Read Sky High (A Nicki Valentine Mystery Book 2) for Free Online Page B

they’d track his credit cards and bank accounts in case he or anyone else was spending his money. I covered my face and peeked out at Dean.
    “I’m really sorry about this,” I said. “It’s definitely not the ‘welcome home’ you deserve.”
    “It’s not your fault,” he said as we turned into my neighborhood. “And I’m not going anywhere. We have plenty of time for dates.”
    If only. My parenting and work schedules were busy, and letting Liz and Mia down wasn’t an option. I never had time for a peaceful dinner and grownup movie now, so how would I ever fit it in?
    “I’m having lunch with Mia and my aunt tomorrow,” I said with a sigh. “Thankfully, Kenna can babysit.” Even though Liz had encouraged me to invite Dean, I wasn’t subjecting him to that.
    “Call me tomorrow night, then, and we’ll talk things over.”
    I stuck a hotel mint in my mouth and tried to lighten up. I’m with Dean, I told myself, something I’ve dreamt about for a year. Out of respect for both of us, I should try to enjoy it a little.
    I smiled at him and said a genuine, “Thanks.”
    After a few minutes of reviewing his plans for settling in at home and working at the PI Academy where we’d met, we pulled up to my house where most of the windows were dark. Kenna’s living room light glowed next door, though, which meant she might be keeping an eye out for me.
    My minivan and Mom’s car filled the driveway. No sign of Liz’s rental.
    “You don’t have to walk me up,” I said as he put the car in park by the curb. I felt like butterflies were shedding cocoons in my chest. We hadn’t been on much of a date, but saying goodnight still felt scary in the best possible way.
    “I don’t mind.”
    Dean was chivalrous, and I was independent, so I hopped out before he could come around and open my door. I straightened my dress and tucked my clutch under my arm. We held hands, walked up the brick path to my porch, and finally reached the door. The porch light was off, but I could see well enough to find my keys and notice how he was looking at me.
    “Nicki,” he whispered, placing a hand on my waist and pulling me close. His other hand cupped my right cheek (on my face, of course), and there was nothing I could do but look into his eyes and anticipate the obvious. “It’s good to be home.”
    Holy mackerel. If this was home, I never wanted to go on vacation.
    “I agree,” I said.
    And I kissed him.
    Yup. I, Nicki Valentine—24/7 mom, full-time worrier, part-time PI, and somewhat bitter widow—kissed irresistibly hot, impossibly single, Brad-Pitt-lookalike Dean Summers.
    Reunited. And it was better than ever.

Five

      
    Kenna rarely worked on Sundays. Not because she went to church, but because the health club where she taught classes had abbreviated weekend hours. Plus, her husband Andy was a sports reporter, and he worked Sundays—and most nights—in the fall. In short, autumn + Andy = Kenna practically single parenting. On the upside, Sundays were our opportunities to hang out, vent, and laugh our way through parenting challenges.
    Kenna hugged me, Jack, and Sophie when we crowded her foyer at eleven thirty. We were just as eager to greet her sweet toddler Sky, who looked remarkably like Kenna, despite being adopted. Both had blond hair and blue eyes, but Sky’s darker complexion reflected her part-Hispanic heritage, while Kenna looked like she was raised under a sunhat and needed a vitamin D supplement. Ever since middle school, I’d envied her tall, slim figure and high metabolism, but I’d come to terms with it. She loved exercise and chocolate cake, and she could handle them. Eyeing either one made me nervous.
    “Do you have to go?” she pleaded. I knew she wanted details about Dean, and I’d gone straight to bed when I got home, although reliving that kiss made it tough to sleep.
    “I have five minutes,” I said, looking at my cell phone. We both knew that wasn’t nearly enough.
    Sky was