“What’s next for you today?” Bodie asked as he got to his feet.
I appreciated the return to normal conversation. As much as I valued that moment of connection we’d shared, I wanted the chance to wrestle my emotions back under control.
“I want to talk to Bitty’s godson, Vincent,” I said. “He knew Freddie, at least to some degree.”
“You mean Vinny? That guy who hangs around here sometimes?”
“That’s him. Apparently, he runs a shop on East Fordham Road. I’m hoping to find him there.”
Bodie’s forehead creased, and his eyes filled with concern. “Yeah, I know his shop. You’re not planning on going there alone, are you?”
“Why?”
“He runs a pawnshop. A sketchy one.”
Bitty hadn’t mentioned that part.
“Aren’t all pawnshops sketchy?” I asked as a shiver of unease ran along my spine.
“Maybe. Vinny’s definitely is.” Bodie carried the plates and leftover pizza rolls into the kitchen. “I’d go with you, but I’ve got to be at work soon.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Promise me you won’t go there on your own?”
I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile. “I’m sure I can get someone to go with me.”
He stashed the leftover food in the fridge. “I don’t know Vinny well, but he might not take kindly to being questioned about the murder.”
“I’ll be discreet,” I said. “Other than asking a few innocent-sounding, casual questions, I’ll blend in with the crowd. Or the merchandise, if there isn’t a crowd.”
Bodie came out of the kitchen and stopped in front of me. “You, blend in? I doubt it. I bet you turn heads every time you enter a room.”
“I’m pretty sure I don’t.”
“Then the world is full of fools.” He lifted a lock of my hair and let it fall back to my shoulder. His blue eyes met mine. “Emersyn?”
“Mmm?” I couldn’t seem to breathe well enough to get an actual word out.
“I’d like to see you again really soon.”
I couldn’t look away from his entrancing blue eyes. “You will.”
He took hold of the fingers of my left hand, his skin warm against mine. “Of course, I’d like it even better if you didn’t leave.”
“I thought you had to go to work,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, even though I hadn’t intended to speak so quietly.
A hint of a grin touched his lips, drawing my attention to them.
“Not quite yet,” he whispered as he leaned in.
My breath hitched, and my eyes closed.
A burst of jarring music jolted us apart.
Chagrined, Bodie released my hand and grabbed his phone off the kitchen counter.
“Shit,” he said when he saw the screen. “Sorry. It’s my boss. It could be about my shift.”
