The Book Waitress (Book 1, The Book Waitress Series) by Deena Remiel Page B

forehead against hers . "Darn. My eyes closed.”
    “ Mine, too. Maybe we should try again, then, huh?” A sheepish grin crawled across her face.
    “ Most definitely, but not here. Let’s wrap things up. I’ll take you home and we can try this experiment again. ” She leaned into his palm as he caressed her cheek.
    “ What a great idea. I’ve had enough of this place for today. You know, I don’t have to be here tomorrow because my moving boxes are arriving. Rather silly now isn’t it? But at least I get to sleep in. ” She paused, and then continued. “ Gotta get my backpack, lock the back door, and then we can go.”
    The invite did n’t go unnoticed. She cloaked it well enough, but he’d gotten the message. Stay over. As she went about her business, he ran his fingers through his hair and spritzed some breath spray in his mouth. Had he thought about it a little more, he would have done that before he kissed her. But that would have requ ired him to be something he couldn’t be — a player.
    “I’m so ready,” she said as she returned and sighed. He grabbed her hand in his, brought it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles.
    “Your chariot awaits , mademoiselle .” She smiled and curtseyed.
    “ Merci, monsieur .”
    ***
    The phone rang so shrilly as to shake the toupee nearly off his head. Darting up in his bed , he grabbed the receiver nex t to him on the nightstand. Squinting at the alarm clock , he cursed.
    “This had better be good.”
    “ Victor . Victor !” A hushed, frantic voice greeted him over the phone. “It’s me, Susan Northrop.”
    “Susan? Why on earth are you calling me at this hour of the night?”
    “It’s the only way I c an reach you without he r listening in.”
    “What’s the matter, Susan?”
    “It’s regarding Library Board matters.”
    She had emphasized Library Board, which indicated a cult issue. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”
    “It seems we have an issue of differing philosophies with an individual. This person is poised to undermine your authority and objectives for our next meeting.”
    “Go on.”
    “This person has already made it so inhospitable that I doubt our new librarian will stay much longer . W e’ll have to alter our plans f rom a welcome party to a farewell party .”
    “ I see. Yes, there does seem to be a difference of opinion as to what we do to benefit the library. But as you know, I’m the president of the board. I make the final call on everything. I’ll take care of it. Thank you so much, Susan, for your loyalty to our library and always looking out for its best interests. Get some rest. You’ve earned it.”
    “Thank you, Victor . Sorry to bother you , but I thought you should know . Good night.”
    He hung up the phone and got out of bed. There’d be no more sleeping for him tonight. Susan had indicated Nancy Westin as a traitor to the cult and Satan . Tomorrow would be a busy day. He’d have to kill Nancy and kidnap Camille Dutton. Nancy would be easy. A breakfast meeting with her should do the trick. Camille posed a bit more of a challenge. But a plan percolated in his mind that had strong possibilities.
    He stalked over to the bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet which had a hidden compartment built in behind the shelving. It hid his poisons and other concoctions. “Hmm, which one for Nancy , which one? Fast but painful or slow and agonizing? Well, she likes her screwing long and slow, so I’ll just give her what she likes.” Chuckling, he took out the tiny bottle with the lethal liquid and put it on the bathroom counter . Then he opened a drawer and pulled out a photograph. He caressed the face smiling back at him. “And as for you, my dear Marked One, you don’t have to worry about leaving the island ever again.”
    ***
    Camille didn’t expect Derek to accept her offer . She couldn’t believe she asked him in the first place. It was quite impulsive on her part. A quality she usually never entertained. But now she