Stolen(72)

“I don’t know about that, but I’m damn sure not a cheater.”

She grabbed his hand. “Look at me, please.”

It was hard. He couldn’t forgive and forget so easily as his mother. But then again, it had all come as a complete shock to him, whereas she’d suspected for a long time that his father had been living a double life.

“Promise me you won’t turn cynical about marriage. Promise me you won’t let your father’s mistakes stop you from enjoying a full, joyful life with the woman you love.” She pulled his chin up so he could no longer avoid her eyes. “I’m talking about Caitlin, son. Don’t you dare let her get away.”





Chapter 37





Sunday, October 27

10:30 A.M.

Pearl Street

Boulder, Colorado



Caitlin whirled and checked out her reflection in the dress-shop mirror. She didn’t usually go on shopping expeditions in the middle of a case, but then again she hadn’t planned on being blackballed, nor had she planned on her mother giving away her favorite fall coat along with most of her winter work clothes to the church. It seemed there was a single mom around Caitlin’s age and build who needed warm clothes, and as her mom had pointed out, Caitlin hadn’t bought anything new in years. This was her mother’s way of nudging her into updating her look, and doing good at the same time. It was a win-win, according to Arlene Cassidy. Only Caitlin was now stuck prowling the Pearl Street Mall instead of perusing murder files.

She greatly preferred the latter.

But it was all good—Spense needed privacy to talk to his mother.

News like that wouldn’t be easy to either tell or hear. Hopefully, they were getting through it okay.

She wished there was something she could do to brighten their rough day.

Then she remembered an independent bookshop, just around the corner that carried crosswords, ciphers, and even San Gaku. On the way home, she’d stop and pick up some puzzles for Spense and a copy of the new Harper Lee for Agatha.

But first, she had to fulfill her promise to her mother. She waggled her eyebrows at the reflection staring back at her in the mirror. This dress ought to do the trick—a pretty blue silk she could wear to dinner with Spense. The skirt was snug in the butt and shorter than her usual fare, but she was fairly certain that was what her mother had meant when she’d used the term update.

Caitlin stepped out of the dressing room in her bare feet and slowly rotated in front of the triple glass to get a better look at the back.

“Is it too much?” she asked the young woman who’d been helping her—Darcy.

“It’s uber sexy.” Darcy put her finger on her chin. “But you still look classy—I think you can definitely pull it off. Is it for someone special?”

Caitlin flushed and hesitated. But it wasn’t like Darcy would spill her secrets. “Yes. At least I hope so. We’ve known each other for years—but most of that time, I’m afraid we were butting heads.”

“Frenemies to lovers. That’s hot.”

“Our romantic relationship is still pretty new.”

“And exciting, I bet. Then this is just the ticket. You look stunning in it. The royal blue really complements your eyes, and that fabric really complements your figure.”

Caitlin was warming up to this whole shopping thing. Maybe she should do it more often. “Okay. I’ll take it.”

She returned to the dressing area and slipped out of the sleek silk and into her jeans. Back at the checkout counter, Darcy hung the dress and pulled a plastic protector over it. Then she opened a box, folded a sheer lace bra and a blue thong in tissue paper and closed the lid.

“Those aren’t mine,” Caitlin said.

“Yes they are.” Darcy winked at her.

She shook her head, confused. She hadn’t even looked at lingerie, much less set it aside for purchase.

“Just the dress, please.” Caitlin pulled out her wallet.

Darcy beamed at her. “Your boyfriend wanted to surprise you. And put your wallet away, because he’s already paid for everything—the dress too.”

A small thrill shot through her.

That was an incredibly romantic gesture—and quite a surprise.

Then her heartbeat accelerated, but not from the thrill—it was too much of a surprise.

Buying her lingerie wasn’t Spense’s style. He’d probably see it as more of a gift to himself, and he was too thoughtful for that. Excitement and confusion suddenly gave way to cold certainty.

Spense was at home with Agatha, delivering difficult news.

No way did he sneak over to Pearl Street for an impromptu rendezvous with Caitlin—not on a day like today.

She heard the sound of shoes squeaking across the floor. Then she sensed a presence behind her. Pulling her shoulders back, she turned to face the man who’d developed the extremely nasty habit of sneaking up on her at unexpected moments. “What the hell are you doing here, Grady?”