The Lush Life (Samantha Jamison Mystery Book 8) by Peggy A. Edelheit Page A
Authors: Peggy A. Edelheit
Ads: Link
babysitting Teddy in New Hope.
When I finished, she frowned. “I should’ve been here.”
“Don’t feel guilty. You couldn’t have done much. They were probably long gone by the time I got up and ran in.”
“We’re not informing Miss Scarlett either,” Hazel said.
I just checked on her,” Martha said, rejoining us. “She’s out cold for now. We can speak freely.”
“Must have hit the Southern Comfort again,” Betty said.
“We don’t want Teddy, Scarlett or Lucas to find out about this,” I said. “For the moment they’re all suspect.”
Hazel chuckled. “All we need is for Rhett to show up.”
Just then the doorbell buzzed. Tension traveled the room as each of us imagined who it could possibly be.
No one said zip.
There was no way.
I mean, what were the odds, right?
Chapter 23
And Then There Was...
I think the thought of spending backbreaking time going through more of those books and the intrigue of just who might be at the door swept all of us as one to walk into the foyer to find out who was now buzzing insistently.
“What’s so important? Are they nuts?” said Martha.
I glanced at the ladies before opening the door. They were all still holding their wineglasses, ready and waiting.
I unlocked the door, swung it open, and gaped.
“...Tony?
He winked and said, “Miss me?”
I didn’t have to glance backward when I heard intakes of breath behind me. They were just as shocked as I was.
“What the...”
I stood there staring at tall, dark, and handsome Tony, who had crossed my path before on my last mystery. As usual, he was dressed ‘to the nines,’ as Martha would say: flashy designer suit, polished shoes, and Louis Vuitton tie, minus any ominous red stains.
If I wasn’t stuck on Clay, I’d consider this bad boy.
“Aren’t you going to at least invite me in?” he asked, interrupting my quickly-suppressed thoughts as I flushed.
My eyes hastily searched for bulges under his jacket . “Well...” I said, hesitating.
“I’m not carrying.” He unbuttoned and opened his jacket to prove it. Nothing but muscled male under a tailored shirt.
At the end of our last case, Tony had been found innocent and was released on a technicality, and vanished after our final encounter. So, why this public visit all of a sudden? I back-stepped even though I had reinforcements: witnesses standing right behind me.
“...I guess,” I said, letting him enter.
Although I initially misjudged Tony to be slow on the uptake, I revised my opinion once he demonstrated he was savvier than I expected. So, why show up, announcing his presence, if he was involved in stealing a rare book? Could it be Tony knew nothing about the book in question? I tried not to laugh at that impossibility. He smelled money.
Tony not be on the hunt? This tom-cat always strayed.
He shut the door and checked me out from head to toe. His x-ray eyes were making me uneasy. Tony had a way of staring at you, like he was trying to read your thoughts. I hoped he couldn’t read mine.
They were not PG rated. He caused me a lot of stress last time he confronted me. Granted, he had valid reasons, but I just didn’t trust the guy. Forget his mother. She was just as unpredictable and treacherous as he was.
My definition of treacherous: double-dealing and highly dangerous. Yup, they both qualified.
But you know, I considered him a challenge, bearing in mind Tony was so good looking. Besides, where was Clay in all this? I had called, texted and emailed until my fingers felt raw. If Clay chose to miss out on this caper, I guess I would have to handle Tony all by myself. I could do that...
After all, any crime spillover should go to me, right?
Chapter 24
The Whatever & More
Tony’s lean, over six-foot frame loomed closer and I inched away. I had passed the substantial glass armoire containing vases and statues. My back hit the bottom of the curved railing of the main staircase.
When I finished, she frowned. “I should’ve been here.”
“Don’t feel guilty. You couldn’t have done much. They were probably long gone by the time I got up and ran in.”
“We’re not informing Miss Scarlett either,” Hazel said.
I just checked on her,” Martha said, rejoining us. “She’s out cold for now. We can speak freely.”
“Must have hit the Southern Comfort again,” Betty said.
“We don’t want Teddy, Scarlett or Lucas to find out about this,” I said. “For the moment they’re all suspect.”
Hazel chuckled. “All we need is for Rhett to show up.”
Just then the doorbell buzzed. Tension traveled the room as each of us imagined who it could possibly be.
No one said zip.
There was no way.
I mean, what were the odds, right?
Chapter 23
And Then There Was...
I think the thought of spending backbreaking time going through more of those books and the intrigue of just who might be at the door swept all of us as one to walk into the foyer to find out who was now buzzing insistently.
“What’s so important? Are they nuts?” said Martha.
I glanced at the ladies before opening the door. They were all still holding their wineglasses, ready and waiting.
I unlocked the door, swung it open, and gaped.
“...Tony?
He winked and said, “Miss me?”
I didn’t have to glance backward when I heard intakes of breath behind me. They were just as shocked as I was.
“What the...”
I stood there staring at tall, dark, and handsome Tony, who had crossed my path before on my last mystery. As usual, he was dressed ‘to the nines,’ as Martha would say: flashy designer suit, polished shoes, and Louis Vuitton tie, minus any ominous red stains.
If I wasn’t stuck on Clay, I’d consider this bad boy.
“Aren’t you going to at least invite me in?” he asked, interrupting my quickly-suppressed thoughts as I flushed.
My eyes hastily searched for bulges under his jacket . “Well...” I said, hesitating.
“I’m not carrying.” He unbuttoned and opened his jacket to prove it. Nothing but muscled male under a tailored shirt.
At the end of our last case, Tony had been found innocent and was released on a technicality, and vanished after our final encounter. So, why this public visit all of a sudden? I back-stepped even though I had reinforcements: witnesses standing right behind me.
“...I guess,” I said, letting him enter.
Although I initially misjudged Tony to be slow on the uptake, I revised my opinion once he demonstrated he was savvier than I expected. So, why show up, announcing his presence, if he was involved in stealing a rare book? Could it be Tony knew nothing about the book in question? I tried not to laugh at that impossibility. He smelled money.
Tony not be on the hunt? This tom-cat always strayed.
He shut the door and checked me out from head to toe. His x-ray eyes were making me uneasy. Tony had a way of staring at you, like he was trying to read your thoughts. I hoped he couldn’t read mine.
They were not PG rated. He caused me a lot of stress last time he confronted me. Granted, he had valid reasons, but I just didn’t trust the guy. Forget his mother. She was just as unpredictable and treacherous as he was.
My definition of treacherous: double-dealing and highly dangerous. Yup, they both qualified.
But you know, I considered him a challenge, bearing in mind Tony was so good looking. Besides, where was Clay in all this? I had called, texted and emailed until my fingers felt raw. If Clay chose to miss out on this caper, I guess I would have to handle Tony all by myself. I could do that...
After all, any crime spillover should go to me, right?
Chapter 24
The Whatever & More
Tony’s lean, over six-foot frame loomed closer and I inched away. I had passed the substantial glass armoire containing vases and statues. My back hit the bottom of the curved railing of the main staircase.
Similar Books
