Buried in Secrets (Carly Moore #4) - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,83

feel the same way. Are you still in Ewing?”

“Yeah.” Did he want to go to the Alpine Inn and rent a room? Was it wrong I kind of hoped he did?

“I’d love to meet you for lunch.”

“How about a field trip?” I asked hopefully.

“I’m intrigued…”

“How about you get me an address, and we can drive by it together?”

He released a short laugh. “Way to get a man’s hopes up, then dash them.”

I grinned. “You’re an officer of the law, Deputy Roland. Isn’t sex in a parked car considered indecent exposure?”

“Public indecency, and it’s only a problem if you get caught.”

“You get me that address, and we’ll see what happens. His name is Jonathon Whitmore. I’m guessing he’s in his twenties, and he supposedly lives up near Hogan’s Pass.”

He laughed. “Challenge accepted. How about you pick up lunch, then swing by the station and get me?”

“You can get the address that soon?”

“You underestimate my desire to see you.”

I flushed again. “What are you in the mood for?”

“You,” he said, his voice deep. “As for lunch, surprise me. Get here as soon as you can.” He hung up, and I realized I was smiling like a fool.

In front of a murdered man’s house.

Guilt swept in like an arctic wind, but I told myself I hadn’t known Jim Palmer. Sure, I was learning about him, but I hadn’t known him. I wasn’t expected to grieve. I was allowed a small sliver of happiness in my life.

Except…maybe the guilt I felt was deeper than Jim Palmer’s death and Pam Crimshaw’s ruin. It didn’t feel right to be happy with Bart’s threat hanging over Hank’s head. With him carrying on with his violent chess game with the town and its people.

And when I looked really deep, I wondered how long it would take Marco to realize I was unlovable, something every man who’d come before him had discovered. How long would I have this happiness for before it was gone?

Now that I’d tasted happiness and love, how much would it hurt if I lost him?

Chapter Twenty-Two

I texted Marco after I picked up our lunch, letting him know I’d be there in less than five minutes.

When I got there, he was waiting outside the station in his uniform, the sunlight making his hair look blonder. A huge smile spread across his face as I pulled up to the curb. He got inside, then leaned over and gave me a lingering kiss.

“You look pretty today,” he said as he settled back, his gaze dipping to take in my dress and my bare legs. When he met my eyes again, he looked dazed. “Your eyes are like the summer sky.”

I grinned. “Now you sound like a poet.”

“There are never enough words to describe how you make me feel, Carly.”

We stared at each other for several long seconds, seriousness hanging on the edge of our playfulness.

“Did you get the address?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“I did.” He reached for me again, then groaned. “Let’s go to the park and eat, then we’ll drive by your mystery address.”

“It’s not a mystery,” I said as I put the car into drive. “I’ve learned a few things since I last saw you.”

“I’m all ears.”

As I drove toward the park, I told him about the electricity problem in town and Max’s plan for the night.

He chuckled. “Max has always had a business head. I’m not surprised he pulled a plan out of his ass like that.”

Then I told him about going by the memorial again and following Melinda Palmer to the church and seeing Ricky. “Not only are the Palmers members, but Jim was a part-time youth leader.”

He sat up. “So Pam and Jim did know each other?”

“Ricky said no, but Pam was in charge of the nursery. Surely their paths crossed from time to time.”

“You think something might have happened at the church to upset her?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I know we’re trying to prove this was Bart’s doing, with the caveat that Pam might have had another motivation. And I found out something else.” He turned to face me. “Chuck Holston says he’s not the father of Ashlynn’s baby.”

“What?”

“He thought she was five months pregnant, but at her ultrasound a few weeks ago he found out that she was six months along.” I turned to him briefly and lifted my eyebrows. “Which meant he was in jail when she got pregnant.”

“Wow.”

“That’s why I had you get that address. Ashlynn didn’t come home last night, and Chuck said she might be