A Crouton Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

tucked a stray wisp of my brown hair behind my ear.
    Holy moly, this was more than he’d admitted when we’d been at his home. A tad surprised, I gaped at him. Was he truly captivated by me? A month or so ago, I wouldn’t have questioned his words, but while we’d been in Scotland, Aidan hadn’t acted besotted as he did now. I found it hard to accept the sincerity of his admission. Could it be that I was reluctant because he meant more to me than I was ready to admit to?
    I drew him into the kitchen as customers popped into the shop. Seanmhair stood behind the counter asking what they would like. I pulled Aidan to me by his jacket lapels and kissed him soundly.
    When we parted, he grinned and asked, “Missed me that much, have you, lass?”
    “Uh huh, I have.”
    Briefly, he held me to him and then glanced around the room. He whistled softly. “The fellas did a good job, then. Looks like your bakery is back on its feet, eh?”
    I nodded, asked if he wanted a sandwich, and made him one when he said yes.
    While he ate, I sat across from him, drinking in the sight of his handsome face and gorgeous eyes. Aidan was a kind and decent man, even though doubts about him niggled at me now and again.
    He wiped his mouth on a napkin and leaned away from the table. “I hear you’ve gotten yourself into another right mess, lass. What can I do to help?”
    “Nothing at the moment. I’m not sure who the intended victim was, nor does the detective handling the case.”
    “Who is that?
    “Detective Anderson. You met him briefly before you returned to Scotland. Gray eyes, medium height, light hair.”
    “I remember. He was helpful in apprehending Mrs. Peterson’s killer.”
    “That’s him. So, tell me why you’re here in the States again so soon.”
    “I told you already. I couldn’t stay away, and there are beer distribution details to be settled. The state has approved my applications, so I can go ahead with my plans to bring the Sinclair brand to the States.”
    I smiled at his excitement. When he looked at me the way he did right now, my doubts disappeared as quickly as raindrops dried by the sun. Why did I have them and what were they, exactly? With a mental shake of my head, I filled his tea cup once more and listened to him talk of his good luck in securing a license.
    Shop hours were nearing an end. I’d watched the clock off and on while I’d worked and knew that Seanmhair would pop in any moment and declare the bakery closed for the day. I’d no sooner had the thought when she came through the door and made her announcement. She handed me the money she’d collected from the register drawer and stuffed into a zippered bag before she wiggled onto a stool next to Aidan.
    They talked of the highlands, of our visit, and her ideas concerning a bakery in Scotland. He gave me a questioning look when Seanmhair came out with her thoughts. I shook my head, rolled my eyes, and watched his grin widen.
    “You’ve got a mind to return to the homeland, eh, Sean?”
    He’d taken to calling her Sean, spoken as shen, while we were in Scotland. It was endearing, and I chuckled when he did so. Not many got away with that sort of thing. She demanded to be addressed as Seanmhair or as Mrs. Cameron. That she allowed Aidan to get away with a nickname, was a sure sign that she’d fallen under his spell as surely as I had.
    “There will be no moving our bakery to Scotland or anywhere else, Seanmhair. We’ve had this discussion before,” I said and smiled.
    “It would be good for you to find your roots, Melina,” Seanmhair responded.
    “My roots are here in America. I was born here and like living here.”
    “So you say . . .”
    Hopefully, I asked, “Aren’t you playing cards this afternoon?”
    She nodded, gave Aidan a wink, and said she hoped to see him again soon.
    We watched her gather her jacket, purse, and hat before she waddled toward the door and out to her car. When she’d driven away, Aidan and I looked at one