Lucy and the Valentine Verdict (10 page)

Adding his ex-wife to the list was too much.
I socked him in the chest, knocking him back onto the bed.

He grabbed me by the arms and rolled us
over, laughing.

“Not funny,” I objected.

“You playing with me wasn’t either,” he
defended.

Okay, maybe, but still. I twisted my lips to
the side.

He laughed again and pulled me closer. “So,
what do you say? Do you accept my offer?”

The key was pressed in my hand. I wasn’t
letting it go.

“Of what?” I asked. A girl needed
clarity.

“Of...” He seemed a bit lost.

“I have my own house,” I said.

“I know.” He nodded into my hair.

“And I love it.”

“I know that too.”

“But it might be nice to have a few things
at your house too, if you didn’t mind.”

“A toothbrush,” he suggested.

“Maybe a change of clothes?” I added.

“Or two.”

“And then there’s Kiska. He’ll need a
bed.”

“Of course. I’m sure when Alphie visits he
won’t mind, and I know Jeremy won’t either.”

“And then, maybe, eventually...” I let the
rest trail off. I really couldn’t see leaving my house in the
mountains anytime soon, but I wasn’t sure Peter could give up his
place either.

“Yeah, maybe, eventually,” he agreed,
pulling me closer again.

We lay there for a half an hour, wallowing
in our new commitment that would have seemed too slight to even
acknowledge to most people, but to Peter and me? It was huge. Not
call-my-mother huge, but still...

“Peter?”

“Yes?”

“I love you too.”

And I did and I always
would, and someday, just maybe, he and Kiska and I would be ready
for more, but for now knowing we both felt the same was enough. I
grasped the key tight in my hand and wondered just how many crocks
I could fit along the back wall of his living room.

Minnesota, here I
come
.

-o0o-

This story is for all of you who wrote to me
and asked for MORE Peter and Lucy. I hope this gave you more
insight into their relationship and the touch more romance you were
craving. I know I enjoyed writing it and playing with one of my
original loves… Agatha Christie.

If you enjoyed
Lucy and
the Valentine Verdict
, please consider leaving an online
review. They really do make a difference.

If you would like to be informed of new
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And don’t forget to check out the next book
in the Dusty Deals Mystery Series,
Loose
Lips
!

Thanks again,

Rae

Rae Davies is the USA Today Best-selling
Author of the Dusty Deals Mystery Series.

She also, under the name Lori Devoti, writes
in numerous other genres including paranormal romance, urban
fantasy, and young adult fiction.

Rae/Lori is a past winner of the Romantic
Times Reviewers Choice Award and a member of Novelists Inc., a
prestigious group for professional writers. She lives near Madison,
Wisconsin with her husband and children as well as two dogs. She
teaches the craft and business of writing through the University of
Wisconsin's Continuing Studies program, both in person and online,
and blogs about writing at
www.HowToWriteShop.com
.

Like Lucy, Rae/Lori loves antiques, Montana
and malamutes. (Although don't tell her husky or aussie/pug mix
that last part.)

Website:
http://RaeDavies.com

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/RaeDaviesAuthor

Email:
[email protected]

Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/raedaviesauthor/

For dark paranormal romance and urban
fantasy novels, visit Rae’s other persona, Lori Devoti.

Website:
http://www.LoriDevoti.com

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/LoriDevotiAuthor

Email:
[email protected]

Books by Rae
Davies

Mysteries

Loose Screw

Cut Loose

Loosey Goosey

Let Loose

Lucy and the Valentine
Verdict
(a Dusty Deals
Novella)

Loose Lips

Box Sets

Loose & Lethal: Box Set of Books 1 – 3 Dusty Deals
Mystery Series

Romances

Love is All Around

Love is All You Need