Coming Soon / Hidden Gems. Jo Leigh

met for drinks or dinner whenever they could.

      She seemed distracted, which was understandable. They’d had an extraordinary number of pets recently, all of them wanting the kind of specialized services Hush was famous for. Home-baked treats, massages, walks of course, and playtime in the PetQuarters. Mercy had even hired special help to get through the month as most of her personal time was spent caring for Bobbi Tamony’s two Chihuahuas.

      “You were with that policeman this morning, right?”

      “Detective Milligan? Yeah, I was helping him with some details about the case.”

      “Uh-huh, anyway, I don’t know if I should bother him— No, it’s nothing. Sorry, I’ll leave you alone.”

      “Wait. Don’t go. What was it you wanted to tell him?”

      Mercy also wore the Hush uniform, but her pink bow tie had little black puppies on it. She had bigger pockets on her jacket, too, to hold all the biscuits. What made her look completely adorable though was that she wore her long blond hair up in a ponytail, held there with a big pink bow that matched her tie. So cute. But Mia could tell she wasn’t her usual perky self.

      “I don’t know. It’s probably nothing.” Mercy stepped closer to the desk. “It just that when I went up last night to deliver the pups, I could tell Bobbi had been crying.”

      “Was anyone with her?”

      “No, but she was acting really odd. She shoved a bunch of stuff under her blanket when I walked into the room.”

      “It could have just been, you know, Hush stuff.”

      Mercy waved her hand. “Oh, heck no. She leaves her vibrators out on display on top of her night tables. She was really bothered by something. I asked if I could do anything and she said no, but…”

      “What?”

      “I saw the guy that was murdered coming out of her room that night.”

      “The night he was killed?”

      Mercy nodded. “I have no idea what he was doing there, or if it means anything. You think I should tell him? The detective?”

      “Yeah. I think so. It could mean something.”

      “All right. I’ll find him before he goes home. Thanks.”

      “No problem. Let me know if there’s anything else you think of. I mean, it’s probably easier for me to catch the detective.”

      “Uh-huh,” Mercy gave her a look that said she wasn’t fooled in the least. “As soon as this madness is over, you and I will have ourselves a talk.” She leaned over the edge of the desk. “He is pretty damn hot.”

      Mia felt a blush heat her cheeks. Lucky for her, the phone rang. “Concierge, this is Mia, how may I help you?”

      Mercy shook her head as she left and Mia was quite certain that if Mercy, who was far more intuitive about puppies than people, knew about her thing for Bax, then the entire staff at Hush knew as well. Great.

      7

      “YOU’RE HERE.”

      Bax nodded then got up from the pony wall in the Hush garage. “I wanted to make sure you got home safely.”

      Mia approached him, a little bit thrilled that he was here and a little bit leery as to why. “You didn’t have to. The paps don’t seem to care that much about me today.”

      “Fools.”

      “Oh,” she said, but she didn’t think he heard her. This was so odd. It was like some elaborate dance but she didn’t know the steps. He comes close, he backs away, he tells her it’s all about the job, then says, “Fools.” Not fair. And still, she was drawn to him. Terribly so.

      She touched the sleeve of his leather jacket. As June was coming into its own the days and nights were becoming warmer. Soon that leather would be too much for the season and he’d put the jacket away. She bet he looked great in a T-shirt. “It’s nice of you.”

      “I would have preferred driving you home, but all I can do tonight is see you to the subway. I’ve got to go to the precinct.”

      “Did Mercy find you?”

      “Neither mercy nor grace, unfortunately. I’ve been stuck with sloth and greed all day.”

      Mia grinned. “I meant Mercy, the pet concierge.”

      “Right. Uh, no. No, she didn’t.”

      “She told me a couple of things you should know. Come on, walk me to the subway and I’ll fill you in.”

      He didn’t take her hand, but she thought he wanted to. She sure did. Instead, she did what she knew was safe. Told him all she could remember about her conversation with Mercy. She was terribly professional and when they were standing at the subway steps and he looked at her with his deep brown eyes, she melted like an ice cream cone in summer. At least on the inside.

      She thought about him all the way to Brooklyn Heights. Even the murder didn’t stand a chance of chasing Bax away. As she climbed into bed at ten-thirty, she had to admit it. He wasn’t just a crush. No crush had ever made her feel like this. She was a goner.

      DESPITE THE FACT that it was almost lunchtime, Mia didn’t do the sensible thing and relax in the break room. Oh, no. She decided to steal away to the trailers and deliver a rather large fruit and muffin basket that had been left for Danny Austen. Maybe she could get him talking. He might open up to her more than he would to a police detective, right?

      She made a quick restroom stop just to make sure she looked her best, then hauled the basket from behind the desk and headed out.

      The security guard at the exit was sweet, holding the door for her and asking if he could be of help, but this was something she needed to do alone.

      The garage was pretty empty, which meant this trip was probably a waste of time. Usually, when there was no one by the trailers it meant they were all on the set. Oh, well. She would still deliver the basket.

      She had to switch hands twice before she found his particular motor home because the basket was so heavy. Thankfully, she wouldn’t have to carry it much further. Resting on the step in front of the door, she knocked. “Mr. Austen? I have a delivery.”

      She waited. Thought about breaking down and buying something from the vending machines in the break room. Something naughty.

      Another knock. “Mr. Austen? Delivery.”

      She waited for half a mo, then tried the door. It was open. She’d seen the way the movie people were with these so-called trailers. They were like offices, and people seemed to go in and out without much concern. Still, she poked her head in. Nothing.

      With a push and a heave, she went inside, amazed again at the opulence. She could have easily lived there. Heck, they could have taken off the wheels and she’d have been happy.

      Mia put the basket on the table. Walking toward the back of the motor home, she touched the marble countertops. They didn’t seem like a veneer. One thing she hadn’t seen in the empty trailer was the bathroom.

      She went back and opened the first door, but that was just a closet. Then she opened the second door.

      And screamed.

      Danny Austen, naked as the day he was born, was in a very tiny shower with another very naked man. They were both all soapy and foamy, which made sense because there was no water running to wash them off.

      She jumped back and slammed the door shut.

      The stupid thing bounced and flew open again, giving her an even more unfortunate view.

      One more time, she shut the door, catching it this time with both hands.

      She was out of that trailer almost as quickly as Piper was going to fire her.

      THERE