Read All Murders Final! for Free Online Page A

stepped on the back of one slipper, lost my balance, and tossed the wine all over Seth’s shirt.
    â€œOh, no. I’m so sorry.” Heat flamed my face. “Give me your shirt and I’ll rinse it out.”
    Seth stood and laughed. “It’s fine. It’s just a shirt.”
    â€œHand it over.”
    Seth unbuttoned his shirt, and I braced myself for the sight of his bare chest. Fortunately, he had a white T-shirt on, but it was also soaked with wine. He yanked it off over his head. I held my hand out for both, trying not to stare at his chest. Eyes up.
    â€œDo you have a towel?” he asked.
    â€œYes.” I kicked off my traitorous fuzzy slippers and dashed off to get one. I returned and watched as he carefully blotted up as much of the excess wine on his blue shirt as he could.
    â€œDo you have any club soda?” he asked.
    â€œYes. Give me the shirts and I’ll rinse them.”
    â€œJust point me to where it is, and I’ll take care of it.”
    He followed me into the kitchen, which seemed smaller than normal, considering his proximity and bare chest. I opened the fridge and pointed. “There’s the club soda.” I hustled out of the kitchen and grabbed a couple of hangers from my bedroom.
    â€œHere,” I said, when I returned to the kitchen and handed him the hangers. “We can hang your shirts from the shower rod so they can dry.” After Seth put the shirts on the hangers, I took them to the bathroom. I couldn’t sit out there with him half naked. I only had so much willpower when it came to Seth. So I went back into my bedroom and scrounged around in my dresser until I found the biggest T-shirt I owned.
    Seth sat on the couch and I tossed him the T-shirt. God help me, if I didn’t watch him pull that thing on. It hugged his chest and flat abs, but this was much better than bare. I hustled back into the kitchen and fanned myself with a dish towel. I needed to turn down the thermostat. After pouring him another glass of wine, I went back into the living room. I meant to sit in my grandmother’s rocker by the window, but Seth grabbed my wrist and pulled me down next to him. I’d like to say I shot off the couch. Instead, I stayed, took a drink of my wine, and smiled when I felt Seth’s lips brush across my hair. I fit next to him so well. But that made me think of CJ and the promise I’d made to myself to keep my distance from both of them until I could figure out—with a clear head—what I wanted. Or whom. I put a little space between us. I felt more than heard Seth’s sigh of resignation.
    â€œI’m sorry you found Margaret,” Seth said. “Are you okay?”
    I found my head circling in a yes-no motion. I propped my feet up on the old trunk I used as a coffee table, grateful I’d given myself a pedicure a few days ago. “It was horrible finding her.”
    â€œTell me about the picture.”
    I quickly told him all I remembered. Which was what I’d told the police and the state troopers. “You must have read my statement.”
    â€œI did, but I wanted to hear it from you.”
    â€œSo you could tell if I was guilty?”
    â€œNo. So I could see how I could help you.” He studied me for a minute. “As a friend.”
    I gave a little snort. Friend. Funny. I didn’t feel like ripping the shirt off and jumping into the lap of any of my other friends.
    â€œAnd I know CJ’s out of town.”
    Apparently, everyone had that bit of information. “So you thought I needed protecting. I’m not some fragile damsel in distress.” Yes, yes, I am. Please don’t buy my bravado and leave me.
    â€œNo. Like I said, I thought you might need a friend.”
    That took the wind out of my sails.
    We talked and finished the bottle of wine. I woke at three, sprawled across Seth’s chest, his arms wrapped around me. He snored gently. I slipped out of his arms,