Duke stared for another beat. Gerald Karlson had taken that Mustang. And left it who knew where. He blew out a breath.
The elderly man stood abruptly and spilled his coffee on the side table. “Mike? Where’s—”
“Shhh, it’s okay, Grandpa.” Tom moved to help calm his grandfather. He glared back at Duke. “Look what you’ve done now—he’s getting agitated. He doesn’t even know who I am. So unless you want me to call this in for harassment, leave now.”
The last thing he needed was a harassment suit in a place that wasn’t even his jurisdiction. Duke yanked the door open and left. That man knew where the car was. But how would Duke get those answers out of him?
Zuri’s face came to mind.
Somehow, she’d convinced a bunch of strangers to sing Christmas carols at the airport. She had a way of sneaking past one’s defenses and making them feel comfortable. She could probably draw a confession out of this guy too.
And maybe it wouldn’t be so bad spending a little time with her. Last night as they’d walked through the town, her presence had filled up the empty spaces he’d grown used to. Even the Christmas music she listened too wasn’t so bad. It reminded him of his mother singing along to Bing Crosby.
And he liked it.
So there. He could admit it.
And if Zuri Milano had gotten past his own walls, she could certainly charm some answers out of Gerald Karlson.
THURSDAY, 11:14 A.M.
Zuri stood in her cabin, staring at the dress Vivien had insisted on leaving with her. It was only a dress. A gorgeous, blue chiffon dress.
So why did the thought of putting it on make her break out in hives?
A sharp knock sounded. She’d take whatever it was over this stupid gown.
Zuri grabbed her scarf and wrapped it around her, then opened her door to find Duke standing there in his typical handsome glower. But she knew better now. That hard-clenched, chiseled jaw did not scare her. He was the same guy who’d searched all over town to find her hot cocoa. And marshmallows.
“I was coming to find you. Looks like you beat me to it,” Zuri said.
The corner of his lips quirked up, almost like he was happy to see her. “Hi.” His gaze locked on hers, and his brown eyes warmed.
For some silly reason, heat flushed her neck. “So…what’s next on our case? I just had breakfast with Vivien, and so far, she doesn’t know anything about the Mustang. But I put the word out to all the others in the wedding party. Everyone has their eyes open.”
“We might not need them. I have a lead, but I need your help.”
“Of course.” Duke needing her? Her curiosity was stoked. “Why don’t you come in out of the cold.”
He stepped in, bringing with him the crisp evergreen scent of the woods and that hint of citrus and clove he wore so well.
“So, what’s the lead you found?”
“I asked other guests here about the Mustang, and a woman said she saw an elderly man driving a red car yesterday afternoon.”
“That’s great! We have an eyewitness. Now we just have to find the man.”
“I found him. But the problem is he doesn’t remember anything.”
“What do you mean?”
“Gerald Karlson and his grandson are staying in cabin seven. Yesterday, I believe Gerald took the car and drove it around, but he doesn’t remember where. He’s the guy the deputies talked about finding wandering Highway 61. The grandson says his memory comes and goes. When I tried talking to him, he spouted out some nonsense about banana splits and his dead wife. And then he got upset.”
“Let me guess. You went in there and demanded answers, didn’t you?”
His mouth tightened. “Maybe. But he obviously stole the car. He’s got the answers we need.”
She could see it all in her head—Duke’s glower and a sweet old man. Duke didn’t know his own power. No wonder he didn’t get far.
“He might’ve taken the car, but you can’t interrogate a confused elderly man like he’s a common thug on the street. You need to make him feel comfortable. Like it’s a friendly chat.”
“Yeah, I figured that out. I was hoping you would talk to him.” A hint of vulnerability in his rock-solid demeanor sent a fluttery feeling through her whole body.
He trusted her with this, and it felt…nice. Really nice.
“Come on. Let’s go talk to Gerald and find our car. And my makeup case. Then we’ll have this wedding back on track.”
Duke grimaced.
“What? What was that look?” Zuri stopped in the middle of putting on her coat.
He closed his eyes and pinched his nose. “I…uh…I also might have lost the ring.” He winced as if the admission gave him physical pain.
“You didn’t!” Without thinking, Zuri reached out and laid her hand on his chest. His well-honed, muscular chest.
“I know, I know. But I’m pretty sure it’s in the Mustang. It was in my coat pocket yesterday when I drove here. I think it fell out on the floor of the car when I tossed my coat on the passenger seat.”
He probably didn’t realize it, but he’d covered her hand with his own during his earnest plea and squeezed. The warmth of it made Zuri’s knees go weak.
What in the world was happening to her? Duke Lowry just might be the last man she should fall for—and not just because of his loathing of Christmas. But…well, she could start with about a thousand miles between here and New York City.
And then there was, well, Damien. And the wounds he’d left.
No. She didn’t care what Vivien said. She didn’t need a date.
She just wanted a friend.
With reluctance, she slipped her hand out from under his.
The ring. The wedding. She needed to focus. “Well, then we’d better go find that Mustang.” She led the way outside.
When they knocked on the door of cabin seven, a guy probably in his thirties with dark hair and a slender build, wearing a red-and-green flannel shirt, opened the door. He immediately scowled at Duke. “I thought I told you to leave.”
This must be the grandson. And boy did Zuri have some smoothing over to do. She gave him the brightest grin she could manage. “I’m Zuri. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“I’m…Tom.” His focus swung from Duke to Zuri.
She placed her hands over her heart and gushed. “Tom, I have to say, Duke told me all about how you’re spending your holiday here taking care of your grandfather, and I think that is so sweet.”
Tom actually blushed. “Thanks. I try.”
“No, really. How many people would do that? And I know you’re just looking out for him, but we really need to find that missing Mustang. Could we please talk to your grandpa again?”
“He tried and it didn’t go so well.” He glared at Duke, who thankfully kept his mouth shut. Though that flare of his nostrils said it was taking a lot of effort.
“What if I talk to him? I promise to be gentle.” Zuri stopped just short of batting her eyelashes at him.
Tom considered for a moment and eventually opened up the door farther. “Fine. But the second he gets upset, you leave.”
“We will.” Zuri followed Tom inside. “I promise.”