Read Online Double Fudge Brownie Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 18) by Joanne Fluke - Free Book Online

one place in Lake Eden.”
    “There is? Where’s that?”
    “Under the dome in the penthouse suite at the Albion Hotel Condos. You told me yourself that the dome was climate controlled and the pool was heated in the winter.”
    “You’re right! I wish we could talk Mother into buying it before that corporation does. There’s something about that deal that I just don’t like.”
    “I don’t know anything about any deal. You didn’t mention it to me. Did someone make an offer?”
    “Not someone. It’s some thing . According to Howie, it’s a corporation that calls itself Nightlife LLC. The name just sounds . . . ” Andrea paused, searching for the right word. “It just sounds off to me, if you know what I mean.”
    “Nightlife LLC,” Hannah repeated the name. “I see what you mean. It sounds like the type of corporation that runs an after-hours club, or an escort service.”
    “I know. That’s what I said to Howie, but he told me not to worry, that it wasn’t like that at all. He also said I’d be very pleased when I found out who owned the corporation, but that’s all he’d tell me.” Andrea paused again and looked thoughtful. “Wait a minute. Do you think Nightlife LLC could be Ross and some of his movie investors? He said he wanted to move to Lake Eden. And he probably knows a lot of people with money.”
    “He does, but I really don’t think they’d be involved in anything like Lake Eden real estate. Ross has talked about his investors. Most of them are from New York and Los Angeles and they’re only interested in financing projects in the entertainment industry like plays, independent films, and concerts.”
    “Heads up,” Andrea said as Ross and Michelle approached, each of them carrying a cardboard tray with two drinks on it.
    “Here you go,” Ross said, handing one lemonade to Hannah and the other to Andrea. He took his lemonade from Michelle’s tray and sat down next to Hannah. “I had them put a little something extra in it.”
    “Liquor?” Hannah asked, wondering how a drink this early in the day would affect her.
    Ross shook his head. “Raspberry syrup. That makes it a type of pink lemonade, but the common pink lemonade has grenadine or cranberry juice. I thought raspberry would be better.”
    Hannah took a sip. “I like this a lot better. I’ve had pink lemonade made with cranberry juice, but never with grenadine.”
    “What is grenadine anyway?” Michelle asked. “I know they put it in tequila sunrises and it’s red. Is it cherry?”
    Hannah shook her head. “No, it’s made from pomegranates. There’s an aftertaste to grenadine that I’ve never liked.”
    “But you like tequila sunrises, don’t you?” Ross asked her.
    Hannah shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never had one.”
    “I can fix that,” Ross told her, “But only if you promise to bake that tangerine cake you made the last time I came to Lake Eden.”
    “My Tangerine Dream Cake?”
    “That’s the one. I really like tangerines.”
    “I’ll be glad to make it for you. I love to bake that cake.”
    Ross looked pleased. “It’s a deal then. I’ll look forward to it almost as much as I’ll look forward to spending more time with you.”
    Hannah saw Michelle exchange a look with Andrea. She wasn’t sure what it meant until both of them picked up their towels and waved as they went off to take a dip in the pool. Her sisters were giving her time alone with Ross. She had to remember to thank them.
    “How about meeting me at the cocktail bar an hour before we’re due to have dinner with your mother and Doc? I want to find out if you like tequila sunrises.”
    “I’ll be there,” Hannah said, and then she hoped she hadn’t agreed too quickly. Someone had once told her that a woman shouldn’t be too eager. If she agreed too quickly, the man would get the idea that she didn’t have any other prospects.
    But you do have other prospects , her mind corrected her. You’ve got Norman and Mike