Killer Cannoli (A Terrified Detective Mystery Book 2) by Carole Fowkes Page B

curled up at one corner in an Elvis Presley grin. His voice turned husky. “Anything you say.” He floored it and we sped out of the parking lot.
    Now to figure out how to get his phone without revealing too much of my own flesh.

Chapter Fourteen
    A s soon as we set foot in the sparsely furnished waiting area of my office, Alex’s lips were on mine. I couldn’t say it was unpleasant, but I had a mission. I tugged on his jacket. “Here, let me help you out of this.”
    He shucked it off and reached for me, but I evaded the grab. “I’ll hang it up for you. Give me a second.” I nodded toward my seen-better-days brown leather sofa. “Have a seat.”
    I hustled back into my office’s cramped eating area, clutching his jacket. Alert for his footsteps, I pulled out his phone. That bit of chocolate strawberry cake I’d eaten earlier was close to making a second appearance when I discovered the truth. The call had come from Bucanetti. I sighed. My ardent fantasies about Alex crumbled like a stale donut. I felt betrayed by hard reality. It always seemed to have a way of interfering with my love life.
    I jerked my thoughts back. What exactly was Alex’s role here? He didn’t seem like the type to get his hands dirty. No, he must just be the messenger. But my imagination flew wild and I shivered, thinking of Bucanetti sending some hired muscle to intimidate Aunt Lena.
    Alex called out from the other room. “Do you need some help?”
    I jumped then settled down. “Just a minute.”
    Maybe Corrigan was still at Cannoli’s . I cursed under my breath. “Damn.” My phone was in my purse, which sat on the sofa table next to Alex. I’d have to pass by him to use my business line. Nothing to do but go back out to Alex, hold my head high and lie. I pressed my hand against my stomach and took a deep breath.
    Alex slouched on the sofa and had already loosened his tie. He patted the space next to where he sat.
    I smiled but instead of joining him, I grabbed my purse and pulled out my phone. To stall, I gave Alex what I hoped was a seductive glance. “I’ll join you in a second. I just have to remind my dad about going car shopping with me.” I resisted the urge to dash into the other room out of earshot and strolled as casually as the adrenalin rushing through me would allow.
    Corrigan picked up on the first ring. “Is everything okay?”
    “No.” I whispered, pouring out my frantic worries about Alex’s call.
    He listened without interrupting then said, “I’m on my way back to Cannoli’s . I can be there in five minutes.”
    A warm feeling of gratitude spread through me. “Thanks Brian.” But he didn’t waste any time destroying my good will toward him.
    “Maybe now you’ll listen to me and stay away from these underworld creeps and their associates.”
    I ignored his dig. “Yes, well I better go—”
    “Claire…” He blew out a deep breath like he’d resigned himself to me being up-to-my-neck involved. “Be careful.”
    I tried Dad first to let him know about Corrigan, but his phone was off. “Damn.” Aunt Lena was my last choice to call. I didn’t want to spook her any more than she already was, so Ed was next, but like my father, his phone was off. “Double damn.” I muttered.
    Alex shouted from the other room. “Having problems?”
    “Just another minute.”
    “Promise it’ll be before the sun rises?”
    My worries multiplying, I punched in the number for Cannoli’s , but it rang until the message came on telling me the place’s hours and location.
    In desperation, I was just about to call my dad’s land line to see if Aunt Lena had gone home with him when Alex strolled in.
    Think fast. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go…back to Cannoli’s . My aunt needs her car.” A five-year-old wouldn’t be fooled by that lie. I was sorry, sorry this gorgeous hunk of a CPA turned out to be a threat to my aunt. He could have added a lot to my love life.
    His eyebrows knit. “Really? Now?” He