a Touch of Revenge (Romantic Mystery - book 6): The Everly Gray Adventures by L.j. Charles Page B

Mrs. Brumley?”
    Cait’s smile was tiny and shaky. “Everyone knows Mrs. Brumley.”
    “If we spot Connor, and I’m detained, go there.”
    “But—”
    I cut her off. The voice of experience taking over. “I’ve known Pierce for several years, Cait. There are no buts when he issues an order. Let’s move.”
    We made our way across the street without incident, stopped to window shop like any ordinary tourists would, until Cait let out a strangled shriek.
    The reflection in the shop window showed Fion Connor about fifteen feet to our rear, her search narrowed in on the three of us. I met Pierce’s gaze in the reflection, and caught sight of a stray wisp of my hair the wind had loosened from under my hood. Damn. “We need to move. If she hasn’t already, Connor’s going to notice my hair, and if I tuck it back inside the hood, I’ll draw more attention to us.”
    Pierce turned Cait toward him, planted a kiss on her forehead, and motioned us toward Mrs. Brumley’s. “Go. I’ll take care of Connor.”
    I chanced one last glance at the reflection. Connor appeared confused, looking in all directions, tapping her foot, and muttering to herself. Wished I could hear what she was saying. I used her momentary distraction to hustle Cait toward the B and B. “I’m going to take your hand, Cait, and nuzzle into you like a lover would. If your mother comes this way before Pierce distracts her, that’s sure to throw her off. She knows you’re heterosexual, right?”
    Cait’s answer was a smothered giggle, and then she snuggled into me like we’d been intimate for years. “I like guys, El. A lot,” she whispered. “But at the moment, you’re better than any man, ever.”
    I desperately wanted to turn around and watch Pierce handle Fion Connor, but didn’t dare. Cait’s safety was my priority. I went straight for the front door, but Cait yanked on my arm, tugging me toward the alley that ran alongside Mrs. Brumley’s. “Side door. You can’t see it from the street.”
    Apparently it was unlocked, because Cait turned the knob and slipped inside like she’d been visiting the B and B all her life. A blast of warm air and the scent of chocolate chip cookies hit me. I shoved the door closed behind us, soaking up the homey safety of a well-loved kitchen. “You visit Mrs. Brumley often?”
    “She likes the pub’s chippies, and I deliver them a couple times a week. We trade. She always has fresh-baked cookies for me.”
    Confused, I shrugged out of my hoodie. “Are your families friends?” And why the hell hadn’t Mrs. Brumley recognized Fion Connor’s name?
    “What?” Cait worked her arms free from Pierce’s hoodie. “Oh, no. Not at all. She’s just a nice lady who recognizes me from working at the pub. Calls me sweetie, so I don’t think she even knows my name.”
    I breathed out a sigh. There would have been something very wrong about Mrs. Brumley being deceptive. “Let’s get to my room before I have to come up with an explanation for why we’re hovering in the kitchen. I’m thinking you’d rather remain anonymous today.”
    Cait nodded, and dragged me toward the back of the house. “Did she give you the last room on the left?”
    “How’d you know?”
    “It’s the best. She saves it for people she really likes.”
    Cait had settled into the chair, and me on the bed before Pierce flowed into the room, grinning. “Led her through a couple side streets then back to the pub. Left her looking like she’d had a run-in with a two-by-four. We’re good here for thirty.”
    Brought back to reality, Cait paled. “I-I’ll get on with it then so you can be on your way out of the country.”
    I frowned. Like that was gonna happen.
    Pierce nodded.
    I must have looked as befuddled as Fion Connor had earlier. What the hell was up with the nod?
    And then Cait started talking. “The room.” She shuddered. “Like I said, I broke in this morning, because Nolla was attacked. You know about that,