“Fiona gets a call from a lawyer up in Grand Rapids about a month ago that an old, rich man—a guy she maybe met once—left her some property. Turns out it’s that old antiques store at the north end of town. You know, on that little winding street near the lake? OnGertrude?”
“Oh, yes, I know the place,” Baxter replied. “Your sister is the new owner? God, I hope she cleans the place up. It’s kind of aneyesore.”
“Well, she’s just waiting to get through probate and then she’ll have the keys—another couple weeks probably. And, presumably, she’ll be here in town a lot more often.” Ethan cut a glance at Declan. “Don’t get any ideas about FiFi,bro.”
“Who, me? Don’t you think I’ve got my hands full enough with a teenager? I don’t need another woman disrupting my life,” Declan replied with alaugh.
Besides, he had his eye on a sexy, dark-haired innkeeper, not a lush, red-headed gypsy. “Anyway, I’m glad to hear that things have remained calm around here and with Diana since all those incidents up at Jean Fickler’s house, Ethan. Sounds like Wicks Hollow is back to being its quiet, sleepyself.”
Which was the way he liked it, having a fifteen-year-old daughter to raise in it. “So, hey, Bax, mind if I watch the rest of the game up here?” Declan asked. “You’ve got one hell of a view going foryou.”
And best of all, there weren’t any clingy pom moms breathing theair.
* * *
Leslie was sobusy serving free tea samples she completely missed the halftime show—which included pom squad, marching band (playing a bunch of eighties songs that had been re-popularized byGlee), and Mayor Underwhite announcing the Homecomingcourt.
Fortunately, things settled down once the game started again, and she was able to take a break, leaning a hip against one of Orbra’s tables as she tried out a sample of the tea herself. She’d been working so hard that she’d taken off her down vest and handwarmers after a while, but now that she wasn’t moving as much, Leslie pulled the vest backon.
“You’re going to have to get moving on things,” Cherry said to her as she picked up her own cup of tea. “Or you’re going to miss theboat.”
“What are you talking about?” Leslie was genuinelyconfused.
“With Declan. That was Emily Delton with him when he came up to the table—didn’t you see her? The tall-ish blond with the big boobs?” Cherry said. “She practically dragged him away—did you seethat?”
Leslie shrugged. “Well, it sounds like they’re seeing each other. I’m not going to step on anyone’s toes, you know. Remember, I’m new in town and I’ve got a business to start up. No sense in pissing off another businessowner.”
Nevertheless, she had to admit a twinge of disappointment at having her suspicions confirmed. She had noticed the pretty woman standing next to Declan, but that was only after she’d met his eyes and felt a delicious sizzle of connection there. Her lady parts still tingled at thememory.
And besides, he hadn’t really seemedwithEmily. He was just standing next to her; there was a subtle difference. But maybe Cherry had seen something Lesliemissed.
“So, how did it go today?” Orbra edged over and inserted herself into the conversation. Like Leslie and Cherry, she was wearing a warm sweater, gloves, and a hat. But she also sported a frilly pink and white apron emblazoned withOrbra’s Tea House: The Hot Pot Spot.“Did Iva come over this morning? Did she sense any ghosts? Did you show her thespeakeasy?”
“She claimed she felt a definite chill in the air, and some sort of presence,” Leslie replied, her tone very neutral. She wasn’t about to raise a brow at anyone who claimed they sensed a supernatural presence—not after what she’d seen last night. “But that wasit.”
Nor was she ready to tell anyone else about the ghostly figure she’d seen. She was almost regretting having confessed it to Declan, even though he’d been so chill aboutit.
“Did John Fischer come today too?” Cherry asked in a sly tone. “If you lose your chance with Declan, you can always go forhim.”
“I thoughtyou were interested in being a cougar to the younger novelist,” Leslie retorted. What was up with her aunt interfering in her love life? “I’m not going to stand in your way. He is very nice, and not bad looking. Go for it,auntie.”
“And—he’sfamous. Andrich.And he probably knows Tom Cruise because of all those action movies,” Orbrasaid.
As Leslie was pretty much over Tom Cruise, and she had had her own brush with being famous—not to mention somewhat rich—none of these reasons made John Fischer particularly appealing to her. However, she didn’t deny he was charming and pleasant, and when he’d showed up today at Shenstone House, she noticed his beard had been trimmed into something less bushy and wild. He’d looked less like a mountain man and more like a college professor, even though he’d been wearing a plaid flannel shirt andjeans.
Though he didn’t have the muscular build Declan had, John Fischer was tall and lanky—without an ounce of fat on him. She wondered how he managed that if he was a writer and spent all day on thecomputer.
In fact, she thought he’d been about to ask her out when Iva interrupted and changed the subject, giddy with her exploration of the speakeasy. Not that Leslie could blameher.
“Did you ask him about his books?” Orbra demanded. “Did you find out what he’s working on next? I’m dying to know whether Bruno Tablenture is going to find out who set him up to die in the lastbook.”
Leslie shook her head, laughing. “No, we didn’t talk about his books at all. Are you sure he’s really Jeremy Fischer? It seems like he’d at least drop a fewhints.”
“You know how writers are. All reclusive and secretive,” Orbra told her. “Anyway, maybe if you get to know him well enough—hint, hint—you could sneak a peek and see if he has any notes in hisbedroom.”
“Geez, Orbra.” Leslie was appalled. “I hardly know the man and you’ve already got me in hisbedroom?”
“Well, if you aren’t going to jump in the sack with that massive piece of hotness Declan Zyler, you might as well go for Jeremy Fischer.” The tea hostess grinned as Leslie rolled her eyes and turnedaway.
