Deadly Notions (28 page)

Milo reached for Tori once again then lifted her hand to his lips. “Beth, if you don’t mind, Tori and I are going to spend a little time together out on the deck.”

“Oh.” Beth opened the utensil drawer closest to the Crock-Pot and began shifting slotted spoons and spatulas around. “Um, okay, that’s a—a good idea. Between dinner and”—she swept her hand toward the scraps of paper that littered the kitchen table—“work, it’s best if I stay inside anyway.”

It was impossible not to sense the woman’s disappointment. And, for a moment, she couldn’t help but feel bad for Beth even though she knew Leona would have a fit.

But how could she not feel bad? Milo Wentworth was one in a million. She knew that and so did Beth. Experience had taught them that at very different times in their lives. Tori had come upon Milo after running up against a man who was the complete opposite in terms of honor. Beth, on the other hand, had essentially started with honor and tossed it aside out of youthful ignorance.

Determined to find a way to make things right, Tori wandered over to the table in search of a true conversational topic—something that didn’t necessitate Beth’s need to prance and twirl in front of Milo. Slowly, she scanned the various sticky notes scattered around, the woman’s stick figure fashion show bringing a smile to her lips. “I bet you’re beyond excited to get your designs on a runway.”

Beth shoved the drawer closed and turned around. “It’s almost all I think about.”

“It’s going to be wonderful, I’m sure.”

“Hey, let’s talk more about this over dinner.” Milo captured Tori’s hand in his and tugged her toward the back door. “C’mon, I’m dying to have a little time alone with you.”

Halfway to the door, she stopped. “I need to give Nina a quick call first. To check on what time we’re meeting tonight.”

“You have a board meeting?”

“No. We’re just meeting at the bakery to discuss the teen group we’re getting ready to start. There’s a few details we need to iron out and we thought it might be more fun to do it over dessert rather than huddled around the information desk.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you outside.”

She turned in the opposite direction as he disappeared out the back door, her feet guiding her toward the front room and its noticeably better cell coverage.

“Tori?”

“Yes?”

Beth’s heels clicked across the floor, stopping just inside the hallway. “I’m not sure what you’re trying to prove by showing up here like this.”

“Trying to prove?”

“Haven’t you heard of a little thing called a
phone
?”

“Milo asked me to come over after work.”

“Because he’s being polite.” Beth tucked her hands against her hips. “That’s what guys like Milo do when they’re trying to let girls like you down easily.”

She blinked against the ridiculousness that was Beth Samuelson. “Girls like me?”

Beth nodded, her gaze skimming its way down Tori’s stonewashed jeans and simple pink T-shirt. “Simple girls. Prudish girls. Bo-ring girls.”

“I don’t have time for this.” Pulling her phone from her purse, she flipped it open, her thoughts swirling between the desire to remain a lady and the urge to scratch the woman’s eyes out. “I’d be careful if I were you, Beth. We don’t want Milo seeing your true colors.”

A low, mirthless laugh escaped Beth’s lips. “Milo sees what I want him to see. Which is rather eye-catching, wouldn’t you say?” Beth rose up on tiptoes and spun around in a little circle. “And fortunately for me, I’m in need of a white knight as of late—a role Milo falls for every single time.”

“Falls for?” she echoed against a throat that was suddenly tight with frustration. “Are you saying you’ve been lying about being in danger this whole time?”

“Lying might be a bit strong. After all, I really was worried in the beginning. But, the more he ran to my side, the more I came to realize Milo still cares for me. In fact, all I have to do is cry wolf and he comes running. Which really must beg the question as to when he’ll finally give up the charade and drop you once and for all.”

“Actually, the only question it begs is how I could be so blind.”

Tori looked up as Beth whirled around and grabbed for Milo’s hand. “Milo! I don’t know what you heard but—”

“I heard more than enough, Beth. Now get your stuff and get out.
Now!
”

Try as she might she couldn’t make herself focus on the list of ideas Nina had put together for their meeting—not the food donations she’d managed to line up from both Leeson’s Market and the bakery, not the authors she’d contacted regarding appearances, and not the emails she’d wrangled from the board in support of the program.

It wasn’t that she’d lost interest in the notion of a teen book club, because she hadn’t. And it certainly wasn’t a lack of contagious enthusiasm on the part of her assistant.

No, it was simply the fact that her mind and her heart were somewhere else.

“Miss Sincl—I mean, Tori? Are you okay?”

Nina’s voice broke through her woolgathering, forcing her attention from the wounded blonde seated at the corner table in Debbie’s Bakery. “I’m sorry, Nina. I was really looking forward to meeting you tonight. We never get to hang out beyond the library’s walls and getting a chance to do that sounded like fun. And it is.”

“It is?

Tori felt her face warm. “It would be, if I wasn’t worried about Milo.”

Dropping her clipboard onto the table, Nina leaned forward until she was in Tori’s distracted line of sight. “Is he sick?”

“No. Nothing like that. It’s just . . .” Her words trailed off as she tried to put words to a reaction she had yet to figure out—a reaction that had him virtually throwing Beth out the door and then asking for some time to himself.

It had worked out in a way, since she and Nina were scheduled to meet, anyway. But still, it was more than a little out of character for Milo. Especially considering none of what transpired had been her fault. She’d tried to warn him.

“So tell me, did she lose her favorite can of hairspray or is she just that unhappy about that bizarre shade of pink nail polish she’s wearing?”

Tori looked over her shoulder. “Oh, hi, Debbie. I didn’t realize you were here. I thought it was just Emma working.”

“No. Tonight’s my evening with the books.” Raking her dirty blonde hair into a high ponytail, Debbie jerked her head toward the lone figure hunched over a sea of papers in the far corner of the bakery. “So what happened? Why does she look like she just lost her best friend?”

“Because she did.” Tori wrapped her hands around her mug and pulled it closer to her body. “Milo kicked her out.”

“What?!” Debbie grabbed a chair from the next table over and pulled it up alongside Nina. “Sorry, Nina, but I’ve got to hear this.”

Tori glanced, once again, at the woman who’d put the kibosh on what should have been a nice evening with Milo. “The jig is up.”

“What jig?” Nina asked.

Debbie brought her hand to her mouth only to let it drop back to the table just as quickly. “Wait. You mean he figured out she was crying wolf just to get his attention?”

She nodded.

“How?”

“He overheard her saying it. To me.”

Debbie clapped her hands in the air. “That’s fantastic!”

She cast a sidelong glance in Beth’s direction. “Milo is upset. In fact, I’ve never seen him so angry.”

“My Duwayne would have reacted the same way.” Nina reached for her glass of milk and took a small sip. “I reckon it has to do with their egos or something.”

Debbie agreed. “Colby doesn’t like to be wrong, either.”

“Wrong,” she repeated under her breath. “But I didn’t say he was wrong. I just—”

And then she knew. Nina and Debbie were right. She had tried to tell him what Beth was up to days ago. Yet when she had, Milo had brushed the accusations off as being unfounded.

Only they weren’t.

“I figured something was up when I passed by her table and she didn’t even bother to smile,” Debbie mumbled.

Pushing her uneaten cookie in front of Nina, Tori lowered her voice to a near whisper. “Have this. It’s calories. And it makes it easier to drink the milk.”

Debbie’s eyes widened as she sized up Tori’s assistant. “You’re drinking milk? Why? You hate milk.”

“But it’s good for the baby.”

“Baby? What baby?” Reality dawned in Debbie’s eyes as she looked from Nina to Tori and back again, a smile spreading across her face like wildfire. “Oh, Nina, how wonderful!”

Nina beamed.

Debbie pointed at Tori. “How long have you known?”

“A few days.”

“And you didn’t say anything?”

She shrugged. “It’s not my news to share.”

“It will be one day.”

“Nina,
please
.”

“No, Nina’s right, you know. One of these days Milo will pop the question and you’ll say yes.” Debbie scooted forward in her seat. “Then you’ll get married and enjoy a little time by yourselves before you’re sitting at this same table drinking milk instead of hot chocolate.”

“Instead of hot chocolate? Never!”

Debbie and Nina exchanged amused glances. “At least you didn’t protest the notion of marrying Milo.”

Milo.

She took another peek at Beth. “I feel sorry for her. I really do.”

“Why?” Debbie asked. “She’s been a thorn in your side since she blew into town.”

“Because she truly cares about Milo.”

Nina took a larger gulp of milk, her face contorting with distaste as she did. “Lying isn’t caring, Miss Sinc—I mean, Tori. If she truly cared about Milo she shouldn’t have tried to deceive him.”

“I guess. I just think she was desperate.”

“But why?” Debbie glanced over her shoulder in Beth’s direction. “She’s beautiful, she owns her own company, she’s got talent from what you’ve said, and there’s not a man she passes who doesn’t look twice in her direction.”

“Except Milo,” she mumbled. “And that’s the only man she cares about.”

“News flash. He’s taken.”

Tori and Debbie stared at Nina only to have the woman bury her head in her hands. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Why? It’s true.” Debbie reached over and patted Nina on the head. “It’s okay to speak your mind once in a while. Really. We don’t bite. Though, if she”—she gestured toward Beth’s paper-strewn table once again—“doesn’t start picking up her mess I might have to resort to biting.”

“As if that would ever happen.” Tori inhaled the first true sense of peace she’d felt all evening. “You and Nina are two of the kindest people I’ve ever known.”

Pushing back her chair, Debbie stood. “Well, I better get back to my office. Jackson is probably wondering where I am.”

Tori scanned the bakery. “Jackson is here?”

“In the office. Colby took Suzanna to see a girly movie.”

A wistful expression passed across Nina’s face. “It’s funny but I find myself thinking more about those kinds of things rather than pink or blue booties and changing tables. I guess I’m just hoping Duwayne and I make good parents.”

“You will.” Tori reached across the table and patted Nina’s hand. “The best.”

“I agree.” Debbie took two steps backward then spun around, her white sneakers squeaking on the linoleum floor. “If you’re still here when I finish with the books we’ll come out and sit for a while.”

As Debbie disappeared behind the counter, Tori swung her attention back to Nina.

“It’s nice to see a smile on her face.”

“Who?”

Nina pointed out the window. “Her.”

Samantha Smith.

She watched as the woman turned and entered the bakery, the door-mounted bell jingling with her arrival.

“Hi, Victoria! How are you?” Samantha stopped beside their table, her large brown eyes twinkling. “It’s a gorgeous night, isn’t it?”

“It is.” She gestured toward Nina. “You must know my assistant, Nina Morgan?”

Samantha met Nina’s hand across the table and shook it firmly. “Yes. Of course. Nina is always very helpful to both Kayla and me.”

Nina blushed.

“That’s nice to hear.” She winked at Nina then motioned to the empty chair vacated by Debbie. “Would you like to sit?”

“For just a moment. I’m just picking up a special treat for Kayla.”

As they talked, Tori tried to imagine the woman with a rope in her hands, snuffing the life out of another human being. Was it possible?
Really
possible?

“She doesn’t know it, but whoever killed Ashley Lawson did that one a huge favor.”

“That one?” Tori echoed as her gaze followed Samantha’s to the very woman who had cut her night unexpectedly short.

“Uh-huh.”

Tori watched as Beth gathered her things then made a beeline toward the three of them. “Do you think Milo will ever forgive me?”

“I don’t know, I guess you’ll have to ask Milo that question.”