All Murders Final! by Sherry Harris Page A

Nichole was just looking for you.” She glanced at me, our two linked hands, and then gave me a thorough once-over. I was thankful that I’d worn my vintage 1970s Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress, a yard sale find, and a simple necklace I’d made from some old pearl earrings. Hopefully, my black boots weren’t too scuffed.
    â€œSarah, my parents, Aldrich and Paige,” Seth said.
    Seth’s mom gave me a cold, limp hand to shake. She had on the largest single-carat diamond I’d ever seen in real life. No wonder her handshake was limp: holding that thing up had to be exhausting. His dad enveloped me in his arms. He smelled of scotch and cigars.
    â€œWe’re so glad to meet you, after hearing so much about you,” he said.
    They’d heard about me? I wondered if that was true or if Aldrich said that to all of Seth’s friends. I glanced at Seth, but his face gave away nothing.
    â€œYou must come to our cottage in Nantucket when the weather warms up,” Aldrich added.
    I almost choked. I confess that I’d looked up their “cottage” on Google Earth. It was a sprawling complex of buildings on a piece of land that jutted out into the ocean.
    â€œMustn’t she, dear?” he said to his wife.
    â€œOf course. That would be lovely.” But she said it through clamped teeth. I wasn’t sure if that was just her way or if she was biting back a response. “But as I was saying, Seth,” Paige went on, “Nichole is looking for you. We’ve invited her to the family dinner on Sunday.” She glanced at me sideways, with a glimmer of triumph in her look. It was apparent that she was on team Nichole.
    â€œYou should come, too, Sarah,” Seth’s father’s voice boomed out, much to the chagrin of his wife.
    â€œThat’s lovely, but I already have plans,” I said. Reading a good book was a plan, wasn’t it?
    Seth turned to me. “Any chance you could change your plans? We’ll be at our place in Beacon Hill.”
    â€œNonsense, Seth,” his mother said. “Sarah doesn’t look like the kind of girl who’d break plans when she’s gotten a better offer.”
    â€œ Mom , that was rude,” Seth said. “I’m sorry, Sarah.”
    â€œOh, me too, dear. That came out all wrong.” Seth’s mom smiled, but it was the least sincere smile I’d ever seen.
    â€œIt was lovely meeting you both.” I managed to get out. A better offer, my . . . Okay, it was a better offer, but how did she know? I turned and steamed toward the door, grabbed my coat off the rack, and slipped into the dark, cold air before I said something I shouldn’t.
    â€œSarah, wait,” Seth called out.
    I stopped by my Suburban, surprised to be here, without even wondering if the photo taker was lurking. Seth caught up with me, pressed me up against the side of the SUV, and kissed me well and thoroughly. I kissed him back. My anger and resistance were all shot to hell by his lips. He rested his head against mine, his hand holding the back of my neck.
    â€œI’m sorry. She’s not always like that. It’s just she and Nichole’s mother have been plotting to marry us off since we were toddlers.”
    â€œWhat does that have to do with her not being nice to me?”
    â€œNichole moved back here over Christmas, and my mom’s hopes were renewed. Even though I’ve told her multiple times that Nichole isn’t for me.”
    He looped his arms around my coat and pulled me to him again. After another thorough kissing, he said, “I remember so well the night I met you.”
    I smiled at him. “Me too.” That he remembered that night so clearly stunned me.
    â€œLet’s re-create the rest of that night. Come home with me.”
    It had been a long time, a really long time. And it had been a long, terrible week, and I liked him so much.
    â€œPlease?” he