Old rivalries and long-buried passions are reignited by a Valentines Day murder in this classic mystery by New York Times bestselling author B.J. Daniels.
Jack McAllister is pulled right back to his past when he returns to his hometown. As the sheriff of Rivers Edge, Montana, he is called on to solve the gruesome murder of former classmate Peggy Kane, secretary to the resort communitys most prominent citizenand Jacks high school rivalOliver Sanders. The case is further complicated by the presence of Jacks former sweetheart, Detective Tempest Bailey. Jack and Tempest will have to reconcile old feelings and untangle a complicated web of deceit to catch the killer and get justice for the past.
Praise for B.J. Daniels
STOLEN MOMENTS
Suspense dominates the pages of this book. Readers wont want to put it down...worth every second of reading, even if it means losing a few hours sleep!
Rendezvous
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
A mystery of the highest order, this is a must read.
Rendezvous
MYSTERY BRIDE
Oh, what fun! Enjoy!
Rendezvous
The Lovebirds
B.J. Daniels
www.millsandboon.co.uk
Acknowledgments
With special thanks to former Gallatin County Coroner Rob Myers for his expertise when it comes to corpses; to fellow writers Carmen Lassiter and Judy Kinnaman for their input and encouragement; and as always, to my loving husband, Parker.
CONTENTS
Cover
Back Cover Text
Praise
Title Page
Acknowledgement
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
Extract
Copyright
CHAPTER ONE
PEGGY KANE GLARED at the string of naked pink cupids fluttering over the floral shop counter. Lovebirds? she demanded into the cell phone as she turned her back to the cupidsand the clerk.
Yes. Oliver Sanders sounded distracted. She could imagine him behind his big mahogany desk loosening his tie, his suit jacket already off and hanging neatly over the back of his chair, the scent of his expensive cologne mingling with the rich smell of leather and wood.
I should have thought of them before, he said. She could hear the scrape of a pen on paper. He must be signing the letters shed typed for him before
he sent her to buy Valentines Day presents for his wife. You got the good chocolate right, the stuff from Bulgaria or whatever?
Belgium. Yes. Only the best for Mitzy Baxter Sanders. I went to the little shop you told me to go to.
And the flowers? Peggy could tell by his tone that hed stopped what he was doing and was finally giving her his undivided attention. You didnt forget flowers?
He didnt call her Miss Efficiency for nothing. Roses. Red Beauties. Two dozen. They are the largest, reddest and sweetest ones you can buy.
She could hear the smile of approval in his voice. I knew I could count on you. And youve got the key I gave you for the elevator to the penthouse. Youre going to have to hurry to get everything there before she gets home. It has to be perfect. You know how important tonight is.
She knew. It will be, she said glancing at her watch. How was she expected to get everything to the hotel before Mitzy got home, she wanted to know, but didnt ask, reminding herself how lucky she was. The day shed become Oliver Sanders secretary, her dreams had finally begun to come true.
She hung up and asked the florist behind the counter where she could find lovebirds in a resort town like Rivers Edge, Montana.
Theres a new pet shop in that mall on the way to the ski hill, the starry-eyed young woman told her. Roses and lovebirds?
Peggy nodded as she gathered up all of her purchases.
Oh, how sweet and so-o-o-o romantic! the clerk cooed.
Yeah. Peggy batted away one of the cupids hanging over the door as she left, sick to death of hearts and flowers. Shed spent years of watching other women get boxes filled with chocolate and big, bright bouquets in pretty vases.
Oh, look, I got flowers! Here, smell them!
Smell them?
Peggy swore under her breath. What sadist, she wanted to know, had come up with a holiday that so flaunted the fact you didnt have anyone? Wasnt it bad enough that all year long someone was trying to fix you up with blind dates? That your mother probably thought you were a lesbian since you were thirty-two and manless? That the man of your dreams was married to someone else and buying her all the wonderful Valentines Day presents youd ever dreamed of? And some presents you hadnt even thought of? Like lovebirds?
Lovebirds! She bought a peach-colored pair, trying not to gag at the sight of them cuddled together before she covered them. Then with her car full, she headed for The Riverside.
The Riverside was once a stagecoach stop in the middle of nowhere until the ski hill went in and Rivers Edge was born as a winter ski and summer fishing resort. Oliver Sanderss father, Otto, bought the massive stone building and turned it into an elegant old-style hotel complete with a penthouse that overlooked the town, the ski hill and the river.
Peggy slipped past the desk clerk, a fastidious man in a blue and gold uniform who was busy on the phone but motioned frantically for her to wait for a bellhop to help her. Luckily for her, both the clerk and bellhop were busy with a busload of Minnesota skiers.