Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Jigsaw
I’m really not ready to say goodbye to Margot when I pull into the parking lot behind the funeral home.
A car I don’t recognize is parked in a space at the edge of the lot. ‘Think your dad has a consultation?”
She frowns. “No, that’s Henry’s car. I wonder if he’s out at a pickup with Paul.”
My hands tighten on the steering wheel, barely holding back a shudder. Pickup means they’re coming back with a body.
Shit, I still don’t want to leave Margot.
“Where should I park, so I’m not in the way?”
She blinks a few times. “You’re staying?”
“Well, I want to at least walk you upstairs.”
“I thought maybe, you know, after spending the whole weekend together, you’d…”
“What? Be tired of you? Not a chance.” I reach over and rest my hand on her leg. “We’ve spent longer stretches together here.”
“That’s true.”
“Do you want me to go?”
She stares at me with the most serious, almost sad eyes. “I really don’t. I hope that doesn’t seem too…”
“It’s perfect.” I lift my chin. “Where should I park? I don’t want to be in the way when the hearse gets here.”
“Silly, we don’t use the hearse for pickups. We use a minivan.” She points to the car. “Park next to Henry.”
We get out and Margot walks around to my side.
She holds out her hand for my bag. “I can take that.” Her lips tilt with amusement. “My murder doll is in there, after all.”
“I’m not scared of that thing.” I grab my bag and lift her backpack onto my shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Margot’s father greets us inside the door. His gaze shifts from Margot’s backpack slung over my shoulder to the duffle bag in my hand.
Christ, it probably looks like I’m moving in. Not that he doesn’t already know I spend a lot of time here.
“Hi, Margot,” he greets her. “Did you have a good weekend?”
“I did. The property up there is really pretty.”
I bite the inside of my cheek.
“Good.” His gaze shifts to me. “Jensen…well, I’m glad you’re both back.”
You might feel differently if it turns out I knocked up your daughter.
Why can’t I stop thinking about that? Between the condom fuckup and our time in the woods, I’m thinking about fucking Margot one hundred percent of the time, instead of my usual ninety-nine percent.
I clear my throat. “Just wanted to help Margot in with her bag.” I pull my shoulder with her backpack on it forward.
He nods once, then returns his attention to Margot. “Unfortunately, we got a call?—”
“I figured, since I saw Henry’s car out back,” she says.
“Her name’s Mrs. Penny.” He waits as if Margot should recognize the name. When she doesn’t say anything, he continues. “She lived in the same community as Daniel’s grandmother. I think he made the referral.”
Margot’s entire body goes rigid.
Who the fuck is Daniel?
“What do you need from me?” she asks, her tone and posture stiff as a board.
If her father notices the shift in her demeanor, he doesn’t mention it. “Her granddaughter will be here in the morning. Would you take the consult?”
She blows out a breath, her entire body relaxing. “Sure. Of course.”
“Thank you. The information’s on my desk.”
“I’ll come back down and go through the file tonight.”
I trail up the stairs after her, trying to come up with a way to ask her who the fuck Daniel is that won’t sound unhinged and territorial.