Whack The Mole (Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective 2)

“Sorry to have woken you up. But, I could have sworn I heard something.”

“You were right to call. No worries.”

“I hate that I got you out of bed for nothing.”

“It’s my job. I told you, right now I’m on call twenty-four seven until this is resolved.”

“Well…thank you.”

I catch him staring at my sweatshirt. A corner of his mouth twitches like he’s trying not to laugh. His gaze slowly goes down to my pink pajama bottoms. “Pac-Man? Isn’t that kind of old school?”

“It’s making a resurgence.”

He doesn’t say anything. Which makes me nervous.

“So, really, thank you. I wish I could make it up to you.” I glance around my kitchen. “How about I make you breakfast? I know you think I just make muffins but—”

And then it happens.

Out of nowhere, well, not completely out of nowhere because my Spidey sense warned me this would happen sooner or later, Travis kisses me.

He cups the back of my head in his big hand, leans down and softly covers my mouth with his. I admit it’s rather lovely. I haven’t kissed a lot of guys before, but I can tell he knows what he’s doing. Patient, but not too patient because just when I begin to feel restless, he urges my mouth open and I get just the tiniest hint of tongue action before he pulls away. Leaving me wanting more.

The cad.

This, of course, is an excellent reminder of why I shouldn’t get involved with Travis Fontaine. He’s much too smooth for me. Plus, I’m in love with Will. So, there’s that.

I try to act very cool and sophisticated like the kiss didn’t affect me at all.

“Let me know when you’re ready for more of that,” he says like he can see right through my act.

I cross my arms over my chest. “You’re completely shameless.”

“In what way?” he asks, amused.

“I’m…sleeping with another man, and you just waltz into my kitchen and kiss me!”

“What? You mean Cunningham?” He frowns. “That’s not the vibe I’m getting.”

“Then your vibe-meter is wrong.”

“No, it isn’t.”

Before I can respond to that outrageous statement, the door opens, and Will and Paco come in from their walk. “Hey,” Will says oblivious to what’s just happened, “anyone want breakfast? I’ll cook.”

“Travis can’t stay,” I blurt. “He just got another call he needs to respond to. But I’d love breakfast, thank you.”

At first, Travis doesn’t say anything and for one terrible second, I think he’s going to out our kiss to Will, but then he says, “Sorry to miss breakfast.” He gives me a meaningful look on his way out the door, “Call me if anything else happens.”

Will waits till Travis is gone. “You okay? You look flushed.”

“It’s no wonder after all that’s happened tonight.”

“You sure that’s it? Did Travis find something out there?”

“No, nothing.” I do not want to talk about Travis anymore, so I fake a big smile. “What about that breakfast you promised?”

Will makes pancakes and bacon and even squeezes fresh orange juice. I fill up Paco’s bowl with his dog food, and the three of us sit around in the kitchen, Will and me on stools at the counter and Paco at our feet.