Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
She stared at me for a few moments before turning to her friend, she said, “Wes, this is Loren. We work together and she is one of my very best friends.”
Loren held her hand out and flashed me a flirty smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Wes.”
I raised my brows as I looked back at Mandy. “Is that so?”
She shrugged. “I may have mentioned you a time or two.”
Loren laughed. “Yes, a time or two.”
“What, um, what brings you to this side of town?” I asked.
“My fiancé lives right around the corner. He just left a few minutes ago. We came here for lunch after we went and picked out our wedding cake flavors.”
It felt like someone placed a lead bar in my stomach. “Oh, so you’re still engaged then. What was his name again? Don, was it?”
“Ron. His name is Ron Reynolds and yes, we’re still getting married this spring, May 7th.”
“And you booked Ron’s favorite band, The Launchers.” Loren looked back at me. “That was a huge win for Mandy here. It’s Ron’s favorite band and she surprised him with it. It was the only thing he truly wanted for the wedding.”
Mandy grinned. “Yes, we were able to land them for our wedding reception.”
“That’s great,” I said with mock happiness. What self-respectable man likes a band called The Launchers. Sounds like a pussy band.
“Never heard of that band.”
Mandy looked at me. “Oh, they’re a jazz band, you wouldn’t have heard of them. Not your type of music.”
I forced a smile. “You always were a jazz lover.”
Mandy grinned.
“Well, we really ought to be going, Mandy. Our lunch break was over a long time ago.”
Mandy nodded, then reached out and put her hand on the side of my arm and gave it a light squeeze. “It was so great seeing you again, Wes.”
“Yeah, it was nice to see you again, too, Mandy. And it was nice meeting you Loren.”
Loren gave me a polite smile. “You as well.”
“Bye, Wes,” Mandy softly said before turning and walking out of the pub. Something fell from the pile of paperbacks she had been holding. I got up and picked it up. It was a calendar. I looked up at the door and almost ran out to give Mandy back the calendar she had dropped. But then I paused. Opening to today’s date I saw the entry for the cake testing and noticed the other appointments and events that Mandy had scheduled. With a grin, an idea—my plan of attack—started to take root. Turning back to the bar, I grabbed the whiskey and drank it. Holding it up, I said, “Another one, please.”
• • •
I drew in a deep breath, lifted my hand, and knocked on the door of Clare’s apartment. I managed to slip into her building when someone else was walking out, and only because the doorman was busy flirting with a female delivery person.
The door opened and Clare stared at me. She poked her head out and looked each way down the hall before focusing back on me.
“How in the hell did you get in here?” she asked.
“Someone needs to tell the doorman not to flirt with the cute UPS delivery lady. I just walked in when someone was walking out.”
“Ugh. Was it a young kid, dirty blonde hair?”
I pointed to her. “That’s him.”
“Damn it. I’m going to file a complaint right now!” she said, spinning and walking back into her apartment. I followed her in and shut the door. I slipped off my coat and draped it over my arm as I walked farther in. Her computer was sitting on the table, and she sat down and picked up her phone.
“What if I had a stalker! It’s bad enough you got in!”
Placing my coat over the back of the sofa, I smirked and sat down. “Nice to know I’m on the same threat level as a stalker.”
“No one is answering. I’ll just walk down to the office as I walk your happy ass out of here.”
She went to stand, and I held up my hand. “I have something I want to talk to you about. A favor, if you will.”
Pausing, she crossed her arms over her chest, and I tried to ignore the way it made her breasts look bigger.
“Why would I do anything favorable for you?”
I made a pouty face. “Because we’re friends.”
A harsh laugh came out. “Friends? Okay, if that’s what you want to call this.”
“Clare, we are friends. And if you don’t help me, I’ll tell Rory it was you who spilled the red wine on her wedding dress after the wedding.”
She gasped. “How did you know that was me!”
I leaned back and rested my right ankle on my left knee. “I saw it happen. I may even have video evidence of it on my phone.”
Her hand came up to her mouth as she said, “No!”