Nerds on Fire (18 page)

“
What if she believes Trixi
is what broke up her relationship with Rylan?” Gran used her chin
to indicate her son.

“
It’s possible, although I
told her I didn’t love her and knew she didn’t love me, so there
was no reason for us to be together.”

“
She not only lost this
house, but now she’s realized she lost your new estate.” Trixi took
another sip of coffee to quell the sudden chill that swept over
her.

Leo pursed his lips in a silent
whistle as he held tight to Katy. “Those are both good enough
motives for me.”

Beside her, Mark nodded. “Me
too.”

“
Perhaps you should speak
with her,” Gran suggested to Rylan.

“
I don’t think him speaking
to her is going to make a difference.” Mark peered between them
before offering a definitive head shake.

“
What would help the
situation?” Her father wore his assessing face as he waited for
Mark’s answer.

“
We have a cousin who is
big and a police officer.
He
can question her.”

Trixi’s lips twitched. “He’s scary?”
At their nods, she almost chortled. “That would be priceless.
Getting questioned by him should rattle her.”

“
It’s a great plan.” Leo
offered Katy more coffee. “We don’t have proof it’s her, but she
does have the only viable motive at the moment, so I think this
needs to be pursued.”

The other two men nodded in
agreement.

A thought popped into Trixi’s mind.
“Does Chrissy know about Nina?”

Her father frowned. “I don’t believe
so. But we haven’t tried to hide.”

“
If she finds out, then
Nina could also be in danger.” Mark tugged out his
phone.

Rylan nodded. “I’ll warn her. I
believe she can take care of herself, but it might be good to
mention this to your cousin as well.”

“
He’ll know what to do.”
Leo’s eyes hardened a fraction.

Glancing at the clock, Trixi started.
“We have to hurry if we plan to make church in time.”

They scattered. Once everyone in her
household reassembled, they nudged into late. Her father had
departed earlier since he planned to pick up Nina, so that left the
five of them. Trixi ushered everyone to the shared Duvall SUV. Mark
took her keys.

It didn’t take him long to fire up the
engine. Trixi reflected on how quickly life changed in the course
of only a few hours.

Was Mark de Vosse really planning to
live with her?

Chapter 18

After church, Mark drove the big SUV
back home with his precious cargo. Right now his housing situation
was looking up. The fact he was going to be living in this
magnificent house still blew him away.

Who would have
thought
Trixi
, the
quiet, sweet little nurse practitioner owned a house like
this?

When Leo pulled into the driveway last
night, even in the dark it had been extraordinary. Her estate was
exactly what he had been looking to buy. Only you couldn’t buy a
place like this, not with Trixi and her grandmother in residence
with all of them sitting around her table this morning, conversing
and eating together.

Mark hadn’t realized how lonely his
existence had been in Boston. He had a great job, one he enjoyed,
but then he went home and shared his experiences, his day with...
no one. There wasn’t even a dog to share his disappointments or
highs with. Much less a human who might begin to
understand.

Now, as he drove the large vehicle
into Trixi’s garage, he was moving into a place with not one, but
two humans. One of whom understood his job to some degree while the
other one had lived long enough to know when to simply listen. She
was also wise enough to dole out helpful advice. You didn’t reach
Gran’s age without having learned a few things.

He guessed she was somewhere in her
seventh decade. The fact the lady was of robust health and serenity
gave credence to her knowing what she was doing. He loved that she
lived here with Trixi.

These women enjoyed a connection he
especially liked as all three of them obviously admired and
respected each other. There was a bond between them you only see
with people who consider each other family. Katy might not be a
blood relation but she fit in well with the Duvalls.

“
Did you make lunch?” Katy
directed this to Trixi as they exited the vehicle.

Trixi slid off her seat, holding onto
her skirt in a feminine manner he found especially appealing. “Of
course.”

“
When did you have time to
make lunch?” Leo slid out and then opened Gran’s door to help
her.

“
It was all in the freezer.
I just transferred it to my range.”

“
Trixi always has a meal up
her sleeve.” Gran chuckled as she accepted Leo’s arm, all elegant,
refined lady. Mark suspected it was to appease Leo rather than
because she needed the assistance.

“
What’s for lunch?” His
stomach rumbled at the thought of another delicious meal prepared
by this fabulous woman.

“
Roasted chicken, mashed
potatoes, assorted vegetables, and...” Trixi shoved her key into
the door leading to the kitchen as Mark hit the button to lower the
garage door.

She led the way inside. “And?” he
prompted.

“
Oh, and a chocolate sheet
cake for dessert.”

Leo actually groaned. Or maybe it was
him. Either way, he couldn’t wait to move in here.

“
Doesn’t matter what it
is,” Katy said loyally. “It’ll be delicious.”

Trixi tapped her friend’s nose. “It’s
the range. Everything comes out delicious.”

With a grin, Katy tapped Trixi’s nose
in turn. “It’s you. The range helps, but you’re the magic
creator.”

Cheeks reddening, Trixi shook her
head. “You’re biased.” There was no doubt that with those freckles,
Trixi boasted the cutest nose he’d ever seen. Her tendency to blush
only added to her allure.

“
Then I am, too.” Gran
handed Leo a stack of plates. She passed silverware to
him.

Mark took them and followed Leo around
the table, helping to set it. Katy came along behind him with
glasses while Gran added napkins, a pitcher of tea, then set the
coffee ready to brew.

“
Is Dad not joining us?”
Trixi counted the place settings.

“
Of course not. He’s taking
his new girlfriend out somewhere nice.” Gran added salt and pepper
shakers to the table.

“
This is nice.” Katy
indicated the kitchen and table.

Trixi brushed a few wisps of hair off
her temple in a sweet, feminine gesture. “It’s scary to meet the
family this soon though.”

“
Nina already knows
us.”

Trixi bent to remove dishes from the
range at a high rate of speed. He enjoyed the view and the smell of
the roasted chicken and boiled potatoes when she lifted the
lids.

Katy carved the chicken while Trixi
worked on mashing the potatoes. Both women made the whole task look
easy. Mark knew from experience it wasn’t. At least he had never
mastered cooking. He and Leo were okay, you could eat what they
made, but it wasn’t tasty.

It became apparent Katy was skilled
with an electric knife. She shook some seasonings and added a dab
of butter over the slices until they resembled a spread from a
cooking magazine.

Trixi finished the potatoes and
retrieved a bowl from the warming oven. She placed the perfectly
mashed potatoes into it and then handed him the dish. Mark waited
for Gran to add a spoon and then set it on the table. Katy passed
Leo the chicken platter. Gran popped in a fork, Trixi added an
array of vegetables and soon they gathered around the
table.

Gran gave thanks and then they were
digging into the succulent fare. It was obvious he was going to get
fat living here. “Is there a gym close by?” Everything was so good
he couldn’t decide which was his favorite.

“
Yes.” Trixi used her head
to indicate a hallway he hadn’t noticed. “Follow the hallway past
the conservatory then turn right.”

“
It’s a nice gym and you’ll
need to use it because otherwise you’ll gain weight in this
house.”

He took Katy’s cautionary tale
seriously. “I just figured that out. But I’m up for the
challenge.”

Everyone laughed, but no one talked
much because the food was so good. He was happy he hadn’t found a
house. “So, I can move in this afternoon?”

“
Yes, it’s probably best.”
Leo answered between bites from his and Katy’s plates.

Katy whispered something to Trixi who
giggled, and he liked seeing their heads close together, leaning
into each other, adding additional evidence of their close
relationship. He figured Leo felt the same way because he paused in
devouring chicken to regard the two women.

“
What did you say?” Katy
asked as they finished whatever they were amused by.

“
Mark thought maybe he
better move this afternoon. It’s a good idea.” Leo helped himself
to the rest of the chicken on Katy’s plate.

If possible, the chocolate cake was
even better than the meal. But then he was partial to chocolate.
Not like Trixi or Katy, neither of who paid much of attention to
the meal, but who enjoyed the cake.

It was amusing to watch them. “I
should go exercise, but I don’t think I can move.” Trixi only made
this complaint after she shoved her dessert plate away. It was
devoid of all crumbs.

He liked a woman who enjoyed dessert.
It was refreshing to discover one who enjoyed baking. The oatmeal
raisin cookies she baked hadn’t lasted long, nor had the chocolate
chip she brought in after he cajoled her to bake something. Mark
guessed this cake would last even less time than the first one
had.

“
Do we have to move
furniture?” Leo sipped iced tea and stared at the remaining cake as
though still contemplating whether to have more.

“
No, I sold most of it with
my condo. All I kept were the family pieces.”

“
They’ll all fit just fine
in your area.” Katy finished gathering the dishes
nearby.

Hmm, maybe that’s why Leo was
undecided about the cake. Katy had already swiped his
plate.

“
Yes, you should have
plenty of room for any of your own furniture.” Trixi accompanied
this statement with a smile. Just a normal one.

But his heart skipped a beat, and he
paused to assess the phenomenon.

In all his life, it had never done so.
What was it about this woman that caused him to think like a
chest-thumping male? Surely, his education and training had
propelled him out of this realm.

“
Trixi, you show Mark his
quarters,” Gran directed.

Trixi opened her mouth to protest, he
was certain, but Gran waved her away. “Most of the dishes are
already in the dishwasher. All I have to do is add these dessert
ones.”

Everyone helped clean up. Leo wiped
the table down. His brother looked pretty domesticated. It was
amazing to discover.

Gran shooed Katy from the dishwasher
where she expertly stacked the plates. There weren’t many
leftovers, and it didn’t take Trixi long to store them in
containers. He took those from her so he could stash them in the
fridge. It was nice to feel domesticated like his
brother.

He enjoyed doing these little things
for Trixi. Her bemused state was as cute as it was appealing to
him.

After it was apparent Gran did have
everything under control, Trixi indicated he follow her. They
entered the hallway past the conservatory, which was a beautiful
room. Instead of turning right at the intersection leading to the
gym, they continued down the hallway to a massive double
doorway.

“
This is the guest
wing.”

He followed her through the doorway.
They stood in a foyer of sorts. Several doors branched off from
here. To the right, a door opened into a bookshelf lined room. She
showed him the office space first. It also emptied into the gym
hall. “This was Dad’s study, but now it can be yours.”

There was a wooden desk and a matching
credenza he guessed were family heirlooms. The entire room reminded
him of the office his father currently used in the de Vosse family
home.

“
It’s perfect.” Mark
finally managed to say. And it was. This room couldn’t suit his
needs better. There was plenty of room for all of his books,
medical journals, and electronics.

Next, she showed him a small furnished
sitting room that likely received the afternoon sun. There was even
a chair big enough to suit him as well as a small sofa and several
end tables.

“
You enter your bedroom via
this door.”

With the twist of the knob, she opened
it and ushered him into a bedroom with a massive bed that would
accommodate his size. Trixi also opened the doors to the luxurious
bathroom and a nice closet. There was an additional bedroom and
bath on this floor, as well as a small laundry room.