True-Blue Cowboy - Vicki Lewis Thompson Page 0,55
you wouldn’t.” Eva picked up a cracker and added a piece of cheese. “You’re one of the smartest people I know.”
“That’s what I mean about stupid things. One too many bottles of cider and I’m liable to launch into a discussion of the fermentation process. Or make the case for Pluto being reinstated as a planet.”
Eva smiled. “Leo might enjoy that.”
“I doubt it. I’m talkative, not witty.”
“He asked her out again,” Beth said, “and she—”
“He did? See, you don’t have to be witty.”
“Tell Eva what you said, Fiona.”
Fiona took another hefty swallow of wine. “I said I’d get back to him.”
“You’d get back to him? Why on earth did you say that?”
“I don’t know! I just can’t think straight when I stare into those beautiful eyes. I want to grab him and kiss him all over.”
Eva laughed. “I know how that is.”
“Which brings us to you, toots.” Beth speared her with a look. “Fiona told me about the attic adventure, so you can skip that part. Pick up the narrative after she left you alone with Mister Muscle.”
Eva sighed. “I ripped his shirt.”
Her friends happily leaped on that tidbit and pestered her for more. She only gave them an overview, and still the discussion lasted through happy hour and into dinner.
Would Nick be having the same conversation with Rafe? And maybe other members of the Brotherhood? And why not? They’d known each other longer than she’d known Beth and Fiona.
If Nick filled in the guys about last night, that would change the dynamic when they came into the salon. But it would change anyway if she and Nick continued to see each other.
Eventually the topic switched to Winifred Barton, the cancelled wedding and the box of seductive outfits. Beth was intrigued by Winifred’s story and loved sorting through the garments, but she couldn’t come up with a logical use for them, either.
“Let me think about it,” she said as they packed everything back in the box. “What are you going to do with the things in the black trunk?”
“I’ll see if the wedding dress can be salvaged. I could donate that, along with the shoes and the veil. As for the rest, I’m not sure.”
“You don’t have to decide yet,” Fiona said. “Something might come to you.”
“It might. There’s one other thing I didn’t bring over. I’ll share it once I’ve finished reading it.”
“She left a book?”
“She left a diary of her adventures with her secret lover, whoever that might turn out to be.”
“Cool!” Fiona took another brownie. “Do you think you’ll figure out who it was?”
“It might not matter,” Beth said. “She was ninety-seven, so whoever it was is likely in the Apple Grove Cemetery, too.”
“Maybe not.”
Fiona’s eyes widened. “You think he might still be alive?”
“It’s possible. I’m getting hints that he was younger than Winifred.”
“Even so,” Beth said. “He could still be gone.”
“I know. I may not be able to figure out who he was, but it’s fun trying. And that Winifred—there was a bold lady who knew how to go after what she wanted.”
“I can’t wait to read it,” Fiona said. “If you can’t figure out who it might be, I’m willing to go through the Apple Gazette archives for clues. Does she have dates in this notebook?”
“No, but she references town events. The Gazette has archives?”
“Of course. Most newspapers do. They’re digitized.” Fiona was clearly in research mode. “Do you think this man was prominent in town?”
“My guess is he might have been.”
“Married?”
“I’m not getting that. But I do think he was someone who wouldn’t want the whole town to know he was having lusty sex with a woman who seduced him with leather corsets and crotchless panties.”
Beth held up her phone. “Eva, it’s almost nine.”
“I saw that. This has been great, but I—”
“Say no more.” Fiona stood. “Go meet your lover.”
“I do believe I will. Thank you so much for this nightgown, Beth.” She gave them each a hug, grabbed her Racy Lace bag and hurried downstairs.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Nick was grateful for the distraction of a bunkhouse poker game with Rafe, Garrett and Leo even if they did spend more time talking about women than playing poker.
“I still can’t figure it out.” Leo glanced at his cards and laid them face down. “Why did she say I’ll get back to you? What kind of a response is that?”
“I’m confused, too,” Nick said. “She seemed excited about the date when I talked to her yesterday.” He didn’t mention that Fiona was intimidated by Leo’s movie-star looks. She