Murders & Romance: A Psychic Detective Romantic Mystery (Isaac Taylor Mysteries Book 5) by Lashell Collins (ready player one ebook .TXT) 📗

with her keys at the front door when it suddenly swung open and Isaac stood there smiling at her, those sexy dimples welcoming her home.

“I thought I heard your car.”

He reached for her hand and pulled her in for a slow, knee-buckling kiss.

“How was your day, darlin’?”

Sidney smiled at him and took note of the casual way he was dressed — comfy pair of jeans that were ripped at one knee, plain white t-shirt that emphasized his biceps and his impressive torso, and bare feet. He looked relaxed and sexy and completely comfortable in his own skin. A state she knew he only reached when he was alone with her.

“It was… interesting.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Mmm hmm.”

“Well, I want to hear all about it. But first, why don’t you go get out of your work clothes while I finish up dinner prep?”

Sidney inhaled, taking a generous sniff.

“I don’t smell dinner being cooked. What are we having?”

Ike chuckled. “That is a surprise. Just go get into something comfortable and meet me in the sunroom.”

“The sunroom? Are we eating in there?”

“No more questions. Off you go.”

He gently prodded her along, playfully swatting her tush when she moved.

She loved when he was in this mood. Frisky, fun-loving, and just a little mischievous. Perfectly relaxed with himself. That’s when his real personality was able to shine.

She entered their bedroom and made quick work of getting out of her work clothes. Alfred Hitchcock leapt onto the bed with a loud meow, demanding attention.

“Hey, there, Mr. Hitchcock. How’s the best kitty in the world today, huh?”

Sidney gave the kitten a liberal scratch and was rewarded with a deep contented purr.

She pulled on a comfy pair of yoga pants and one of Ike’s many long-sleeved t-shirts. Then she slipped on a pair of flip-flop sandals and left the bedroom.

In the sunroom she smiled at Isaac.

“Reporting as ordered.”

“Requested,” Ike corrected her. “I requested, not ordered.”

“Tomato, tomahto.”

“Well, one’s a lot nicer than the other, and I would never try to order you to do anything.”

“Duly noted. Now feed me. I’m starving.”

Her stomach growled right on cue, like it was backing her up, and they both laughed. Isaac took her hand and led her outside to the patio.

When he side-stepped the small café-style table sitting there and walked down into the yard, Sidney wondered what was going on. It didn’t take her long to figure it out.

On the back lawn, he’d spread out a red and white plaid blanket, beside which she spotted a small bucket of ice that cradled a bottle of something sparkling. Two champagne flutes sat at the ready.

In the center of the blanket, spread out like a feast, was a large charcuterie board piled with several different cured meats, an assortment of cheeses, fancy crackers and baguette slices, fresh strawberries, grapes, thin slices of pear, and fresh figs, dried apricots, cream cheese stuffed olives, marinated artichoke hearts, and walnuts sprinkled into every tiny nook. It was both breathtaking and mouth-watering. And so artistic it made her want to weep.

“Isaac!”

Her voice was all breathy and girly, even to her own ears, but it couldn’t be helped.

“How did you do this?”

“I’d like to say I slaved in the kitchen for hours, but we both know that’d be a lie.”

Sidney burst into excited giggles.

“I did, however, spend an hour or so looking up romantic date ideas on the Internet. And then I annoyed my sister and my sister-in-law until they agreed to help me. Does that count?”

Sidney stared up at him. He was so damn cute when he was unsure of himself, all bashful and sexy.

“Yes. That definitely counts.”

“Whew!”

Still holding her hand, he stepped onto the blanket and folded his long legs, gently pulling her down with him. They settled on the blanket and Sidney got a better look at their picnic.

“This looks absolutely delicious! Did you buy it somewhere?”

“Come on, now.”

His southern accent dropped heavy, and Sidney grinned.

“Why would I do that when we have a chef in the family?”

“Ah. It’s all making sense now. Bree is the artist of this masterpiece.” She popped a walnut into her mouth and watched Ike pour them each a glass of the non-alcoholic champagne.

“Well, honestly… I did call her to ask if she knew where I could buy something like this. And she offered to make one for us. I tried my best to decline. I told her I didn’t want to bug her or interfere with baby Isla’s schedule or anything. But she insisted. Said for me to think of it as a thank you for getting her and the baby through that crazy delivery.”

“Aww, that was sweet of her. And so are these figs. Oh, my God, this is all so good!”

Isaac laughed. “I was going to offer up a toast before we dug in, but I guess that’s out.”

Sidney laughed out loud.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m just hungry.” She held up her glass. “What shall we drink to?”

Ike held up his glass and stared at her with those mesmerizing light grey eyes of his.

“To the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Sidney’s heart melted to the point she thought it might ooze from her pores and seep into the blanket.

“Isaac.”

She lifted a hand and brushed her fingertips over the lingering bruise at her right cheek.

Sidney was no stranger to bruises on her face. She’d suffered that and more at the hands of her former husband. But she’d never had a man stare at her in that state and tell her she was beautiful.

Isaac took her hand, gently pulling it away from her bruise. He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them. Then he leaned in, brushing his lips over her cheek.

“You are the springtime, Sidney. The sunshine and the soft breeze. You are my everything, darlin’. The most beautiful woman in the world.”

He lightly clinked his champagne flute to hers and took a sip, staring into her eyes, and Sidney’s belly quivered. Who was this man? This amazingly sweet, smart, sexy man who loved her. Where had he come from? And