The Telltale Turtle (The Pet Psychic Mysteries) (33 page)

"Don't leave me out! I'm hoping you give Mr. Perfect Partner Dwight lots of furry clients so that you can show me all the sights," Kinsley said to her sister.

Turning back to the men, Kinsley offered them a winsome smile. "See, I'm brand new to town-a transplant from the North." She then paused in order to devour her frozen custard with gusto. James was amazed at how fast she could eat. After she licked a stream of custard from the back of her hand, Kinsley added, "but don't hold being a former fast-paced New Yorker against me."

"I don't think I could hold much against you, sugar," Willy said in appreciation while watching the beautiful young woman polish off her frozen treat.

After downing a cup of water, Kinsley wiggled the fingers on her left hand in farewell and headed back outside with Murphy and Parker.

"Did you get a load of those blonde bimbos?" Lindy squawked as she entered Custard Cottage a few seconds later.

"They're kind of hard to miss," James said with admiration. "And I don't think they're bimbos."

Lindy chose to ignore James. "I saw your mail truck outside, Bennett, and thought I'd join you. I need some sugar to perk me up after finding out that Barbie Number One is going to be joining the staff at Blue Ridge High."

Bennett gave Lindy an odd look. "What's the problem with that?"

Lindy thumped her fist on the counter. "What's the problem? I finally decided that I'm going to ask Principal Chavez out ... well, by the first of the year anyway. And now how am I supposed to do that? I'd be competing with a Heidi Klum lookalike. Every man in this town is going to be licking his chops over that girl."

"Ask him out anyway, Lindy," James advised.

"It's about damn time you did," Bennett commented. "You've been dreaming about that man for over a year, so why wait until January?"

Lindy ordered a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and caramel drizzles. "Because I want to lose just a few more pounds. Especially now, with that young Christie Brinkley on staff. I need a boost of confidence."

"You don't need to lose any more weight," James offered. "You look terrific." It was the truth. Lindy had had her long black hair cut just above her shoulders. Layers snipped at sharp angles softened Lindy's round face, and she wore subdued makeup that enhanced her latte-hued skin and enormous dark eyes. Though Lindy was still quite curvaceous, especially around the bosom and hips, she had lost enough weight that her new and improved hourglass figure was strikingly voluptuous. Lindy had gone from being pudgy all over to being soft in all the right places.

"I wouldn't kick you out of bed for eatin' pork rinds," Willy teased as Lindy blushed.

"That's two resolutions for the new year then." Bennett raised his coffee cup in the air. "Here's to you bagging your man, Lindy. Me? I'm trying out for jeopardy!"

Willy looked at James. "And what about you, Professor? You five always do stuff together, so you must be planning something big, too."

James shook his head and stared fixedly at the light brown drips swimming around in the bottom of his mug. "Not me. I'm fine with the status quo."

But he was lying. There was something he would very much like to change, and for once it had nothing to do with his appearance. Suddenly, James felt the beginnings of a major headache coming on. He never used to get headaches, but lately they had been plaguing him more and more frequently. Rubbing his temples, he said goodbye to his friends and climbed into his old white Bronco.

For a moment, he gazed at his own reflection in the rearview mirror and then answered Willy's question truthfully. "I'd certainly like to change something. Yes, indeed. I'd like to know what a guy's gotta do to score with his girlfriend."

Bestselling authors and award-winning journalists, Joyce and Jim Lavene, are a husband and wife team who started out writing novels in 1999 and have had more than forty books published. They enjoy spending time with their family (three children, five grandchildren) and their cat, Quincy who `helped' them write The Telltale Turtle. Other books for Midnight Ink include Swapping Paint and Hooked Up. Visit them at their website:

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