Hot Six (Stephanie Plum 6)

“Did you tell him to get in touch with me?”

“I didn't get a chance. Besides, if you're leaving messages on his pager, he's getting them. He just doesn't want to answer.”Morelli pulled me flat against him. “You smell like a pine forest.”

“Must be the sap.”

He put his hands to my waist and kissed me at the base of my neck. “Very sexy.”

Morelli thought everything was sexy.

“Why don't you come back to the house with me?” he said. “I'll kiss your skinned knee and make it all better.”

Tempting. “What about Grandma?”

“She'll never notice. She's probably sound asleep.”

A second-story window opened in the apartment building. My window. And Grandma stuck her head out. “Is that you, Stephanie? And who's that with you? Is that Joe Morelli?”

Joe waved at her. “Hello, Mrs. Mazur.”

“What are you standing out there for?” Grandma wanted to know. “Why don't you come in and have some dessert? We stopped at the supermarket on the way home from the viewing, and I bought a layer cake.”

“Thanks,” Joe said, “but I have to be getting home. I have an early shift tomorrow.”

“Wow,” I said, “passing up layer cake!”

“I'm not hungry for cake.”

My pelvic muscles contracted.

“Well, I'm cutting a piece for myself,” Grandma said. “I'm starved. Viewings always make me hungry.” The window closed, and Grandma disappeared.

“You're not coming home with me, are you?” Morelli said.

“Do you have cake?”

“I've got something better.”

This was true. I knew it for a fact.

The window opened again, and Grandma stuck her head out. “Stephanie, you've got a phone call. Do you want me to tell him to call back later?”

Morelli raised his eyebrows. “Him?”

Both of us thinking, Ranger.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“Some guy named Brian.”

“Must be Brian Simon,” I said to Morelli. “I had to whine at him to get a deal for Carol Zabo.”

“This is about Carol Zabo?”

“God, I hope so.” That, or Brian Simon was calling in his marker. “I'll be right there,” I yelled to Grandma. “Get his number, and tell him I'll call him back.”

“You're breaking my heart,” Morelli said.

“Grandma will only be here for a couple more days, and then we can celebrate.”