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

any special details you want on the documents, like cities, names, and dates.”

“Oh. Right. It may take me a half hour or so to collect that information.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Always come to me prepared, Sid the social worker. Otherwise yer just wasting me time.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ll let it slide this once. But if ya come back fer more, make sure ya remember.”

“I’ll remember.”

“Get the info to me quick. Within the hour. The sooner ya do, the sooner I can get started.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll text ya with a meetin’ place fer delivery in two days. Maybe three.”

Maybe tree. His Irish brogue made her smile, despite the nervousness nibbling at her stomach.

“Thank you, Mr. O’Dwyer.”

Another pause. Like he was thinking it over.

“The name’s Ronan.”

Before she could respond, the line went dead. Sidney stared at the cellphone for a moment and then got up to go find Ann. She had cities and names and dates to choose for her and her children, and Sidney had every intention of getting that information to Ronan O’Dwyer as quickly as she could.

Once she’d passed on Ann’s chosen information to O’Dwyer, Sidney got to work. Her day was fairly routine, and she was more than happy about that. She’d had enough bad surprises to last a good long while.

She’d just delivered a bowl of chicken noodle soup upstairs to Tyneesha, who was finally on the mend, and was heading down the stairs when she saw Zoe open the front door.

“Oh, my goodness!” Zoe exclaimed.

“You know, it didn’t dawn on me until right now that this might not be a great idea.”

There was no mistaking that slight southern drawl, and the sound of it made Sidney’s heart skip, trip, and flip.

“Isaac?”

She hurried down the last few stairs and rushed to the door.

One look and she immediately understood Zoe’s exclamation.

He stood there holding the biggest, most beautiful bouquet of pale pink roses she’d ever seen. The kind with the pale pink outer petals and the darker pink centers. The kind she’d told him she favored when they were walking along the beach.

“What have you done?”

She reached through the open doorway and practically pulled him inside.

“Well, I took an hour for lunch and thought I’d spend it with you. So I got us a couple of those Cobb salads you like so well from the deli.” He held up a bag in one hand. “And as I was leaving there, I saw this little florist shop, and I remembered what you said about your favorite roses.”

“Isaac…”

“I described them to the florist, and she gave me these. I hope they’re the right kind.”

“They are exactly the right kind. They’re beautiful.”

She took the flowers from him and then kissed his lips.

Zoe quietly cleared her throat.

“Oh.” Nervous laughter bubbled out of her and she gestured to her boss. “Zoe, this is my fiancé, Isaac Taylor. Ike, this is Zoe Ridley, my boss.”

“Hello, ma’am.”

Isaac kept both hands on the bag containing their salads and made no move to shake Zoe’s hand.

“I believe we’ve actually met once or twice before.”

“We have?” Zoe sounded shocked. “I mean, I know you were here for the whole Tom Billings debacle, but I was unconscious then.”

Isaac chuckled. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

“You and me both.”

“I was actually referring to several years back when I was still in uniform. I worked in the domestic violence unit for a short time. I was here at Hope House on a few calls back then.”

“Oh, gosh. Is that right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Small world and all that.”

“Yes.”

“You know, you do actually look familiar.”

“You’ve probably seen him sitting on my desk.” Sidney smiled at her.

Zoe laughed.

“That’s right! You have a picture of him sitting there. I see it everyday!”

They all laughed.

“Well, it’s nice to finally meet you, Detective. Sidney talks about you all the time. And congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you. I hope I’m not interrupting your work. Like I said, I didn’t even think that this might not be a good idea until I was here.”

“Nonsense. Actually, I think the residents feel safer with a cop in the building. Plus, it might help them to see a healthy relationship. Enjoy your lunch.”

She left them and headed for the kitchen.

Sidney looked up at him.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve called and asked if this was okay.”

“Are you kidding? Isaac, this is the sweetest surprise.”

“You sure?”

“Yes! Thank you for the roses. They’re so lovely.”

He ran his thumb over her cheek.

“They pale next to you, darlin’.”

Did women actually swoon in real life? She needed to know because if not, then she was probably about to faint or something.

“Come with me.”

She took his hand and led him into the office and over to her desk.

“Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

She took the roses into the kitchen where Zoe was helping Ann and Beth to prepare lunch for their little ones.

“Do we have any vases around here by any chance?”

“Oh, Sidney. Those are gorgeous!” Ann stared at the bouquet in delight.

“Did your fella give ’em to you?” Beth asked, smiling.

Zoe handed her a vase from under the sink.

“He did. Thanks.”

She filled the vase with water and placed the roses in. She leaned in and inhaled the fresh fragrant scent.

“Is he always so sweet to you?”

Beth’s tone was one of wonder, like someone had just told her that unicorns exist. The sound of it tugged at Sidney’s heart. Had the woman really never experienced a man being kind to her?

Sidney looked her in the eyes.

“Yes, he is. And it’s… taken some time to get used to. In all honesty, I’m still not. Used to it, I mean. I’m afraid to upset him sometimes, because… well, we all know why. But then I remind myself that he’s not Damien. He’s not going to react with his fists, no matter what I say or do.”

“How do you know that for certain?”

The fear in Beth’s voice was heartbreaking.

Sidney glanced down at her roses and thought about Ike. About the goodness inside his heart, the love and gentleness.

“I just know.”

She left the kitchen and headed back to the office, where