Kicking the Habit (10 page)

“Well, I have to say you deserved
that,” Cece chastised. “What were you thinking?”

“Thinking I would take your advice.
Be welcoming.” She shrugged. “What was he talking about, anyway?”

“That’s confidential.” Cece folded
her hands in front of her. “Now quit changing the subject. That’s not what I
meant when I said you should try being welcoming, and you know it.”

“Oh, so now you’re a mind reader
too?” Candy’s face grew pinched and angry. “Please, dear sister, oh wise and
powerful one. What am I thinking right now?”

“Something tells me I don’t really
want to know.” Cece sighed.

“See now? You do have a gift.” Candy
crossed her arms and scowled. “Quit trying to tell me what to do. You can’t fix
everyone. Last I checked, I was a grown woman. Not to mention, you’re the one
who’s been getting into more trouble than me these days.”

“I’m not trying to fix you. I just
want to help. Same as you wanting to help me.”

“It’s not the same thing.”

“Yes, it is,” Cece said gently.

“Well, have you looked in the mirror
lately? Honey, you need my help if you want to survive in today’s world.”

“Same as you need my help in other
ways to survive in today’s world. Can we agree on that at least?”

“Fine.” Candy blew out a breath and
then held up her hand as she added, “But I’m still not going to confession. I
have to draw the line somewhere.”

Cece smiled. “Deal. I’m not sure
Father Flannigan can handle all your secrets at once anyway.”

Candy didn’t respond, simply grinning
back, but this time her smile was genuine.

“Hurry. The organist is starting to
leave,” Cece blurted a little too desperately, causing her sister to nail her
with another suspicious look. Cece quickly led the way to the altar,
intercepting the man before he could head out the side door. “Excuse me, sir.”

The man stopped and turned around, a
surprised expression crossing his round, cherubic features. “Can I help you?”

“I just wanted to compliment you on
the exemplary job you did at the organ today—and to introduce myself. My name
is Sis—I mean Cecilia Monroe. I used to be part of the sisterhood that visits
this church quite often. Now I’m simply Cece. Welcome to our church.” She donned
a kind expression and held out her hand.

He shook her hand with a fascinating
expression on his face. “Interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever met a nun
before.”

“Former. I never actually took my
final vows.” She frowned. “I’m confused. You’re a church organist and obviously
Catholic if you’re playing for Our Lady of Glory, yet you’ve never met a nun?”

“I’m newly Catholic,” he said
without missing a beat. “And I meant that I’ve never really gotten to know a
nun outside of the church.”

“You still haven’t,” Candy chimed
in. “You don’t really know my sister, and we’re not outside of the church. What
else you got, there, chief? Cuz I’m not really buyin’ what you’re sellin’.”

“Pardon me?” The man looked taken
aback. “I’m not selling anything, but I’m also failing miserably at conversing,
apparently.”

“Your words, not mine.” Candy turned
around and headed to the pews, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll be waiting for
you in the back, Cece. My feet are killing me.”

“Forgive my sister. It’s been a long
morning, and you could say she’s newly Catholic as well. Or she will be if I
have any say.” Cece shook her head. “I truly apologize, Mister …?”

“I’m the one who needs forgiveness.
My manners are severely lacking,” he responded kindly. “The name’s Trundle. Wilbur
Trundle. And thank you so much for taking the time to introduce yourself. I
really appreciate it. It’s hard being the new guy in such a small, close-knit
community.”

“I can imagine, but no worries.
Everyone’s really friendly here.” Cece glanced at her sister, who was sprawled
across a pew in the back, looking bored stiff. “Well, almost everyone, anyway.
Speaking of locals. I hope you don’t mind if I ask, but where’s Eleanor?”

His face lost a bit of its sparkle,
and he looked a little sad. “I’ve known Eleanor for years. In fact, we studied
music together at Berkley. When she called, heartbroken after the senator’s
death, she said she needed to take a leave of absence to grieve. She and the
senator were very close, what with her volunteering for his campaign and all.
Naturally, I came at once. I’m a composer, so I work from home in Boston, which
means I can basically work from anywhere. Filling in for Eleanor for a couple
weeks was the least I could do after all she’s done for me over the years. Besides,
I find it inspirational to work in such a quaint little town.”

“Oh, dear me. Poor Eleanor. I hope
she’s feeling better soon. Did she leave town?”

“Oh, no. She’s still here. Her
sister came in to stay with her for a while.”

“Well, that’s good.”

“I guess I’d better be going,” he
said. “But thanks again for being so nice.”

“Anytime. And please let me know if
you need anything.”

“Will do.” He smiled at Cece and
then walked out the side door.

“Will do what?” Detective Jackson
asked, making Cece jump. She whirled around as he and Detective Antonelli came
to a stop behind her, followed closely by a gloating Candy.

“Let me know if he needs anything,”
Cece replied. “He’s new in town, and I’m just being friendly, Detective. Is
that a crime?”

“Hmmm,” was all he said, his sea-green
eyes heavy lidded and closed halfway. Cece couldn’t help but notice the small
dots of perspiration breaking on his forehead. Maybe he was thinking of their
kiss too. And while in church, heaven forbid! That had to be doing a number on
him.

“I think it would be a crime if you
were any other way, Sister,” Detective Antonelli purred.

“Oh, for the love of God,” Candy
snapped. “Close your mouth, Rockstar. You’re blinding me with the wattage of
your smile. What do you do, moonlight for a toothpaste commercial?”

“Just thorough hygiene and good
genes, darlin’. That’s not a bad idea, though, but only if you’ll be my leading
lady under the moonlight.”

“Never gonna happen.”

“You keep saying that, but you’re
still here.”

Candy snorted. “Not by choice.”

“See? Somethin’ else we have in
common.”

Candy grimaced. “Show’s over, Cece.
Time for the curtain call cuz I can’t pretend anymore.”

“I got a curtain, sugar. A candy
apple–red shower curtain, and you can call me—”

“A bullshitter,” Ace interjected,
clapping a hand on Rocco’s shoulder and giving it a hard squeeze. “Get a clue,
Romeo. The lady’s had enough.”

Rocco winced, then shot Ace a frown.

Candy studied Detective Jackson with
a glimmer of surprise and a hint of respect, then grumbled, “At least half of
your duo has a brain,” as she headed out of the church with her shoes dangling
from her hands and her bare feet slapping the floor. “I’m leaving in five,
Cece.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Rocco hurried
after her, ignoring the clue and Ace’s warning.

The
man was determined; Cece would give him that. A whiff of manly aftershave
drifted past her nose, making her acutely aware that she and Ace were finally
alone. This was the first time they’d been alone since the infamous kiss the
night before. She tried not to let it affect her as she felt his eyes burning
hotly into her.

“Sorry about my pain-in-the-ass
partner,” he finally said.

Cece looked up at him and raised an
eyebrow.

He flushed slightly. “Pardon my
language.” He shifted his stance and asked, “Mind if we take this outside?”

“Not at all.” She relented and
walked beside him toward the entrance of the church.

Ace didn’t say a word until they’d
cleared the doorway. Then he gulped in some fresh air and visibly relaxed.
Meanwhile, Candy glared from the car window and tapped her watch at Cece while
Rocco kept trying to get her to roll down the window and talk to him.

“We have about four minutes left,
Detective. I suggest you make them count.” Cece adjusted her bun and then tightened
her cardigan sweater against the chill.

He glanced at his partner, shook his
head, and then said, “Right. About last night—”

She held up her hand as she stared
up at his impressive height, remembering what it had felt like to crawl up the
length of him and plaster her body to his. “Please, Detective. With all the
craziness happening around us, let’s just chalk it up to the heat of the
moment. We’re not exactly suited for one another. I’m sure it won’t happen
again.” She swallowed hard, willing herself to make it so.

He looked vastly relieved, yet a
little perturbed. “That’s probably a good idea,” he said, sounding frustrated. “And
you’re right. We definitely don’t belong together. Besides, neither one of us
can afford a distraction right now, especially with some crazy assassin out
there taking potshots at you. You do realize that incident in the barn was only
two days ago, I hope. Are you ready to stop dragging me through a series of
misadventures and crazy encounters? Are you ready to come to your senses and
let me put you someplace safe? Are you ready to quit being so damned stubborn?
You’re not Sister Mary Sleuth, you know.” With every question, he’d leaned in a
little further until she was forced to arch her back and strain her neck just
to look up at him.

Her jaw had dropped open and her hands had
found their way to her hips by the time he finished. She stepped back a bit and
then let him have it. “For your information, Detective, I don’t recall asking
you to accompany me anywhere. And I most certainly never dragged you. Like I
could, even if I’d wanted to, which I absolutely do not. I am fully aware of
the danger I am in, but I am also aware of my obligations to the senator as
well as the citizens of New Hope.” She closed her eyes and unclenched her hands,
refusing to let him get the best of her. Then she opened her eyes and continued
in a calmer tone. “I know you are just doing your job, but I’d appreciate it if
you would stop interfering with mine.”

“Your job?” He barked out a laugh,
crossing his muscular arms over his chest and wearing a condescending
expression. “Is that what you call it? I call it a foolish, misguided guilt trip
that’s going to get your holy little fanny killed.”

“Ooooh! You are impossible!” She re-clenched
her fists and said something she never thought she’d say to anyone. “I really
thought there was hope for you, but I’m beginning to think you’re utterly
hopeless.”

“Careful, sister.” He poked her in
the shoulder. “That doesn’t sound very virtuous.”

She pursed her lips and clamped her
teeth tightly together, refusing to sink any further to his level, then spun on
her heel and marched over to her sister’s car.

“Hey, wait! Where do you think
you’re going?” he hollered after her.

“On another misadventure to
encounter someone crazy and get myself killed,” she snapped back, then slid into
the car and slammed the door shut.

“That man makes me so angry,” Cece grumbled,
as Candy pulled away from the curb.

“Wow. I can’t believe you said
something negative about anyone, let alone—”

“Not now, Charity. Please let’s go
get some lunch at Millie’s Diner. Can we just do that?”

“Done.” Candy didn’t say another
word until they pulled up outside of Millie’s, and she cut the engine to her
beat-up old mustang. Cece didn’t care what she rode in as long as it got her
where she needed to go, but Candy refused to be caught dead in Granny’s
witchmobile. They both barely ran, but Candy claimed at least hers was a
classic.

“Look,” Candy finally spoke after
they sat in silence for five minutes. “It might be none of my business, but I
care about you. Jackass pisses me off on a daily basis, but it takes a lot to
get you riled up. What the hell happened between you two?”

“Nothing,” Cece said, but she
couldn’t quite meet her sister’s eyes.

“Bullshit.”

Cece’s gaze whipped up to her
sister’s. “Charity, please.”

“You can beg all you want. It’s not
going to change the fact that your story is bullshit. Something obviously
happened. You just don’t trust me enough to tell me.” She acted like she didn’t
care, but Cece could see the hurt in her eyes.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you,”
Cece chose her words carefully. “I just know you’re not going to like what I
have to say.”

Candy’s eyes sprang wide. “Oh my
God, you slept with him!”

“No. Good Lord, no!” Cece shivered
just thinking about it. She’d dreamt about sleeping with Ace many times, waking
up panting and sweating. She couldn’t imagine what the actual act would do to
her if she were awake. “It was nothing that drastic, I promise. We just kissed,
that’s all.”

“That’s all?” Candy sputtered, still
looking shocked and appalled. “That’s something, not nothing.” She smacked the
dashboard. “You asked me earlier what was I thinking? Now I’m asking you what
the hell were
you
thinking? You are
setting yourself up for one big heartache when it comes to him. You think I
have issues? You have no idea what he’s been through. Dammit, Cece, I don’t
want to see you get hurt.”

“What do you mean what he’s been
through?” Cece frowned, knowing her sister was holding out on her. Candy had
grown up around here, after Cece left. It stood to reason she knew a lot more
about New Hope’s history than Cece did.

Candy’s face became a mask. “Like
you said, it’s nothing.”

Cece was about to question her
further, but the door to Millie’s opened, and the patrons exiting distracted
her.

“Hey, isn’t that Meridoodle?”
Charity asked.

“Meriwether,” Cece corrected
automatically. It didn’t even faze her much anymore. Her sister lived for
nicknames. Cece was beginning to think she messed people’s names up on purpose
to keep life interesting and frustrate her.

“Who’s that with her?” Candy pointed
out the window.

Cece squinted to see better. “It has
to be her sister. They look just alike. Mr. Trundle said she was visiting for a
while.”

“Not her. I meant the dude. I
thought Meridoodle and Mystery Man were an item, although I have to say this
dude is a whole lot prettier.” The man was tall for a Chinese man, with a body
like that of a runner: long and lean with sculpted muscles. Eleanor was
attractive enough; they just didn’t seem like they fit together as a couple.

“Mr. Trundle said he and Ms.
Meriwether were just friends. This guy was Senator Sloan’s campaign manager. I
heard Detective Jackson say his name is Li Wang. I think they are just friends
as well. Eleanor volunteered for the senator’s campaign, so they’re probably
discussing how to wrap it up now that he has passed.”

Wang leaned in and gave Eleanor a
quick hug, patted her back, and then headed in the opposite direction from Eleanor
and her sister.

“
Good
friends by the looks of it,” Candy grunted.

“You’re always so suspicious.” Cece
sighed. “He was probably just consoling her on the loss of the senator. I’m
sure they were all close after spending so much time together on the campaign,
but enough about them. Let’s eat. I’m starved.”

“By the way, why’d you pick
Millie’s? Weren’t we supposed to try different places for our bonding times
together?” Candy asked, making a set of air quotes.

“I love the food here,” Cece said,
looking down at her lap. She had such a hard time lying. A good thing for her
faith, but a bad thing for her new profession.

“Oh, please. I’m the one who eats
here all the time, not you.” Candy stared hard at her and then glanced at the
door to the diner as another patron exited. Cece knew it was only a matter of
time before Candy figured it out, especially when the patron was one flustered
and red-faced Benny Parker.

Candy’s
jaw dropped open, and Cece thought,
Here
we go
. “Millie’s the woman Benny was talking about in church, isn’t she?”
her sister blurted.

“My lips are sealed,” Cece stated
firmly, but she couldn’t quite hide the sparkle in her eye.

“Good grief. My sister the
matchmaker. How ironic since your love life is one big mess.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking
about,” Cece replied, as she climbed out of the car and headed toward the front
door, with long, determined strides.

Her sister followed reluctantly, and
Cece heard her utter, “Whatever you say, Cupid.”

“Thanks for the ride, Candy,” Cece
said, as she shut the door to Candy’s mustang. “Tell Gran I’ll be over for
dinner after I finish up here at the clinic.”

“Will do,” Candy replied. “Don’t be
long. It’s going to be dark in a few hours.”

“Okay, boss.” Cece saluted her
sister.

“Lord knows someone has to be in
charge of you. And be safe. Don’t do anything foolish.”

Cece scoffed, holding her hands in the
air. “Do I ever?”

Candy just snorted and then drove
away.

Cece shrugged as she headed into her
counseling clinic and shut the door behind her. She hung her coat on the coat
rack, rubbed her hands together, and then turned up the heat. It was three
o’clock in the afternoon. Given that it was fall in Connecticut, it would be
dark in a couple of hours. After the day she’d had, she just wasn’t ready to
face anyone yet. She felt like she was floundering when it came to the
investigation. And then there was Ace.

She walked further into the room,
intending to finish some paperwork in her office, but stopped halfway there,
reflecting on the man who was such a mystery to her. A stubborn, no-nonsense,
big burly guy who looked ready to take on the world, yet was terrified of a
ninety-year-old nun and an ancient church. Strong but gentle. Tough, yet
vulnerable. Cold and aloof one minute but hot and passionate the next.

The
man frustrated her beyond belief, but he took her breath away. That kiss had
rocked her to her core. He’d poured such passion and feeling and
desperation
into that simple kiss that
it felt like so much more than just a physical act. But what if he really did
have some dark issue he’d buried deep? Could he ever come to love her—or
anyone?

“Stop it,” she said out loud,
rubbing her temples.

She had to stop fantasizing about
something that could never be. When she’d entered the convent, she’d done so
knowing that she would never marry. Just because she’d had dreams of a steamy
encounter with a man who looked way too much like Ace didn’t mean she was meant
to get married now that she’d left the convent. She still had every intention
of doing God’s work from the outside of the church. …

But
a small part of her yearned for a husband and children.

Maybe
it was because she was approaching thirty. Or maybe she was just being silly
and simply needed to be held in a man’s arms once more. Whatever the reason,
Ace’s kiss had affected her way too much for comfort. He was right. The best
thing they could do would be to remain purely professional when around each
other.

The
bell over her front door chimed, and she bit her bottom lip. She had known it
was only a matter of time before the good detective caught up with her. She
turned around and opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her
throat. The man standing before her wasn’t Ace. …

He
was Mumfry Walker.

Closing
her dry mouth and swallowing hard, Cece plastered on an angelic smile and said,
“Mr. Walker. How nice to see you. Did we have an appointment?”

She
always locked the door to her apartment upstairs, but she refused to do so in
her clinic. She locked up when she wasn’t there, of course, but otherwise she
wanted an open-door policy, where people in need would know they could stop by
any time and she would be there for them. Besides, essentially the building
still belonged to the town anyway.

His
shaggy red hair was in need of a cut, not to mention that he obviously hadn’t
shaved in days, and he reeked of cigarette smoke. Reminding herself not to
judge, she smiled pleasantly. She certainly didn’t need to add anything more to
her list for confession.

He
narrowed his eyes, his black one looking bruised and angry as he answered,
“No.”

Okay, maybe her
open-door policy wasn’t such a great idea
. He just stood
there, his eyes shifting around a bit too wildly for her liking. “Can I help
you with something else then?”

“Yeah.”
He didn’t say anything more, just stared at her in such a menacing way, as
though trying to scare her.

Oh, my
.
Mission accomplished
. He had no idea
how stubborn she was, though. Probably because she truly believed there was
good in everyone. Even him. “And that would be …?”

“Stay
the hell out of my life,” he growled.

Oh, wow
.
She hadn’t expected that. It might take a bit more work than she anticipated to
find the good in the obviously troubled janitor. “I wasn’t aware I was in your
life.” She backed up and put the coffee table in between them, but she refused
to back down.

He
seemed to sense her unease, and a sinister snarl stretched his hard mouth. “Not
yet, but I know your kind. You will be.”

“How
do you mean?” She held her head high, not about to cower before a bully.

That
made him glower even more. “You’re butting your nose in where it doesn’t
belong. I don’t like that.”

She
folded her hands in front of her and said in a calm, serene tone, “If you have
something to hide, then just say so. That’s what I’m here for, after all.”

His
whiskered jaw hardened. “I don’t have anything to hide, and I sure as shit ain’t
confessing to the likes of you. I’m just a private person, is all.”

“And
I’m a persistent person. I won’t rest until the senator’s murder is solved, Mr.
Walker. If you had something to do with that, I
will
find out. Make no mistake about that.”

He
stepped closer to the table and pointed his finger in her face. “Then you
will
suffer the consequences, Sister.”

“Is
that a threat?”

“That’s
an observation. There are bad people in this world. You might want to go back
to the convent where you belong, before more people get hurt. Or do you have a
death wish?”

It
took everything in her not to flinch, but she stood her ground. “If I die, my
soul is at peace. There’s no suffering on my end. Can you say the same?”

“I
can say I’m big and strong and capable of defending myself. Can
you
say the same?” An evil smirk spread
across his face. “I don’t think so.”

“And
I think it’s time for you to leave.”

He
laughed harshly. “It’s your funeral. Don’t say you weren’t warned.” He turned
around and stormed out, slamming the door.

Cece
walked over on shaky legs and quickly locked it behind him.

After
doing some deep breathing exercises and calming her nerves, she spent the next
two hours finishing her paperwork and taking her mind off one disgruntled
janitor and his threatening words. Realizing she’d lost track of time, she
glanced out the window of her office. An eerie darkness had settled outside. If
she didn’t get to Granny’s soon, Candy would undoubtedly wring her neck and not
think twice about it. Not to mention Cece would have to endure a long lecture
from a certain bossy detective.

Heaving
a heavy sigh, she gathered her coat, locked up her clinic, and headed upstairs
to her apartment. Quickly changing into a pair of jeans and a soft peach
sweater that brought out the amber in her eyes, she let her hair down. Candy
had convinced Cece to add a bit of color to her life, and as for letting her
hair down, she had a headache from her standard bun. That was the only reason
she’d given in, not because a certain someone had said he liked it that way or
the fact that he would probably be at Granny’s when she got there.

Her
sweater was thick enough that she’d opted to leave her coat behind. Snatching
up her house keys, she locked up her apartment and then descended the stairs.
The evening air was brisk, but it carried the scent of fur trees and pinecones
from the nearby woods. Cece loved the fall. Everything always seemed crystal
clear, the hazy days of summer long gone. She glanced at the sky and the stars,
sparkling in their brilliance, no clouds in sight.

It
was a perfect evening for a walk.

She
was halfway to Granny’s when the sensation that she was being watched trickled
through her, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She’d left her
purse behind and only had her house keys as a weapon. She fished them out of
her pocket and clenched them in her hand, picking up the pace of her walk. It
didn’t take long to hear footsteps behind her. She peeked over her shoulder but
didn’t see anyone. Maybe she had imagined it. She’d always been told she had a
fertile mind. When the footsteps started up again, closer this time, she turned
around completely, walking backward. She’s spotted a quick flash of movement as
someone ducked behind a tree.