To Have and to Kill Read Online Free PDF Page B

often, their movements were like a carefully choreographed ballet. Jack stood at the stove and Piper brought the colander over, dumping its contents into the frying pan. As Jack mixed the pancetta and pasta together, Piper poured the beaten eggs into the mound of spaghetti. They both watched the eggs turn into a smooth cream, warmed by the hot pasta. Jack continued to mix as Piper grabbed the mill and cracked black pepper into the mixture. Finally, she poured a small bowl of freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano over the top.
    After transferring the pasta into a large serving bowl, Jack carried their dinner to the table and, for a few minutes, they sat silently enjoying their meal.
    Piper was savoring the moment and appreciating the effort Jack had put into making her farewell dinner a special one. She loved the idea of Jack Lombardi, tough-guy FBI agent, stopping at the Korean grocer to buy flowers, lighting the candles, and selecting the music that now played, rhythmic and sensual.
    Piper broke the silence. “I love the ’rents, Jack, but they can be really out of control sometimes: Mom is the queen of unsolicited advice, and Dad with his emergency preparedness craziness. He can’t relax and he’s always ‘getting ready’ for a disaster.”
    “You can’t blame him. He’s seen a lot.”
    “I get that, but it’s a bit much. I don’t know how my mother stands it.”
    “Maybe she loves him?”
    “Wow, and people wonder how you got into the Bureau,” Piper teased. “But, seriously, something’s up with her. I don’t know what it is, but something’s wrong.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    “Several things I noticed, but especially the fact that the last few times I asked her about what she’s doing special for the holidays at the bakery this year, she changed the subject. That’s so not my mother. The woman thinks up her Christmas cakes and is practicing her designs by the Fourth of July. She lives for it. And she told me that she turned down three wedding cake orders because things have been too busy at the shop.”
    Jack shrugged and took a large swallow of wine. “Makes sense to me. It’s smart not to overextend yourself.”
    “For someone else, maybe. But for my mother to turn down a wedding cake job is like you turning down a chance to go to a Yankees–Red Sox game. Decorating wedding cakes is her crack. It’s like Obama and his BlackBerry: she needs it.”
    Piper started to stand, reaching for the empty plates.
    “Uh-uh,” said Jack. “You just sit there tonight.”
    Piper watched as Jack cleared the dishes away. The sleeves of his V-neck sweater were pushed up, revealing his muscular forearms. As he turned and carried the plates to the sink, she couldn’t help but admire his tall, trim build and broad shoulders.
    “Speaking of wedding cakes, want to go to a wedding with me?” asked Piper. “I had lunch with Glenna today and she’s getting remarried on Christmas Eve.”
    “I hope it’s to a guy who obeys the law this time,” Jack answered from the kitchen.
    “Actually, she’s marrying one of the teachers at her daughter’s school.”
    “Going the modest route, huh?”
    “Not too modest,” answered Piper. “The ring was amazing.”
    “Good for Glenna,” said Jack, coming back and putting two espresso cups on the table. “You gotta give credit to someone who’s willing to get back up on the horse.”
    Piper nodded, deep in thought.
    “What?” asked Jack.
    “I hope she’s doing the right thing. Glenna’s only known him for a few months and someone sent her a really bizarre note warning her not to marry him.” Piper bit her lower lip.
    “Oh no,” Jack groaned. “Here it comes.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “You told Glenna that you’d have me look at the letter.”
    “How did you know?”
    “Because I know you and I can tell by the expression on your face that you volunteered me for something but you don’t want to tell me because you think I won’t like it.” Jack