Read Online Colleen Coble by Rosemary Cottage - Free Book Online

campaign.”
    Curtis rubbed his forehead. “This makes no sense, then. Dara said Ben and Kendrick had a big argument, and the senator was about to call security and have him thrown out.”
    “What?” Amy shook her head. “I seriously doubt that.”
    “Why would she lie? It came out in an innocent way. She wanted to know if she could count on my vote even though my sister’s boyfriend had made a scene in the senator’s office.”
    “Boyfriend? I thought they were just friends. Ben was engaged.”
    “They were more than friends.” He hesitated, then touched her shoulder lightly before dropping his hand to his side again. “She said Ben appeared to be drunk or on drugs. His eyes were bloodshot and he slurred his words.”
    She exhaled. “Your aunt said the same thing. It would take something catastrophic for Ben to drown it with drugs or alcohol. Ben liked being in control.”
    He shrugged. “Well, I thought you’d want to know. This incident happened a couple of weeks before he died. Right about the time of Gina’s death.”
    “Thanks. I’ll see what I can find out.” She followed him back to the group. This was not something she’d expected to hear about her brother. Could he have been involved in drugs somehow?
    Josh and Alec were talking and they waylaid Curtis, so Amy stepped past them and rejoined Libby standing with Edith.
    Edith smiled when Raine reached for Amy. “She likes you already.”
    Poor little motherless baby. Amy took the child. “You smell good, honey.” She nuzzled the little one’s smooth neck, sweet with the scent of baby wash.
    “You should have a bunch of those babies yourself,” Edith said.
    Amy’s heart squeezed, but she managed to keep her smile. Why did she do that? Hide the pain instead of being honest? It wasn’t just here either. All around her she heard people asking,“How are you?” and others answering, “Fine.” They all wore masks. It hurt too much to lay all the pain out for someone to see. It was something she couldn’t talk about yet.
    “I’d love for you to come to dinner. How about Monday night? Curtis should be home by five. I make a killer enchilada.”
    Amy’s heart stuttered. “I’d love to.” She glanced toward Curtis from the corner of her eye as he stood next to Josh. “Can I bring anything?”
    “Just your pretty face.”
    “How about dessert?”
    “If you want. But don’t go to any trouble. I thought it would be fun for Raine to get to know . . .” Edith went red, then cleared her throat. “Get to know you.”
    Amy eyed Edith’s discomfiture. “I’d like that too.” Was she playing matchmaker?
    Edith cleared her throat again. “Wonderful. See you around five.” She took Raine, then hurried off toward the exit while Raine called, “Stay.”
    Libby lifted a brow. “I think she’s trying to match you up with Curtis.”
    Amy’s cheeks heated. “I thought she might be.”
    “But you agreed to go. I think that says something. There’s some kind of heat between you and Curtis. I can feel it every time he’s around.”
    “Heat?” Amy laughed. “I wouldn’t say that exactly.”
    Libby chuckled. “But you’re interested.”
    “I’m interested in getting his help to figure out what happened to Ben. That’s all.”
    Libby’s smile widened. “And that’s why your cheeks are so red, right? It’s okay to admit he’s quite a hottie.”
    Amy fixed her friend with a stern glance. “You’re still a newly-wed. You shouldn’t be noticing such things.”
    “I’m happily married, but not dead,” Libby said primly. She shifted Noah to the other shoulder.
    Amy laughed, but her gaze went back to Curtis. Maybe she did like him, but it was just friendship. “Want to come back to the cottage for lunch?”
    “Sure,” Libby said. “It’s Delilah’s day off, so I’ll take any excuse not to cook.”

E IGHT
    A my threw together shrimp scampi and a salad for lunch. Alec ate his weight in shrimp, then he stretched out on the sofa