Free Murder and Mayhem by B L Hamilton Page B

trying to see what
was there. Suddenly a deer leapt from the shadows and disappeared into the
thick undergrowth. He laughed and shook his head.
    “I’ll just go and shower,” He held out his hand. Would
you care to join me?”
    “We’ll have plenty of time for that when we get to Philadelphia. Now, shoo go have your shower while I do the toast.”
    Twenty minutes later, Danny sauntered barefoot into
the kitchen dressed in a white Hanes T-shirt over blue jeans. Nicola picked up
two plates piled high with French toast. Danny grabbed the whipped butter and
jug of Maple syrup in one hand and two mugs of coffee in the other and followed
her over to the table. As he passed behind her he leaned down and kissed the
top of her head.
    “Mmm... You smell good,” Nicola said.
    “So do you.”
    They ate in relative silence caught up in their own
thoughts, occasionally mentioning the weather or asking for something to be
passed. Every time Nicola looked up she noticed Danny watching her. She turned
away as she felt her cheeks burn with the heat of embarrassment and forked a
piece of French toast into her mouth.
    “Do I make you feel uncomfortable, Nic?” Danny asked
after a while.
    “No. Well, no, not really. I’m just not used to having
a man sitting across my breakfast table.”
    Danny nodded. He understood how awkward it must be for
her. Even though he knew very little about her he could tell she was not the
type to have one-night-stands.
    “It’s been a long time since I’ve made morning after
conversation,” she added and forked another piece of French toast into her
mouth.
    Danny reached across the table and took hold of her
hand. “You don’t need to worry, I would never say or do anything to embarrass
or hurt you, Nicola.”
    When Danny finished eating, he rose from the table and
took his mug and plate to the kitchen. “That would have to be the best French
toast I have ever eaten.” He poured a second cup of coffee for himself and then
held up the pot.
    Nicola shook her head. “I’ve washed your things and
put them on top of your bag.”
    “You didn’t have to do that. I’m a big boy I’m used to
washing my own clothes,” Danny said as he leaned over the kitchen bench and
sipped his coffee.
    “That’s okay. I had a few last minute things I needed
to launder so it wasn’t a problem.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Have you been to the east coast before?” Nicola
asked.
    “Oh sure, several times, I’ve been to a lot of
different places in Pennsylvania but not Philadelphia. What about you?”
    “A long time ago, when I was nine or ten, but I
haven’t been since then. My mother’s family came from the east but I only
remember going that one time.”
    “It’s a lovely part of the country. I think you’ll
enjoy it. Even though I’m meeting some old Harley contacts, we’ll still have
plenty of time for sightseeing.”
    Nicola stacked the dishwasher while Danny handed her
the dishes. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about tripping all over the country
with a relative stranger. Even though we’d been emailing and talking on the
phone almost every day for nearly a year, it’s not the same as knowing someone,”
he said.
    Nicola leaned back against the counter and considered
his words.
    “I did feel a little apprehensive at first,” she said,
“but over time I found I was actually looking forward to the trip.”
    Danny sensed she was studying him, giving no hint to her
thoughts then she smiled and said, “I’m really glad you’re here, Danny.”
    “So am I.”
     
    * * *
     
    Nicola was in the bedroom checking her bag for any
last minute additions when she heard Danny calling from down the hall.
    “Nic, do you mind if I leave these here?”
    She wandered down to the guestroom where Danny was
leaning over his bag.
    “What’s that?” she asked.
    He held up a couple of strange shaped objects wrapped
in black plastic.
    “These Harley parts–do you mind if I leave them here
instead of carting