Diner Knock Out (A Rose Strickland Mystery Book 4) (25 page)

“I am. Looks like Henry’s having a good day.”

“I believe so.” He stood and sauntered toward me. His navy suit and starched white shirt fit his muscular body perfectly. Every step he took was graceful. A large predatory cat gliding across the room. When he stopped a few inches from me, his body heat was tangible, his spicy citrus scent divine.

“I have something for you.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a keyring with two keys, one much smaller than the other.

He was finally doing it. Letting me in. I didn’t feel the sense of triumph I thought I would. I’d goaded him into this and that’s not what I wanted. “Sullivan—”

“As soon as Henry’s one hundred percent, I’m moving into the penthouse suite at White Oak Towers. The bodyguards will live on the floor below. When you stay over it won’t feel like a frat house. It’ll just be you and me. The smaller key is for the elevator. I’ll have your palm scanned for the door. The bigger key is a backup, in case the power goes out.” Next, he removed a slip of paper. “Here’s the security code. Commit it to memory.”

The man seemed to thrive on knocking me off balance. This was more than a simple key swap. This was a huge step. Curling my fingers around the ring, the metal turned warm and the small ridges sank into my palm.

“I should have told you about the penthouse sooner,” he said. “I wanted it to be a surprise. It’s taken awhile to get everything ready, but the apartment is secure. It’s close to the diner. You can come and go as you please.” He reached out and toyed with a strand of my hair. “Or stay. Permanently. Live with me, Rose.”

“Permanently?” I echoed. Living together was a commitment. One I wasn’t sure I was ready to make.

I remembered that fortune cookie I’d eaten on my stakeout with Andre.
Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

I may never know all the secrets Thomas Malcolm Sullivan kept buried in his past. But I knew he loved me enough to trust me. At least with this. It was a huge step for him too.

“I told Jacks about us.”

His eyes changed, darkened. “And?”

“Next are my parents. Don’t say you weren’t warned.” I opened my hand and gazed down at the key. “Thank you for this. Can I think about the moving in part?”

Cupping my chin, he leaned down and kissed me softly. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be right here.”

Reader’s Discussion Guide

1.  Rose took a case behind Andre’s back. Was she justified or was it the wrong thing to do?

2.  Rose is feeling jealous of Roxy’s friendship with Sugar. How would you have handled the situation?

3.  Rose feels insecure about her relationship with Sullivan. Why?

4.  Do you respect Rose for sticking to the case or should she have dropped it after Andre found out?

5.  Rose and Andre have an unusual relationship. Since Rose has created her own family, how do you think Andre fits in? Or does he?

6.  Rose makes a lot of distinctions about right and wrong, yet the people she loves the most have a criminal past. Discuss.

7.  Sullivan’s past is a mystery. Is Rose wrong for sticking with him when he won’t share his history with her? Is love enough?

8.  Rose was reluctant to tell her family about Sullivan. Why?

9.  Roxy’s mother called to make amends. Was Roxy wrong in her response?

10.  At the end of the book, Rose is at another crossroads. What do you think she’ll do?

About the Author

As a girl, Terri L. Austin thought she’d outgrow dreaming up stories and creating imaginary friends. Instead, she’s made a career of it. She met her own Prince Charming and together they live in Missouri. She loves to hear from readers!

In Case You Missed the 1
st
Book in the Series

DINERS, DIVES & DEAD ENDS

Terri L. Austin

A Rose Strickland Mystery (#1)

As a struggling waitress and part-time college student, Rose Strickland’s life is stalled in the slow lane. But when her close friend, Axton, disappears, Rose suddenly finds herself serving up more than hot coffee and flapjacks. Now she’s hashing it out with sexy bad guys and scrambling to find clues in a race to save Axton before his time runs out.

With her anime-loving bestie, her septuagenarian boss, and a pair of IT wise men along for the ride, Rose discovers political corruption, illegal gambling, and shady corporations. She’s gone from zero to sixty and quickly learns when you’re speeding down the fast lane, it’s easy to crash and burn.

Read all about it and/or grab the book from Amazon

CLICK FOR DINERS, DIVES & DEAD ENDS

In Case You Missed the 2
nd
Book in the Series

LAST DINER STANDING

Terri L. Austin

A Rose Strickland Mystery (#2)

Rose Strickland is having a very blue Christmas.  Her friend, Janelle, is arrested for attempted murder, her sexy bad guy crush, Sullivan, is marked by a hit man, and her boss, Ma, is locked in an epic smackdown with a rival diner. 

Determined to save those she loves, Rose embarks on another investigation, and this one is more tangled than a box of last year’s tree lights.  With her eclectic gang at the ready, Rose stumbles across dead bodies, ex-cons, chop shops, jealous girlfriends, jilted lovers, and a gaggle of strippers in a battle for freedom she might not survive.

Read all about it and/or grab the book from Amazon

CLICK FOR LAST DINER STANDING

In Case You Missed the 3
rd
Book in the Series

DINER IMPOSSIBLE

Terri L. Austin

A Rose Strickland Mystery (#3)

After shunning her overbearing parents’ wealthy lifestyle, waitress and part-time college student, Rose Strickland, is drawn back into their world when she tries to prove the impossible: the innocence of the town’s crooked police chief. He’s suspected in the gruesome death of Delia Cummings, his secretary and mistress, and all the evidence points to him.

While she tracks down clues with the aid of her anime-loving bestie, Rose’s pal, Axton, and his Klingon gang are feuding with their Starfleet rivals. Things get hairier than a pile of well-fed Tribbles, so Rose gets involved. In between interrogating Trekkies and quizzing socialites at high tea, she discovers the secrets Delia Cummings took to her grave. Suspects abound, but when Chief Mathers threatens to bring down Rose’s criminally mischievous and maybe boyfriend, Sullivan, she makes it her mission to find the real killer before Sullivan finds himself in prison.

Read all about it and/or grab the book from Amazon

CLICK FOR DINER IMPOSSIBLE

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