Below the Bones (Widow's Island #5) - Kendra Elliot Page 0,6

carved out a life for the two of them.

“Hey, you two,” Henry said. He winked at Abby, who gave him a gappy smile.

“Abby, why don’t you go tell Jane what we want?” Emma gave her eight-year-old daughter some cash, and the girl darted indoors. Emma watched to make certain she was out of earshot and then turned to Henry. “What’s this I hear about a body in Bishop State Park?”

Yes, Emma had truly become a resident of Widow’s. She hadn’t flinched as she flat-out asked for gossip.

“Better talk to Tessa about that.” Henry knew when to keep his mouth shut.

Disappointment flashed in her face.

“Come on. Tell me something. I don’t want to ask Jerry Hooper. I can’t trust anything he says.”

“It’s an investigation,” Henry said. “And I’m not starting gossip.” His gaze went past her. “Here come Tessa and Cate. You can ask the deputy now.”

“That’s okay,” Emma quickly said. “I need to check on Abby.” She gave him a small wave and went in the bakery.

Henry grinned. He’d figured she wouldn’t ask Tessa. They both knew the county deputy wouldn’t part with information. He stood as the two women approached. A tall dark-haired man in a suit was on their heels. The suit gave Henry a start. He hadn’t seen anyone wear one in months. Island life was too casual.

Cate’s eyes lit up as his gaze met hers, and she gave him a peck on the lips. “Henry, this is Mike Scarn.”

The men shook hands, and Henry noticed how closely Mike scrutinized him.

Must come with the job.

Cate had been like that when they’d first met. She’d held herself distant, her gaze and questions probing. But he’d caught glimpses of a woman in pain under her FBI exterior, and he’d been intrigued.

No pain was visible in Special Agent Scarn’s gaze. Just curiosity.

“Welcome to Widow’s,” Henry said, slipping an arm around Cate’s waist. She stiffened slightly instead of leaning into him like usual. Mike had watched the movement, and Henry suddenly felt he’d done something wrong.

There’s a history between them.

Now he understood, and he bit back a laugh. The agent had no chance. Henry had complete faith in his relationship with Cate. He even felt a little sorry for the agent; Cate was a beautiful, intelligent woman. “You have a hotel?” he asked Mike.

“I do. But I want to go over some notes with Cate and Tessa first.”

“Henry’s input will be valuable,” said Cate. “He helped unearth the body and can make sense of the medical examiner’s old notes on the original case.”

“Sounds good,” Mike said, his tone flat. “Where do you want to work?”

4

Cate exhaled. The testosterone rolling off Mike and Henry was ridiculous, but she knew it’d subside in a few moments. It was simply a result of a meeting of two headstrong men.

When Mike had stepped off the ferry, she’d admitted he still looked good. But Henry was where her heart lived.

“I’ve got a quiet room in the back of the bookstore where we can work,” Cate said. “It has a good-size table.”

“Perfect,” said Tessa. She tipped her head at Mike for him to follow and led him around the side of the bakery toward the rear door of Cheater’s Bookstore.

Cate took Henry’s hand and went after them. He tightened his fingers around hers, and she glanced at him, her heart contracting at the affection in his eyes. “What?” she whispered.

“You’re beautiful.”

The simple words weakened her knees. Actually it wasn’t the words; it was his tone. It sounded adoring, stunned, and thankful in one short phrase.

“Thank you.” She drank him in, never tiring of studying his face.

“You and Mike dated in the past, yes?” he asked, curiosity in his eyes.

“Yes.” She wasn’t surprised that Henry had figured that out in under a minute. He knew how to read people and paid close attention to body language. “It fizzled out years ago. He’s a good guy.”

“I’m sure you only dated good guys.”

She laughed. “I wish.”

He let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders, pressing a kiss into her hair. “Then it’s a good thing you’re done.”

Behind the bookstore, Tessa opened the door and led them to the room. As she entered, Cate inhaled, her heartbeat slowing and her muscles relaxing at the smell of books. Her days were now a succession of amazing smells, from the books to the bakery. In the last few months she’d become acutely aware of how the pleasant scents made her days brighter.

The four of them took seats. Mike pulled