Tastes Like Murder (Cookies & Chance Mysteries Book 1) (14 page)

It was amazing that after ten years his words could still hurt me so much. I chewed my lower lip to temper my response. "Go on."

"She'd had a fight with her date too. Said he didn't understand her or some crap like that. She kept talking, blah, blah, and I kept drinking."

"And then you kissed her." I held my breath, waiting for his response.

Mike shook his head vehemently. "No. She kissed
me
. In fact, I couldn't get her off me." He looked embarrassed by the memory and lowered his eyes to the floor.

Yeah, right.
Brenda had been about a hundred pounds soaking wet. I snorted. "From the look of things, you weren't trying very hard."

His eyes sought mine again. "I wasn't thinking straight. When I saw you with Neil, I guess I kind of went crazy. I was always afraid—"

"Afraid of what?"

"Of losing you."

There was silence in the room, with the exception of Spike's heavy panting.

Mike went on. "I spent hours walking past your house when you wouldn't take my calls. I even came to the door, but your father wouldn't let me in."

The memory of my father brandishing a baseball bat brought a pained smile to my lips. "I know. My parents were trying to protect me."

"Finally I thought, well, I'll talk to her Monday at school. But, no. You ran every time I came near you. And then to have Josie do your dirty work for you—what the hell was that about? You didn't even have the decency to tell me yourself we were over? You made her do it?"

I hung my head, not quite sure how to respond. He had a valid point. "I didn't even want to look at you. I was grateful school was ending, so I'd never have to see you again."

"Did you really hate me that much?" Mike's eyes widened in surprise, and his voice grew ragged.

I swallowed, but the lump in my throat didn't dissolve. "No, Mike. It was just the opposite. Why didn't you ever try to tell me later on? Write me a letter, an email? Anything?"

"After Brenda and I broke up, you'd already started dating Colin. I figured one day when you left him, I'd tell you. I didn't think it would last so long. He was always such a player, the bastard."

I nudged Spike off my lap and stood, fists clenched at my sides. "Gee, well, thanks for sharing that with me. You could have saved me a few years of heartbreak."

"Like you would have listened to me?" Mike's eyes flashed with anger as he rose to his feet. "Give me a break. I always figured one day you and I would get back together. The next thing I knew, you'd married the guy." His tone grew quiet. "I almost lost it when I heard."

My pulse quickened, and I knew I should leave before the situation escalated further. I lifted my purse off the coffee table and turned around to face him. "I'm sorry I never gave you a chance to explain. We both made mistakes we can't undo now. Look, maybe we could try to be friends, okay?" The words sounded peculiar to my ears as I stared at his incredulous expression.

Mike held back a laugh. "After everything we've been through? I don't think I could be your friend, Sal."

My mouth went dry. "I'd be willing to try."

"It would never work. Not for me." He took a step closer.

I watched him, filled with sudden apprehension. "Uh, I'd better be going. Maybe I'll see you at the wake tomorrow."

Nervous, I moved my feet in reverse, colliding with the forgotten coffee table. As I started to fall backward, I shrieked and reached out to grab Mike by the front of his shirt. We both crashed over the table together and onto the floor, him on top of me. Spike yelped and barely managed to escape our tangled bodies. I lay there, trying to catch my breath as Mike stared down into my face, grinning.

"Are you okay?"
Wait, shouldn't he be asking
me
that?

His eyes blazed with passion, and alarm bells went off in my head.

"Still such a klutz," he whispered as his lips covered mine. I forgot everything as I threw my arms around his neck and lost myself in the kiss. Sensing my urgency, his mouth probed mine, fast and furious. I couldn't think straight. I no longer wanted to think. If only we could move the clock back ten years and do things differently.

Musical notes from my cell startled us both and brought me back to reality. I managed to wriggle out from beneath him and succeeded in smacking my head on one of the legs of the upside down coffee table. "Ouch." My version of
Life's Most Embarrassing Moments,
right here in Mike Donovan's living room.

Mike suppressed a chuckle as he extended a hand to help me up.

Face burning, I reached for my phone that had fallen out of my purse during our acrobatic session. "Hello?"

"Hi, sweetheart." My mother suppressed a giggle.

Oh, Mom, you'd be so upset to know what you just interrupted.

"I was wondering if I could borrow that little black-and-gold striped skirt of yours for the wake," my mother asked.

I paused, trying to collect my thoughts. "Mom, that skirt is a little inappropriate for a wake, don't you think? It barely covers a person's rear, which is why I never wear it." I glanced sideways at Mike who was taking another sip of his drink, grinning.

"Oh, pooh," my mother said, like a five-year-old. "Everyone wears them nowadays."

Teenage girls wear them, Mom. Not middle-aged women.
"Can I call you later? I have another skirt that would look spectacular on you with your great legs. I'll have it ready tomorrow when you come to the shop."

"Of course, darling. Love you." She made kissing noises on the other end of the phone and disconnected.

Mike looked amused. "Is Maria still going through her teenage phase?"

"It gets worse every year." I gazed into his eyes, the color reminding me of the ocean on a summer evening. We'd gone to the beach once for a long weekend. To this day, it was still the most romantic trip I'd ever taken. Far better than my honeymoon.
Okay, stop it, Sal. This has already gone way too far.
"I need to get going."

He moved forward and stroked my shoulders. "I don't want you to leave. Stay with me." There was an undeniable hunger in his voice.

I didn't trust myself enough to stay. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Mike glanced at his watch. "What's the rush? Do you have another date with the new cop on the beat?"

Oh, brother. Here we go again.
I shook my head in irritation. "You never change. Do you know that?"

"Exactly what is going on with you and Jenkins, Sal?"

My mouth dropped open in astonishment. "There's nothing going on with me and Brian, and even if—"

"So it's Brian now, is it?"

"Even if there was something going on, it's none of your business."

Mike's jaw hardened, and he put his hands on his hips. "Oh. I see how it is. Has he got you wearing a wire? Are they getting this all on tape?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Tell me the truth! Did your new boyfriend send you here to question me?"

Startled, I opened the screen door a crack and whirled to face him. "I'd never do anything like that. I can't believe you'd even suggest such a thing. And for the record, no, he isn't my boyfriend."

Mike had the decency to look embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I just can't stand the thought of you with anyone else."

I watched him in silence, unsure what to think anymore. There was no doubt in my mind I had strong feelings for him. They'd never gone away. Had he changed in ten years? I wasn't so sure. The insecurities and jealous moods were definitely alive and well.

"I still love you, Sally. I always will." His voice was low and charged with emotion as his gaze held mine.

Panicked, I held my hand up in a protective gesture. "Please don't say any more." This was all too much to absorb right now, so I did what had always come so easily for me.

I flew out the door.

"Where the heck is he?" Josie paced back and forth on the vinyl floor.

The wall clock read 12:20 and there was still no sign of Vido on this bright Sunday afternoon. "Maybe we should try calling him again."

Josie sat next to me. "Do you think he's planning to meet us at the wake?"

"Oh, wouldn't that be great—exchanging money with him for all eyes in town to see. Jeepers, he's never been this late before." If Vido didn't arrive soon, he'd run into my parents, and that was one encounter I hoped to avoid.

"Maybe he got drunk last night and doesn't know where the hell he is. It wouldn't be the first time."

I wrapped my hands around my coffee cup for warmth. "How's your back today?"

Josie put her hands behind her head and stretched. "You know, I hate to admit it, but after the initial agony yesterday, I woke up feeling pretty good this morning. Then again, that could be from the fabulous back rub Rob gave me." Her eyes were full of mischief.

I winked in return. "That must be it then."

Josie leaned forward on the table. "You never called me last night. Did you go over to Mike's?"

"Yeah, I saw him." I gazed out the window.

"And?" She propped herself up on her elbows. "Did you spend the night?"

Incredulous, I shook my head. "Where do you get these ideas from?"

Josie made a face. "I wish you'd both admit your breakup was a mistake and get back together."

"It's too late for that." I took a sip of coffee, thinking about last night, my hasty departure, and what might have happened if I'd stayed.
Oh, Sal, you know what would have happened.
Heat crept into my neck, but Josie didn't seem to notice.

"Well, then, Officer Hottie should be back in town today, right?"

I put down my cup. "I don't want to rush things. My marriage just fell apart, for cripes sake. I can't jump right back into another relationship. Remember what happened the last time I did that."

"Yeah, you did make a major screw up there."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." I smiled wryly. "You're pretty lucky, you know. You have a husband who adores you and four beautiful kids to boot."

"Hey, you're going to have all those things too. I know how hard this has been for you. I'm so glad you're finally free of Col—" She clapped her hand over her mouth. "I promised myself I wouldn't say his name again. Anyhow, I'm glad you're finally free of jerk face, and I only wish I could have been there to help."

I grinned. "You did help, more than you know. I'm okay now, really, and so relieved it's over with." I didn't mention Colin's phone call from yesterday. I knew Josie would have been sympathetic to my plight, but I needed to put my ex-husband behind me. Forever. "It took me a long while to realize this, but the marriage was what failed. Not me personally."

Josie's eyes gleamed. "You're one tough cookie, Sal."

"No pun intended, right?" I couldn't help myself. "Shoot. Everyone will be here soon. I wish Vido would arrive before they do."

"Who are we kidding? I don't think he's coming. Maybe he had second thoughts. Wait till I get him alone at the wake. He'll be sorry he messed with us." She walked behind the display case and started up the stairs. "I'm going to freshen up. What time are your folks meeting us?"

"They should be here any minute. Dad likes to arrive early." That was an understatement. The last time my father went to a wake, he arrived even before the deceased's family.

Josie rolled her eyes. "I hope he doesn't make a scene."

"Oh, you can pretty much count on that."

She disappeared out of sight. A moment later the bells on the door rang, and in walked my mother, father, Gianna, and Grandma Rosa.

My mother wore a low-cut, black silk blouse with a leopard print skirt that ended halfway down her thighs. She held a compact in front of her face and fussed with her hair.

Gianna looked pretty in a sleeveless, black dress with matching pumps. She stared at our mother and shook her head in disgust, whispering in my ear. "I tried, so help me, I did."

"Tried what, darling?" my mother asked.

Grandma Rosa, dressed in black slacks and a bulky, gray sweater, understood the unspoken message between us. "You look like a tramp," she told her daughter.

"Ma!" my mother gasped. "What a thing to say."

"Hey, Mom," I began. "I'm sure I have a skirt upstairs that would look great on you. Why don't I run on up and—"

My father growled. He was dressed in his one and only black suit, which he'd been keeping the cleaners busy with as of late. In the past few months he'd taken up the habit of attending wakes two or three times a week, even if he didn't know the people. He liked to chat with various undertakers about their services. Phibbins Mortuary, the funeral home where Amanda was being laid out, had an excellent payment plan, but my father had assured them there wouldn't be time for a long-term setup.

"Leave your mother alone. She looks sensational." He kissed her on the cheek. "Get a load of those legs."

My mother grinned at me and Gianna as if to say,
I told you so.

"My God! Everyone in town will be talking about us." Gianna slumped into one of the chairs, a mortified expression on her face.

"Everyone is already talking about us." Grandma Rosa stared at me in concern. "Well, at least about Sally and Amanda. It is not a smart idea for you to go today."

"I
have
to go, Grandma."

"Why?" Grandma Rosa frowned. "Do you want everyone pointing their fingers at you and saying, 'There she is—the girl who might have killed Amanda?'"

My face warmed. "I
have
to go." I didn't want to tell them Josie and I were searching for the killer. All I needed was my family causing more problems at the wake. And they were already bound to cause problems.

My father was standing in front of the display case. "Sal, get your papa one of those fortune cookies. I'm feeling lucky today."

Gianna was mystified. "You're going to a wake, and you feel lucky?"

"Sure." Dad nodded. "It's like a dress rehearsal for when my time comes."

"Good Lord." My grandmother made the sign of the cross on her chest. "The man is going bonkers."

I handed the fortune cookie to my father, and he snapped it in two. "Aha!" He waved the paper around triumphantly. "I was right."

"What's it say?" Gianna asked. "Death comes to those who wait?"

"Hey, I like that one, honey. You're so good with words." A broad grin spread across his face as he read from the strip of paper. "
Practice makes perfect.
So fitting for me.
Bellissimo.
" Dad gathered his
fingers
to his lips,
kissed them, and opened them into the air. Then he popped the cookie into his mouth whole.
"Needs more vanilla, Sal."

I opened my mouth to say something then checked myself in time. My father was a tough one to please when it came to food. Josie didn't take criticism well, and I was thankful she hadn't overheard.

At that moment, her high heels clicked on the stairs. "Hi, everyone."

My mother went to work on her lipstick. "Hello, dear. How's the baby? Is he over that nasty cold yet?"

"He's fine." Josie smiled. "Thanks for the sleepers you sent over with Sal. They look adorable on him."

"Our pleasure." Mom smacked her lips together.

"Rob's not coming?" My father glanced out the window.

Josie shook her head. "He couldn't. We don't have anyone to stay with the boys."

"What a shame." Mom's tone was sympathetic as she added another layer of mascara to her long lashes.

I held back a smile. I knew Josie could have found a sitter. She didn't want her husband to come so that she could be free to focus on the people. If Rob learned she was playing amateur detective, he wouldn't be pleased.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" My father reached for my mother's elbow and started toward the door. "There's going to be a huge crowd, and I don't want to be standing in line for over an hour." Grandma Rosa followed at their heels.

Gianna hung back. "I'm going to ride over with you two, if you don't mind. I need a break from them."

"Fine with me," I said.

Gianna studied both of us. "You guys are up to something. You're thick as thieves. Looking for the murderer, perhaps?"

"Maybe." Josie hesitated as she looked at me.

"Why else would you subject yourself to this mess?" Gianna asked. "I'm sure Mrs. Gregorio won't be thrilled to see you, especially after the other night."

At the mention of Kate's name, my stomach experienced a serious case of the jitters. I blew out a breath. "You're right. This is going to be a mess."

"No turning back now." Josie grabbed her purse from the counter. "We need to do this."

A car horn honked from outside. My father's patience was quickly receding, along with his hairline.

"Okay, let's get this fiasco over with." Gianna ran over to the case and grabbed a fudge cookie. "This will help get me through."

We arrived at Phibbins Mortuary at one o'clock sharp. The small parking lot was already full, so Josie parked her minivan on the street. My father pulled up behind her.

Josie checked her reflection in the rearview mirror. "I'm wearing way too much blush. That's tasteless at a wake." She rubbed some off with a tissue.

"With everything else our family has going on, do you really think anyone will even notice?" Gianna asked.

Josie opened the door. "True enough. Your family always steals the limelight."

I stood on the grass and smoothed the black skirt I had decided to wear with a pair of black, open-toe sandals and a white, linen blouse. My parents had already made their way to the front door, and Grandma Rosa was right behind them. Before they could reach it, the door was opened from the opposite side by an older gentleman in a dark gray suit and black dress shoes, polished until they shone like glass. He nodded toward them and waited patiently for us to arrive.

I blew out a long breath. "Here goes nothing."

We signed the registry for guests and then stood in the line, which had already started to form. My father turned around, his face giddy with excitement. "You see what they did? They have so many people that they opened the expandable wall between Restful Room A and B. That's what I want for mine."

Gianna gritted her teeth, and I patted her on the shoulder.

"You." Someone called out behind me.

I turned to see Mrs. Gavelli approaching.
Oh, no.
I had forgotten about my number one fan.

Mrs. Gavelli stabbed her finger into my chest. "What you think you do? No murderers allowed."

I closed my eyes and wished I could disappear.

"Look, old lady." Josie snapped, her face as red as her hair. "We're here to pay our respects. That's all. Now get off her back."

"Respect?" Mrs. Gavelli spat out the word. "What you know about respect? And who you call old lady?"

"Nicoletta!" My grandmother grabbed Mrs. Gavelli by the arm and led her toward the door. Both of them garbled at each other in Italian while mourners watched in amazement.

The employee shook his head as he quickly shut the door behind them then glared at Josie and me.

I cringed. "This is turning into a freaking disaster."

"Told you so," Gianna said.

Inside the doorway to the double room, I had a clear view of several rows of chairs, some already occupied. My father shrugged off his suit coat and draped it across the back of a comfortable-looking armchair in the rear corner of the room.

My jaw dropped as I watched him. "Dad, you can't save yourself a seat."

"But I just did." He grinned.

Baskets and vases of flowers were everywhere I turned, the air heavy with their perfumed scent. Next to every floral arrangement, various pictures of Amanda were displayed from different stages of her life. There were photos of her as a little girl in a ballerina outfit, her as a teenager with her parents, cheerleading at football games, her first day of school, and her high school graduation.

I spotted a picture of Amanda and Colin and sucked in a sharp breath. They were sitting at a bar together, and Colin had his arm around her. From the backdrop, I could tell it was the part-time gig he had briefly held here in town, before we moved to Florida. A cold chill enveloped my body
.
How long had the two of them actually been carrying on before I found out?

Gianna whispered in my ear, "I can't believe they'd have the nerve to put that here."

I shrugged. "Not a big deal. Her mother probably didn't even think about it." Still, my face stung as if someone had slapped it.

"Yeah, right." Gianna gave me a doubtful look.

As we neared the front of the room, to the left of the casket I spotted Kate, with Charlotte by her side. They were talking to an older couple and didn't see us.