Page 31 of The Murder Club

“Hi, Dorinda.” Bailey stepped back to give the woman room. “Come in.”

Dorinda stepped over the threshold, her pale blue gaze skimming the living room as if she was searching for a hidden danger. Her brows arched as Dom stepped out of the kitchen and crossed to stand next to Bailey.

“I saw a strange car in the drive and wanted to make sure everything is okay,” the older woman said, an edge of warning in her voice as she stared directly at Dom.

“No worries,” Bailey assured her.

Dom leaned forward, stretching out his hand. “I’m Dom Lucier.”

“Dorinda Lyle.” Dorinda shook Dom’s hand, her expression relaxing as she accepted that Bailey wasn’t in imminent danger. “You were here for Lia’s wedding, right?”

“I was.” Dom straightened. “Kaden and I run a business together in Vegas.”

With a nod, Dorinda wagged a finger toward the dogs, who continued to dance and whine in an effort to gain her attention.

“Settle down, you brutes,” she chided with a fond smile.

“Dog approved, I see,” Dom murmured, his own tension visibly easing. Obviously he assumed that Bert and Ernie had a talent for sensing the difference between good and bad people.

He wasn’t wrong.

Dorinda pursed her lips. “Like any males, you just have to know how to talk to them.”

Bailey glanced toward the man standing next to her. “Is that true?”

His eyes darkened with a blatant invitation. “Absolutely.”

A fuzzy warmth spread through her. “Good to know.”

Dorinda cleared her throat, as if to remind them that they weren’t alone. “Sorry to intrude. I was just checking that you were okay.”

“I’m fine.”

Dorinda started to turn, only to halt, as if she’d been struck by a sudden thought. “And if you need any money, you just let me know. I have a nice nest egg stashed away.”

Bailey felt Dom stiffen at the offer. “You need money?”

She flushed. “No, of course not.”

“Now, don’t let your pride get you in trouble, sweetie.” Dorinda clicked her tongue. “I was at the nursing home today to help organize the bingo game and I heard that you’d been fired.”

Dom muttered a curse as he studied her with a fierce expression. “Really?”

“I wasn’t fired,” she protested. “I’m on leave without pay.”

“Same thing.” Dorinda shook her head. “Bunch of idiots, if you ask me. They won’t be able to run that place without you, mark my words. Soon enough they’ll come crawling on their knees, pleading for you to come back.”

“I’m not sure I will, even if they do come on their knees,” Bailey retorted, catching herself by surprise. Until the words left her lips she hadn’t even realized she was thinking about a change of jobs. She’d been happy with her work until this week, but she was starting to suspect that it was more about her being comfortable in what she was doing than finding actual joy in her work. “It was bad enough to have Gage accusing me of swindling his mother out of her money without them taking his side,” she said in defensive tones.

Dorinda leaned forward to pat her arm. “Don’t worry, I had a chat with Lorene before leaving today.”

Bailey frowned. “A chat about what?”

“About Nellie’s decision to change her will.”

Bailey’s eyes widened as she tried to absorb what Dorinda was saying. “You knew Nellie was going to change her will?”

“Yes. I had lunch with Nellie a few weeks ago and she told me then that she was going to call her lawyer and set up an appointment as soon as possible.”