Free CELEBRITY STATUS (The Kate Huntington mystery series #4) by Kassandra Lamb Page B

indignantly, then grinned at her from across the room. “Just a few tokens of my love for my beautiful wife, and appreciation for the best psychological consultant in town.”
                She put her briefcase on a kitchen chair, shrugged out of her suit jacket and stepped into his embrace. After a long tender kiss, she leaned back in the circle of his arms. “Best psychological consultant, huh? I tried to convince you that Lansing wasn’t your man.”
                “I know, but the stuff you told me about Cherise, it really helped me manage her better last night. And I’m not sure Lansing is our man, or at least not our only man. I think you’re right about him not really fitting with the tone of the notes. He’s just not the lovesick type.”
                “I’m wondering if you and Dolph might have inadvertently planted the seed in his mind last week for a way to seek revenge on his ex.”
                “Yeah, I figured that out. He also bought a couple other baubles at Tiffany’s recently, so I think he does have a new lady friend, or maybe several. But either way,” Skip continued, as he let go of her to pull the champagne out of the ice bucket, “I felt like celebrating. This is a break-through in the case, and I’ve got a real strong feeling that Lansing and/or somebody else is going to make a move this Friday, and then we’ll have him cold.” He popped the cork and quickly grabbed one of the flutes off the table to catch the bubbles foaming out of the bottle.
                “Champagne, Skip? It’s only four-thirty in the afternoon. We still have to deal with the kids later.”
                “Not until bedtime. Maria’s taking them to McD’s for dinner, then she’s doing their baths. I bribed her with a raise.”
                “Boy you are feeling flush tonight, aren’t you?”
                “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, darlin’.” He handed her a glass of champagne, then raised his own glass in a toast. “To me, the luckiest damn Texan alive!”
                Taking in the Stetson, knocked askew by their passionate kissing, and the Western-style suit and bolo tie that were not her husband’s usual attire, Kate started to giggle as she took a sip of champagne. Bubbles went up her nose. Coughing and snorting, she put her glass down.
                Skip slapped her gently on the back, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her against him. Once she had recovered, she smiled up at him. “I take it you used the Texan persona to charm the ladies at Tiffany’s?”
                “Yup, and Skippy has not lost his touch. Course she did her share of charming as well. Talked me into a little something.” He put his glass down on the table and gently tugged on the silver chain around her neck. The diamond nestled in the hollow of her throat winked up at him. “Something to go with this,” he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as he imagined kissing that spot where the diamond glittered, and then trailing kisses downward.
                He shook his head, completely dislodging the ten gallon hat. Snagging it as it started to fall, he dropped it on a chair. Then his hand kept moving, scooping up the Tiffany’s box to hand to her.
                When Kate opened the box, her eyes grew wide. “Oh, Skip!” she gasped. “They must have cost a fortune.”
                “Only a small one, and nothin’s too good for my gal.” He took the open box from her and held it up next to her necklace. “Yup, perfect match.” Handing the box back, he wrapped both arms around her.
                She leaned back to look up at him again. “They’re beautiful, Skip, and I will treasure them as I do the necklace.” She had a funny look on her face.
                “Do I detect a ‘but’ on the end of that sentence?”