Death by Scones by Jennifer Fischetto Read Free Book Online Page B

much as we used to, and I'm sad about that. I remember a time when we told each other everything."
    "We still do," he said quickly. "The important stuff."
    I scoffed. "Those things aren't important?"
    He chuckled. "Yes, they are, but I didn't want to share the moving until I knew for sure. This wasn't the first time I considered it, but in the past, it was just a fleeting thought. I didn't want to get your hopes up until I knew for sure. And when I knew, I wanted to surprise you." A mischievous grin set on his face.
    I giggled. "Okay, fair enough, but what about you and Erin?"
    He glanced down at his plate, then cocked his head toward me but didn't look into my eyes. "Did you tell me about you and Will?" His tone was low and husky.
    "How do you know that?"
    He winked. "I grew up here. I have family and friends here."
    Duh. Why would I think he'd not know? I was just surprised someone he knew thought it would matter enough to tell him.
    "Okay, but if I was breaking up with him…" Then it hit me. Maybe Jared was so upset about the breakup that he hadn't wanted to share. And here I was making him relive it. I could be so dense at times.
    I held up a hand. "Okay, let's change the subject. I'm just thrilled you're home."
    His smile sent chills down my back.
    He raised his glass. "To friends, pizza, and rooftops."
    I laughed. Guilt momentarily stabbed me in the chest. How could I have fun when a man had just died? But I pushed it away and said, "Hear, hear!"
    We clinked glasses, and my phone rang.
    I pulled it from my skirt pocket. I glanced at the display. It was Will. "Hello?"
    "Riley." He sounded breathless. "Are you okay? Grandmother told me what happened. I can't believe it."
    Him and me both. "I'm fine."
    "I'm sorry I can't get away right now. It's been one patient after another today. Some sort of food poisoning." Will had recently graduated from medical school and was interning with Danger Cove's general practitioner, Dr. Eckhardt.
    My thoughts bounced to Nathan Dearborn. Maybe he had eaten elsewhere before coming to the bakery, and it was that food that killed him. "Any idea where this tainted food came from?"
    "A kindergartener's birthday party last night. The culprit being hot dogs."
    That definitely wasn't an event Nathan attended. "Oh. Poor kids."
    Jared's brows rose, and he looked to me.
    "Will you be okay? Are you alone?" Will asked.
    "No, Jared's with me. I'll be fine."
    Will let out a breath. "You didn't mention he was coming for a visit."
    "It was a surprise. I only found out this morning."
    "I see. Well, I certainly don't want to interrupt your reunion." His words were clipped and strained.
    Will was the same age as Jared, Tara, and me. We all went to school together, but he'd had his own set of friends. He and I hadn't discussed Jared on our dates, of course, so I never had reason to suspect there might be some animosity between them. Was that what I was picking up on now?
    "Are you all right?" I asked.
    Will was silent for a moment and then said, "I should get back to the kids. I'll call you when I get a break."
    "Okay. Bye." I hung up and stared at my phone.
    "Something wrong?" Jared asked.
    "Did you and Will have any issues when you were living here?"
    Jared chuckled. "That was a long time ago. I don't remember anything. Why? Did he say something?"
    I shook my head. "No, but I got the feeling he doesn't like my hanging out with you."
    He smirked. "Some people believe men and women can't be friends without sex coming between them."
    I laughed loudly, but my thoughts ran to that night in his dad's pickup and the kiss we shared. "That's crazy. Look at you and me."
    He hesitated and then said, "Yeah, exactly."

 
CHAPTER FOUR
     
    It had been five days since Nathan died in the bakery's bathroom. Five days to dwell and obsess over a dead man by the toilet. The weird part was it didn't seem to matter to the town. The day following his death, business had continued normally, just like Tara predicted. That Saturday