Free Mint Cookie Murder by Leslie Langtry Page B

small—just a stand-up shower stall, a sink, and a toilet. I didn't care.
    The hot water felt incredible as it streamed down my face. I lingered a little longer than I should have, but it felt so good. I was exhausted. This day had been a lot longer than I thought. I was too tired to think of Rex and Angela or of Kelly and Riley. My brain was a little fuzzy as I brushed my teeth and climbed into a T-shirt and sweatpants that Riley must've liberated from my room.
    "Your turn," I said as I tossed him the shampoo. He already was holding a towel. It was kind of thoughtful of him to think of everything, right down to my deodorant. Most men would probably just bring their stuff and expect you to use it—which I would—but he didn't.
    I stretched out on the bed as I heard the shower turn on. Philby came over and sat next to me. His eyes focused on mine like he was trying to tell me something. But my brain was too fuzzy to focus. Besides, he was probably just trying to tell me how much he hated me. I could figure that out on my own.
    Exhaustion started in a wave from my legs and arms to my eyelids. The sound of the shower was hypnotic. I reached over to the cat and started scratching under his chin. His eyes bulged, and some weird, inner lid started to close up. As his eyes went crossed, he started to purr. Loudly. The vibrations were making the bed shake.
    Huh. Maybe he didn't hate me so much. I continued scratching, and he stretched his neck out until I was supporting his whole body just by his chin. The purring grew louder, and the bed vibrated. It was very soothing. I don't remember passing out. But somewhere along the line, I did.

 
CHAPTER ELEVEN
     
    I was having this weird dream that an elephant was standing on my chest, crushing my lungs. I woke up gasping to find not a pachyderm but an obese Hitler cat lying on me.
    Riley was sitting at the desk, typing on the computer. He was wearing nothing but a pair of navy blue pajama bottoms. His blond hair was damp and wavy. His tanned back was nicely muscled and flexed a little as he worked. The room smelled of clean linen. Must've been his aftershave or something. It was nice.
    I remembered the last time he'd kissed me back at my house a few months ago. That had been nice too. I remembered thinking he was interested in me. But then, he'd disappeared for three months and didn't respond to my messages until a dead nerd spy was found on my doorstep.
    Damn, he was a good-looking man. From his slightly long, blond waves to his gorgeous tan and brilliant white teeth, that man could have any woman he wanted. It bothered me a little that I'd thought at one time he wanted me.
    No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hate him. Or even dislike him. The man was here, once again, trying to bail me out of trouble. I'd had it all wrong. He wasn't bossing me around because he'd missed me working for him. He was here looking after me when he didn't have to anymore.
    Ugh. My thoughts were so convoluted. It was more important right now to figure out what was going on. Whoever was trying to kill me had involved my best friend, and I didn't like that.
    "Hey." Riley was standing next to the bed, holding out a cup of tea. I sat up and took it, taking a sip.
    "Oolong! Where'd you get it?" I asked. I hadn't had oolong tea since he and I had been in Malaysia a few years back.
    "I picked it up in China last month." He pulled up a chair and sat down.
    So that's where he'd been when he was avoiding me. The scent of the tea wrapped itself around my head and relaxed me. No point in getting into a fight now.
    "Who did you see last night?" I asked, sitting up straighter on the bed.
    Riley frowned. "A guy in a hoodie. I couldn't see him too well at all. Just enough to know where to aim."
    "But you hit him?" I asked, untangling myself from the sheets and getting to my feet. I felt a little vulnerable, sitting in bed with him half-naked and sitting so close. I moved to the other chair and sat down, tucking one leg