Crazy In Love (Secrets of Suburbia #3) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,84
too much wine and made all those snow angels?"
So maybe not flirting. "Fair enough. It was after. Usually I'd make a much cleaner cut through the trunk." Oh, no. Don't say that either. I didn’t want him to know I was experienced with an axe. "Well, Noah does. Speaking of Noah...you said you had some news?"
He ignored me as he looked over at the kitchen sink. "It looks like you were feeding a whole army this morning."
God, Noah. He was such a slob. There were dishes everywhere. Hadn't he just tried to force-feed me toast and orange juice? There was no excuse for this much of a mess. "I'm still trying to figure out the perfect blend of nutrients for Snuggle Muffins."
"You make homemade dog food?" He nodded like he was impressed.
"Yup. Of course. Let me get you that water." I knew that every second I didn't hear the garage door was a blessing. Noah could show up at any moment. There wasn’t time to have casual conversations and beverages with Detective Torres. But the house was warm and I was starting to sweat in my winter jacket. I poured us each a glass and guzzled down half of mine before I handed his to him.
"Mmm, those brownies sure look good."
I turned in horror to see the dish of weed brownies still sitting on the counter. "Those are dog biscuits," I blurted out. "And they're gross. A total failure."
"He's eaten quite a few. Must not be so bad."
"He's a dog. He doesn't know what he likes."
Snuggle Muffins sighed.
Sorry, boy. I didn't mean it. I'm just trying to keep us out of jail. Was there a prison for dogs? If so, Snuggle Muffins was quite the accomplice, which made him just as guilty as me. I was trying to save his ass too.
Detective Torres leaned against the kitchen island. "So what was so important that you wanted to discuss?"
"Did I say important?" I shook my head. "I don't remember saying that."
He raised both his eyebrows. "What, you just wanted me to stop by?"
There it was again. It really seemed like he was flirting with me. That would have made Noah really mad. I tried to hide my smile. If Detective Torres really was flirting with me, it opened up a few more options on how to get out of this. Maybe he'd actually offer to be tied up...
"You definitely said you had something important to tell me." His gaze locked with mine and I felt frozen in place.
"Or did you say that?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulder. "We both did. But I'd rather hear your news first."
I gestured to all the Christmas decorations. "I just wanted to show you that I was able to decorate. Thanks to you bringing up that box. I can't believe you were able to lift it all by yourself. It was so heavy." I leaned against the opposite side of the kitchen island. Normally when I leaned this far over, my breasts would be on full display. But I was still wearing the stupid freaking winter coat.
"Yeah, I can see that. Christmas bush and all. Tell me, Ensley, why were you really drinking last night? Sure you didn't have anything to celebrate?"
I flipped my hair over my shoulder. "My husband is missing. Of course I didn't have anything to celebrate." I ran my finger down the condensation on my glass. "Just me all alone in this big empty house."
He lowered his eyebrows. "Ensley, are you feeling alright? You're looking a little...sweaty."
I was hoping the jacket was making my skin flushed and sexy. I wiped a bead of sweat off my forehead. But Detective Torres was correct, I was sweating bullets. "Yeah, I'm fine." This time when I flipped my hair off my shoulder it was because it was unbearably hot against my neck. Some of the strands stuck to the sweat.
"I need to discuss something with you," he said. "And I need you to be completely honest with me."
Nothing I ever said to him was honest. I needed to get closer to him if I was going to woo him out of questioning. "Of course, detective. How about we go get more comfortable in the other room." I walked away before he had a chance to respond.
It was a bad idea to come into the family room. Last night it looked like a Christmas wonderland. Today it looked like a tornado had swept through. I ignored the wreckage and gestured to the couch.