a look at it, I’d have thought it would be Talia.”
He sipped his bourbon, then asked with nonchalance, “Why’s that?”
“She’s so much brainier. I’m not the intellectual that she is.”
He tsked. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. Besides, I doubt Drex’s novel is that complex and literary.”
“Between you and me, it isn’t. I read a few chapters before going to sleep last night, and a few more over my morning coffee. I’m surprised that it isn’t…hmm…what’s the word? Heftier?”
“Heftier will do. But in what way isn’t it hefty?”
“I don’t know how to explain it. He’s so…”
Jasper tilted his head. “So…?”
“Well, manly.”
“The book doesn’t reflect his manliness?”
“You’re goading me,” she said, pretending to slap his hand. “But the truth is, no, it doesn’t shout masculinity. I mean, it does, but not to the extent…Oh, I don’t know what I mean.”
“You expected a book written by him to read differently.”
“Yes. It’s not as meaty as I thought it would be.” She seemed embarrassed to have expressed her opinion and tried to laugh it off. “But who am I to say? It’s light fare. Fast paced. Overall, it’s enjoyable reading, and that’s what I’ll tell him when he asks for my feedback. As I said, I’m no critic. Far be it from me to dampen his ambitions, and I wouldn’t hurt his feelings for the world.”
“Which may be why he asked you to read the novel instead of Talia. She would have been candid in pointing out its weaknesses.”
“No doubt you’re right, and that would not have set well. Already they rub each other the wrong way.”
As she drained her glass, she dribbled a bit on her chin and was now dabbing at it with her napkin. Otherwise she might have noticed that Jasper’s right eye ticked in reaction to her last statement.
“Hold that thought,” he said and signaled the waiter for another round.
Elaine demurred. “I really shouldn’t have two.”
“I agree.” He gave her a sly wink. “Three minimum.”
“You are bad.”
“My dear,” he said silkily, “you have no idea.” Then he motioned for her to pick up where she had left off. “You were saying something about Talia and Drex rubbing each other the wrong way?”
“It’s probably just me, but—”
“No, I’ve also noticed it.”
She sat forward, her bosom nearly knocking over her empty martini glass. “You have? I thought I was imagining it. The minute she arrived last night, I sensed the antagonism, and it only got thicker as the night wore on.”
“He must have said or done something to offend her.”
“I don’t think so. He was his charming self.”
The waiter arrived with fresh drinks. As soon as he walked away, Jasper asked, “How do you explain this hostility between them?”
“They weren’t hostile, exactly. Just not comfortable with each other like they’d been that day on the yacht. Remember, they talked for a long time out on the deck. I thought maybe something had happened that I was unaware of. A disagreement of some kind.”
“Not to my knowledge. In fact, we hadn’t seen Drex for a couple of days leading up to last night.”
“Hmm.” She gave an elaborate shrug. “Who can explain why we like some people and detest others? Although Talia’s aversion is understandable if you compare Drex to you. You’re polished and sophisticated. He’s—”
“Manly.”
She gave a gusty laugh. “That’s not at all what I meant to imply. If Talia weren’t in the picture, you’d have dozens of women lined up at your back door bearing casseroles, and I would be leading the charge. You know I adore you.”
He placed his hand to his chest and humbly tipped his head.
Smiling at him, she sipped her drink, but as she lowered her glass, her smile became a thoughtful frown. “It’s unlike Talia to be snippy. Even with someone she doesn’t particularly like.”
“Talia? Snippy?”
“I know, right? But on the drive from the restaurant back to my house, she got really short with Drex.”
“What provoked it?”
“I have no idea. We were talking about Key West.”
With great care, Jasper set his highball glass on the table, then left his fingers cupping the rim and turned the glass idly. “How did that come up?”
“Drex wants to visit Hemingway’s house. He asked if we’d been there. It was a casual conversation. And then it wasn’t. I’m not sure at what point it went downhill or why it did.” She sipped at the ice crystals floating on the surface of her drink. “I think his questions began to pester her.”
“Questions?”
“Basic ones that a prospective tourist would ask a travel