Bah! Humbug - A Jeff Resnick Story (3 page)

“
But—”

“
Go on. Go back in. Smooth
things over. It’ll be okay.”

But instead of retreating, she shuffled
through the inch or so of new snow and threw herself into my arms,
swamping me with a tsunami of emotions: love, shame, and pride all
rolled together in an almost overwhelming amalgam.

“
I’m so ashamed,” she
sobbed into my shoulder. “How could my family let me down like
this?”

“
They’re just worried about
you being with someone like me.” And probably with
reason.

She held onto me with fierce determination. “I love
you,” she asserted, and yet this thing inside me that could tap
into others’ emotions told me she really wasn’t sure what she felt.
Oh yeah, she felt some kind of affection, but deep down love? No,
she just wasn’t sure.

And why should she?

I kissed the top of her head, then pushed
her away. “You’re shivering. Go back inside. If you want to come
back to my place later, I’ll wait for you. If not … that’s okay,
too.”

“
I’ll be there. You can’t
keep me away.”

Yeah, but how much longer would she feel
that way? Irene held much more influence over her than Maggie
realized. I pulled her close again, hoped I imparted some of my
warmth. “I love you, Maggs.”

“
I love you,
too.”

She didn’t. Yet. Maybe never. But that was
okay. I could accept it.

At least for now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native of Rochester, NY, L.L. Bartlett honed her
characterization and plotting skills as a frequent writer for
romance magazines and was a finalist in the St. Martin’s/Malice
Domestic contest for best first novel.

In addition to the Jeff Resnick Mysteries, Bartlett
also writes the New York Times bestselling and Agatha-nominated
Booktown Mysteries series under the name Lorna Barrett.

Bartlett’s Victoria Square Mystery Series will debut
in February of 2011.

Visit her website at:
www.LLBartlett.com

(You can also find her on Facebook, Myspace, and
Twitter.)

Also By . . .

L.L. Bartlett

The Jeff Resnick Mysteries

Murder on the Mind (2005)

Dead in Red (2008)

Cheated by Death (2010)

Short Stories

Cold Case (A Jeff Resnick Story)

Abused: A Daughter’s Story

Lorraine Bartlett

The Victoria Square Mysteries

A Crafty Killing (2011)

The Walled Flower (2012)

Short Stories

We’re So Sorry, Uncle Albert

Only Skin Deep
What I Did For Love

Lorna Barrett

The Booktown Mysteries

Murder is Binding (2008)

Bookmarked for Death (2009)

Bookplate Special (2009)

Chapter & Hearse (2010)

Sentenced to Death (2011)

Murder on the Half Shelf (2012)