Deadly Notions - By Elizabeth Lynn Casey Page 0,12

a tired snicker. “And now?”

She glanced across the room in time to see Penelope’s mother shoo the other party guests from her more elegant and elaborate costumes, the momentary hurt on their tiny faces tugging at her heart. “I’m surprised strangulation is the only method Margaret Louise considered.”

Chapter 4

Tori couldn’t help it, she’d fallen far harder for Milo Wentworth than she’d ever intended, especially in light of her post-Jeff vow to steer clear of anything resembling serious. It was a vow she’d made with good reason and a vow she’d intended to keep . . .

Until Sweet Briar Elementary School’s third grade teacher swept her off her feet with his kind ways and even kinder heart.

Suddenly, it hadn’t mattered that her former fiancé had cheated on her in the coat closet of the very hall they’d rented to celebrate their engagement with friends and family. Sure, the sting from such a humiliation was still there—probably always would be. But somehow, some way, Milo had made her believe in love and honor again.

“I stopped by the bakery and bought you a brownie today.” Milo disappeared into his kitchen only to return with Debbie’s trademark white bakery bag with the powder blue cupcake emblem emblazoned on the front. “I was torn between the brownie and the caramel cake for a while but, in the end, the brownie won out.”

She smiled up at him from her spot on his sofa, her gaze riveted on the man who’d stolen her heart before she had a clue what was happening. Handsome in the same quiet, understated way he moved through life, Milo sported a crop of burnished brown hair that complimented his amber-flecked brown eyes. “Tell me again how I found you?”

“You didn’t. I found you.” Placing the bag on the coffee table, he bent his leg at the knee and dropped onto the sofa beside her. “And it just gets better all the time.”

And it was true. It did. What had started out as a shy attraction between two people had blossomed into the kind of relationship that was almost too good to be true—a rare example of give and take that had propelled them firmly into keeper status. For his part, he was an amazing listener, remembering the things that mattered to her and making her feel special—always. For her part, she was supportive of his teaching career and his need to spend time together.

“The kids loved the tire swing you tied in that tree behind the library. It was one of the many highlights of the party.” She snuggled back against his chest, savoring the feel of his arms around her body. “I know Melissa really appreciated you dropping by before the party to do that. Especially since you had plans . . .”

“My pleasure.”

Closing her eyes against the wave of self-doubt that threatened to stymie her mood, she dove headfirst into the conversation she knew she should be big enough to initiate. “So? How was it?”

He nuzzled the top of her head with his chin. “How was what?”

“Your dinner with Beth.” There. She said it. She released a burst of air from her lungs. “Was it good to see her again?”

“It was. It’s been a lot of years. Which meant a lot of catching up.”

Nibbling her lower lip inward, she closed her eyes again, willed herself to embrace the calm his arms provided. “Did she know about Celia?”

His chin bobbed against her head. “She did.”

“Did she know Celia?”

His chin slid side to side. “No. I met Celia when I was student teaching. We were married inside a year and she died six months later. This is the first time I’ve actually seen Beth since before all of that.”

“Oh.” She tugged his arms more tightly around her. “Um . . . is she married now?”

“To her career, I suspect, based on how much she talked about it. But not to a person.” Whispering a kiss atop her hair, he continued, his deep voice rumbling against her back. “She seems pretty happy with being single. And she looks spectacular.”

Great.

“Owning her own business certainly seems to agree with her. Especially now, when things are looking so good.”

“Especially now? How so?” she made herself ask.

He shrugged. “I don’t know specifics. Beth has always been the type that’s really superstitious. She never liked to say how she did on a test until she got the grade back. If she forgot her keys or her purse when we were going out on a date, we had to