’t know?”

“I mean…” She shifted in her seat. “I just didn’t know what to say…”

His stomach dropped. Maybe this was why she was acting so oddly. “Are you annoyed with me because I said we should take things slow?”

“No,” she said unconvincingly.

“It had nothing to do with my feelings for you,” he said, the words feeling clumsy and awkward. “I was trying to be romantic… and just…” He swallowed hard. “Just not rush things. But I definitely…” He paused and cleared his throat. “As far as I’m concerned, you can tell people I have a girlfriend. That’s what I’d tell people. If that’s okay with you?”

“It’s okay with me,” she said with a subtle nod.

“You could look happier about that,” he teased.

“I’m happy about it.”

He wanted to point out that she looked anything but happy, but since she didn’t seem to be in the mood to chat, he wasn’t sure there was much point.

“Do you still want to do something tonight?” she asked.

“I’d love to, I’m just not sure what time I’ll finish.”

“Yeah, of course. We can do something tomorrow.”