The Stares of Strangers (11 page)

Chapter 22

A few days later, over morning coffee, I got an email from Officer Bouchard letting me know that Penny had packed her belongings and headed back home to California. I'm glad she came to her senses and did the right thing for a change.

I'm not sure if Jessica ever found out about her night with Caleb. The truth always has a way of surfacing however and, when it does, I can't imagine that Penny would ever be welcomed back in Bridgeport.

With the case of the missing underwear officially closed, I decided it would be a good time to broach Carter on a subject I'd been thinking about for some time.

“
How would you feel about renting an office somewhere? We are professionals, so why not have a professional office to work in? Then we could advertise and drum up some new clients?”

Carter frowned, obviously not big on the idea. “I think we do just fine as is.”

“
Well, maybe I want more than just fine. Maybe we should step it up a notch. Will you give it some thought?”

He nodded. “Okay, I'll consider it.”

“
Thank you.”

Carter stared at me from across the table, mug in hand. “And what about you? Have you given my offer any more thought?”

“
Moving in with you?” I said. “Yes, I've been thinking about it.”

He tilted his head in interest. “I just want you to know that it's a big step for me, too. I haven't lived with anyone in over a decade. I don't take it lightly but I am sure about one thing. You're the one for me, Sarah. I'm positive about that.”

I took his hand in mine and squeezed gently. “I feel the same way.”

He paused, looked into my eyes expectantly. “But the answer is no?”

“
The answer is yes.”

The End

Thank you for reading….

The next Sarah Woods Book 15 is available for pre-order here:

The Devil You Know (Sarah Woods Book 15)

Other Sarah Woods Books in the series:

An Appointment with Murder (Sarah Woods Book 1)

An Act of Deceit (Sarah Woods Book 2)

An Island of Illusions (Sarah Woods Book 3)

A Taste of Sin (Sarah Woods Book 4)

The Masque of Innocence (Sarah Woods Book 5)

The Art of Duplicity (Sarah Woods Book 6)

An Appetite for Revenge (Sarah Woods Book 7)

A Date with Death (Sarah Woods Book 8)

A weapon of Choice (Sarah Woods Book 9)

A Witness in Disguise (Sarah Woods Book 10)
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The Ties that Bind (Sarah Woods Book 11)

A Flight of Fantasy (Sarah Woods Book 12)
 

A Death in Tuscany (Sarah Woods Book 13)