Deadly Notions - By Elizabeth Lynn Casey Page 0,15

out, shook Tori’s hand firmly as a megawatt smile stretched across her face revealing snow-white teeth. “He’s quite a man, isn’t he?”

Tori swallowed along with her nod, her brain suddenly incapable of forming a coherent thought around the memory of Milo’s voice in her head . . .

“Of course I told her about you. We were there to catch up on each other’s lives and you, Tori Sinclair, are a huge part of my life.”

“I’ve prided myself on good decisions in life—decisions that are really starting to pay off in ways I never imagined. But breaking things off with Milo all those years ago? That’s the one decision I’ve regretted.” Beth released her grip on Tori’s hand and brought it to the strap of her Coach bag. “But that’s what’s so wonderful about life, isn’t it? We have the power to change mistakes if we want to badly enough.”

She felt her jaw drop.

“Not that you should feel threatened, of course.” Beth pulled her gaze from Tori’s face and fixed it on the menu that hung on the wall behind Emma’s head. “I wouldn’t think of actively stealing another person’s man. Things like that need to be two-sided, you know?”

“I—uh—” She stopped, all intelligent responses absent from her brain.

“Hello . . . I’m Debbie Calhoun. Welcome to my bakery.”

Grateful for her friend’s interruption, Tori took a moment to catch her breath, her mind still too jumbled to truly analyze everything that had been said.

Beth looked around, her blue eyes sparkling in the morning light that streamed through the large plateglass windows along the eastern wall of the bakery. “I was in here just yesterday and fell in love with the place. I love the motif on the menu and the bags, too. It’s very nice.”

“Thank you.”

Tori closed her eyes, willed herself to remain the calm and sensible person she knew she was. Yet somehow, despite her best efforts, she found herself wanting Debbie to dislike this woman.

Realizing her thoughts were ludicrous and more than a little childish, she forced herself back into the conversation. “I lived in Chicago for years before moving to Sweet Briar and Debbie’s bakery beats anything I found there.”

A hint of pink spread across Debbie’s cheeks. “Thanks, Victoria.”

“It’s easy to speak the truth.” Unless, of course, the truth involved how much she wished the floor would open up and swallow Beth Samuelson whole . . .

As if she hadn’t spoken a word, Beth stepped closer to the counter, closing the gap between her and Debbie. “Perhaps we could get together one afternoon for coffee. You know, two entrepreneurs getting together to swap business ideas.”

Debbie smiled. “That would be great. Tori, would you like to join us?”

“Oh? Do you own your own business as well?” Beth asked as she turned to acknowledge Tori.

“No. I’m the head librarian at Sweet Briar Public Library.”

A slight smirk chased the model-like smile from the woman’s face. “A librarian and a teacher? Oh, how very Milo.”

“Well, as you know, Milo is a smart man,” Debbie interjected as she slung a protective arm across Tori’s shoulder. “And he certainly knows a good thing when he’s got it.”

Beth’s gaze roamed its way down Tori’s body, taking in everything from the light brown skirt that skimmed her knees to the off-white sweater set that hugged her petite frame. Tori shifted from foot to foot under the scrutiny, all the while wishing she’d opted for the boots instead of the flats and the cascading hair instead of the high ponytail.

“I think I’ll just take a mocha latte to go. I’ve got a lot of work to do this morning.” Setting her purse on the counter, Beth extracted a sparkly change purse. “How much do I owe you?”

Two minutes later, drink in hand, the woman turned back to Tori. “Tori, it was nice to meet you. I’m sure we’ll be bumping into each other again.” She walked a few feet, only to stop and glance over her shoulder. “Give my love to Milo.”

Her love . . .

“Wow. I didn’t see that in her yesterday. But, ignore her. She’s trying to get under your skin.”

Without taking her eyes off the woman’s receding back, Tori addressed her friend. “She’s succeeding, Debbie.”

“Don’t let her. That’s what she wants. That’s what her type always wants. They live to shake up other people’s lives.”

“Maybe . . .” Her words trailed off as she watched two different men jump from their seats just to hold the door open for Beth Samuelson. Good and decent