Page 55 of Last Date

“Seriously, it’s fine.” With his body so close to mine, I could feel his heat and smell his cologne. Why did things have to be so confusing with Merrick?

He flicked his eyes to mine. “We’re going to get this guy.”

“You’d better.”

He smiled and caressed the pad of his thumb over my carotid artery. “Your heart’s beating really fast.”

“It’s probably because your speech was so good.”

“Don’t mock me, Kip.”

“As you said, Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

He laughed and once more moved to the door. “I’ll drop by again sometime, and we can have some more deep conversations. That’s what friends do, right?” He didn’t wait for my response; he just let himself out.

****

“Elon’s DNA test came back as a match to Mr. Green’s.” Mom held up the newspaper.

“Really?” I raised my brows. “Well, that’s good, I guess?”

“Allister is probably rolling over in his grave,” murmured Mom.

Wincing, I said, “That’s not very nice.”

She looked sheepish. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

I dunked my tea bag up and down in my cup. “Did they only test against Ken’s DNA?”

“Yep. Apparently Mary refused to be tested.”

“I guess if there’s a match with Ken, it doesn’t matter. So long as the family is satisfied.” Spot rested his head on my thigh, wagging his tail. “No. You don’t get a cookie.”

Mom laughed and got up. “I have some dog treats for him.” She went to the pantry and pulled out a bag of fish skins. “These are supposed to be better for them than the processed type of treats.”

I watched the dog drooling at her feet. “I don’t think he cares.”

She smiled. “Do you want a treat, Spot?”

The dog’s tail thumped the floor.

“That means yes,” I said. “It also means I want to go out, I want to play, and I love you, you’re the best master ever.”

Mom tossed the treat past Spot’s head, and he scrambled like a maniac after it as it slid across the kitchen tile. Once he had it in his mouth, he ran into the living room, tail wagging.

“He’s so cute.” Mom reclaimed her seat.

“Yeah. I’m glad we found each other.” I smiled, watching the dog tossing his treat in the air and pouncing on it gleefully.

Mom took an oatmeal cookie from the plate on the table. “So what do you have planned for the day?”

“Once I leave here, I’m walking that rambunctious husky mix I told you about.” Bruno was coming along nicely. Patsy was pleased for the most part with his calmer behavior, but he still wasn’t perfect. He’d managed to get the fridge door open the other day while she was at work. She’d been close to driving him to the pound when she discovered the mess he’d made, but she’d called me instead. I’d dropped everything, brought a refrigerator lock over, and promised to extend the complimentary walks to an extra week if she’d just not take him to the pound.

“It’s kind of you to donate so much time to that dog.”

“I want him to have a real chance at a happy home.”

She smiled affectionately. “You’re such a softie.”