Crashing into Fate (Maple Grove #25) - Lynn Hagen Page 0,16

days, Nessie.”

“Uh, sorry.” Arlan wasn’t sure why he hadn’t told the woman he wasn’t this Nessie person.

“You shouldn’t worry your mother like that,” she said. “And I wanted to apologize for our argument.” She sighed. “I know I can be overbearing sometimes, but it’s only because I care so much about you. But if you insist on dating Scott, I won’t speak another word about how bad he is for you.”

Passive aggressive. Arlan smiled. “I’m sorry, but this isn’t Nessie,” he said. It was an odd name considering “Nessie” sounded as if it belonged to a female. “I just found his phone and wanted to let whoever was calling know that Nessie can find it at Maple Inn.”

The line went dead silent, and then the woman exploded. “Tell me where the hell Nessie is,” she demanded. “I knew something bad was going to happen as soon as he started dating that creep. I’m calling the cops. Tell me where Maple Inn is located.”

“Maple Grove,” Arlan said. Shit, shit, shit. Was Nessie the dead guy? Oh crap. This woman was going to lose her shit when she found out, and Arlan wasn’t going to be the one to tell her.

“Okay, ma’am. I’ll leave his phone at the front desk.” Being close to his own mom, Arlan wanted to console her, to tell her that Nessie was fine, but that would be a lie. He refused to give her hope where there was none.

“I’m on my way.” She hung up before Arlan could say anything else.

Arlan didn’t want to be around when she arrived and found out her son had been killed. He wasn’t a parent, but he could imagine that would be their worst nightmare.

Chapter Five

“I think I stumbled into a clue,” Arlan said when he walked into the office. Mike was behind the desk, looking at the computer. Arlan handed his boss the phone. “I found this on the side of the building.” Arlan explained about the phone call. “Do you think this Nessie guy was the one who got killed?”

Mike looked the phone over. “I have no idea. As far as I know, the cops haven’t identified him.”

“Well, it’s either Nessie or Scott,” Arlan said. “Or it could be totally unrelated.” Though Arlan doubted that was the case. The woman had sounded too worried, and Arlan’s heart went out to her.

Arlan couldn’t imagine what his own mother would go through if she found out he was missing. Charles would tear Maple Grove apart to find him.

“Have you checked the call logs?”

Arlan whipped around to find Lewis standing right behind him. He was so close that Arlan felt the man’s body heat. His heart beat out of his chest and his palms became sweaty as he stared into Lewis’s gorgeous green eyes.

The attraction between them was palpable. Arlan wanted to reach out and run his hand over Lewis’s chiseled chest. He saw the ripple of muscles through the guy’s T-shirt.

Raw impulse took over, and Arlan nearly touched Lewis. There was humor in Lewis’s eyes as he stared at Arlan. Did Lewis know what Arlan wanted to do? Could he sense the fascination Arlan had with him?

“No.” Arlan shook his head. “I didn’t think about that. As soon as I found it, the mother called.”

“Do you mind?” Lewis held his hand out, and Mike gave him the phone. He looked through it as Arlan backed up a little, putting some much-needed distance between them.

Had it gotten hotter in the office? Why was Arlan sweating so badly? Why was his heart still racing? Why on earth did he feel lightheaded?

Maybe he was coming down with something.

As Lewis looked through the phone, Arlan couldn’t rip his gaze away from Mr. Hottie. He drank his fill, pretty sure Lewis had no clue Arlan was ogling him.

“There’s a number that keeps coming up,” Lewis said. “Like a lot.”

“Is it attached to a name?” Mike asked.

Now Arlan was curious. He moved closer to see what Lewis was looking at but realized what he’d done and took a step back. He felt as if he was being pushed and pulled, yanked closer, and it took every ounce of willpower Arlan had to keep his distance.

“Yeah.” Lewis nodded. “Scott.”

“Are you serious?” Before Arlan thought better of it, he snatched the phone from Lewis. “That’s the guy the mother didn’t like. If he’s calling this phone, then the dead body has to be Scott.”

If that were the case, then Nessie was the killer. His mother was going to have