It's A Wonderful Midlife Crisis (Good To The Last Death #1) - Robyn Peterman Page 0,24

could almost taste it. Did turning forty mean a person became attracted to good-looking serial killers?

“Yes. Of course,” I said, scooping Donna into my arms and putting a nice safe distance between me and someone who was technically one of my bosses. “Go ahead.”

“Privately,” he said, looking over at Missy with a smile that would make most women faint.

“I can leave,” Missy volunteered, glancing over at me apologetically. “Or not. Up to you, Daisy.”

“How about this?” Gideon suggested, crossing the room and taking the puppy from my shaking hands. “Why don’t we take your dog for a walk? We can go to the park—very public,” he added with a wink.

Well crap. Could he read my mind? Did he know I thought he might be a hot serial killer? I never should have gotten out of bed this morning. But with a puppy and a houseful of floating specters, I didn’t have much of a choice.

“Sure,” I said, trying to take my dog back.

He was having none of it. Gideon turned and walked out the door with my puppy in his arms. He was an arrogant jerk to think I would just follow him, but he did have my dog.

“Bang him, dude,” Missy whispered, giving me a thumbs up. “He said he wasn’t hairy.”

“He’s terrifying,” I whispered back as I watched him put Donna down and pet her through the front window of the shop.

“So what?” Missy shot back with a grin. “He looks like he knows what to do with it and he’s clearly into you.”

“He is not,” I insisted. Was he? Shit.

“Is,” she contradicted me. “Bang him.”

“I can’t,” I said, feeling frantic as heat crawled up my neck and my stomach began to churn. “Besides getting drunk and doing Stan the Two-Minute Man, I haven’t done it in years.”

I gasped as I realized what I’d just confessed. How could I dishonor Steve’s memory like that? I was horrible, and it was me… not him.

“What did you say?” Missy asked, shocked.

“Nothing,” I said as I made my way to the door. “Just… please forget I said that. I didn’t mean it. Please.”

Missy nodded and observed me with sadness in her eyes. I didn’t want her pity. I didn’t need her to know how truly broken I was. I was trying to forget it myself. God, I was an idiot.

“I love you, Daisy,” Missy said as I exited her little shop. “I’m always here if you need to talk.”

“I love you too,” I said without looking back. “I really do.”

I’d already talked far too much. Duct taping my mouth sounded like a fine idea. I would say as little as possible during my chat with Gideon.

As little as possible.

Right…

Chapter Seven

Uncomfortable didn’t begin to describe how I felt. I was still horrified over what I’d just revealed to Missy. Not to mention, I was way out of my league sitting in the park with Gideon. The air felt charged with energy and I wished I was wearing more clothing—armor would have been helpful. The need to protect myself was bizarre. Every time Gideon glanced over, I felt raw and exposed, like I was naked… not that he was undressing me with his eyes or anything sexually inappropriate like that. The man was just seriously intense.

“Lovely morning,” Gideon said, watching me like a hawk as I kept my eyes glued to my puppy. I could feel his stare like a two-ton weight on my shoulders.

“Yep,” I agreed. Oh my God, was that all I could come up with? Yes. Yes, it was. And as far as I was concerned, it was a win. I hadn’t embarrassed myself… yet.

I was too old to feel like I was the high school nerd sitting next to the popular quarterback. I turned forty yesterday. Acting your age was a requirement when you hit forty, or something like that. I was pretty sure I made that up, but if I didn’t keep my mind occupied, I would say something mortifying. I was sure of it.

This was ridiculous. However, I didn’t seem to have much of a choice. The pretty-boy lawyer was technically my superior and it was a workday, even though I was supposed to be doing my job from home.

“Since we’re going to be working together, I think we should get to know each other, Daisy,” Gideon said mildly as we watched Donna chase and attack the autumn leaves.

“Umm… why?” I asked, glancing over at him and then looking away. My name on his lips made me