Read Online Gilt Trip (The Boston Uncommons Mystery Series Book 3) by Arlene Kay - Free Book Online
Authors: Arlene Kay
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Schwartz couldn’t deny the money motive and the connection to Phaedra Jones. Still, why would Horton murder Phaedra? He obviously still lusted after her. I’d seen ample proof of that with my own eyes.
“He didn’t seem to hate her,” I reminded Deming. “Quite the opposite.”
Deming poured Pellegrino into a crystal tumbler and sipped. “Men are like that, my love. Carnal instincts trump good sense every time, especially when a beautiful woman is involved. You above all people know that.”
I closed my eyes and tried to be objective. Had Phaedra Jones been beautiful? Not really. Seductive and exotic certainly, but beautiful? Only if you consider sharp features and a smoking hot bod with more twists than a pretzel alluring. Most males would give an emphatic thumbs up to that one.
“Your eyes are closed,” Deming said. “Ready for a little nap?”
I ignored the double entendre. When Deming and I napped together we seldom slept.
“Sorry. I have a meeting with my publisher and some details to work out with your mother.” I patted his cheek. “Nothing that would interest you. Besides, doesn’t Pamela need your help?”
His smug smile irritated me. “Pam still gets to you, doesn’t she? Relax. We only hooked up for sex. It was never about love.”
“Excuse me if that doesn’t comfort me.”
Pamela Schwartz was blond, beautiful, and tall. She was also meaner than a rattlesnake and twice as lethal. I both feared and envied her.
“I forgot to tell you,” Deming said. “Tonight I’m taking Fleur Pixley to dinner at Bistro du Midi. She was dying to try it.”
“Make sure that’s all she samples,” I said, stepping on tiptoe to kiss him. “You’ve become quite the man about town lately.”
Deming wrinkled his nose. “You never explained that whole dojo thing. What were you and Mom doing there? Ogling Justin Ming?”
“Exercising. That seems fairly obvious.” With Deming, less information is a better strategy. He has an annoying habit of expecting the worst and probing until he finds it.
“Well, don’t go back there,” he growled. “That goes double for my mom. A murderer is running around loose.”
I arched a brow and laughed. “Pretty bossy these days, aren’t you? Don’t issue commands until we’re married. Even then I can’t guarantee anything.”
Deming huffed enough to power a wind farm. “You never listen. I should know better by now and save my breath.” He took my hand and kissed it. “At least be careful. Promise?”
One glance at those hazel eyes melted my defenses. “Of course. I’m only interested in exercise.”
He released my hand slowly, bent down, and gently kissed my lips. “One more thing.”
“I’m listening.”
“No Ming mania, if you please. You’re already spoken for. I’d be forced to dust off my wushu gear and fight him to avenge your honor.”
I gave that scenario some thought. Any female would fancy having two hunks vie for her favors. On the other hand, Deming was man enough for any woman, and high drama made me edgy. Monogamy suited me very nicely.
“Justin is polite and friendly. Purely professional, nothing more. Besides, your client’s wife would claw out my eyes if I even flirted with him.” I reprised the locker room brawl between Heather and the late Phaedra Jones. “What was Horty doing there that night? Pretty risky juggling his wife and his mistress at one time.”
Deming shrugged. “Ask him yourself. He invited us to his place for cocktails tomorrow night. Heather is quite a hostess, or so I hear.”
“Will your parents be there?” Anika was a valuable ally in the information wars. She knew everyone on the social circuit and could charm information from a clam.
“Probably. Be ready about seven o’clock.” Deming checked his watch and headed for the door.
“Will you stop by after your date, Mr. Swann?”
He wrinkled his brow. “Doubtful. I have tons of paperwork to do.”
“Oh. Is that what they call it
“He didn’t seem to hate her,” I reminded Deming. “Quite the opposite.”
Deming poured Pellegrino into a crystal tumbler and sipped. “Men are like that, my love. Carnal instincts trump good sense every time, especially when a beautiful woman is involved. You above all people know that.”
I closed my eyes and tried to be objective. Had Phaedra Jones been beautiful? Not really. Seductive and exotic certainly, but beautiful? Only if you consider sharp features and a smoking hot bod with more twists than a pretzel alluring. Most males would give an emphatic thumbs up to that one.
“Your eyes are closed,” Deming said. “Ready for a little nap?”
I ignored the double entendre. When Deming and I napped together we seldom slept.
“Sorry. I have a meeting with my publisher and some details to work out with your mother.” I patted his cheek. “Nothing that would interest you. Besides, doesn’t Pamela need your help?”
His smug smile irritated me. “Pam still gets to you, doesn’t she? Relax. We only hooked up for sex. It was never about love.”
“Excuse me if that doesn’t comfort me.”
Pamela Schwartz was blond, beautiful, and tall. She was also meaner than a rattlesnake and twice as lethal. I both feared and envied her.
“I forgot to tell you,” Deming said. “Tonight I’m taking Fleur Pixley to dinner at Bistro du Midi. She was dying to try it.”
“Make sure that’s all she samples,” I said, stepping on tiptoe to kiss him. “You’ve become quite the man about town lately.”
Deming wrinkled his nose. “You never explained that whole dojo thing. What were you and Mom doing there? Ogling Justin Ming?”
“Exercising. That seems fairly obvious.” With Deming, less information is a better strategy. He has an annoying habit of expecting the worst and probing until he finds it.
“Well, don’t go back there,” he growled. “That goes double for my mom. A murderer is running around loose.”
I arched a brow and laughed. “Pretty bossy these days, aren’t you? Don’t issue commands until we’re married. Even then I can’t guarantee anything.”
Deming huffed enough to power a wind farm. “You never listen. I should know better by now and save my breath.” He took my hand and kissed it. “At least be careful. Promise?”
One glance at those hazel eyes melted my defenses. “Of course. I’m only interested in exercise.”
He released my hand slowly, bent down, and gently kissed my lips. “One more thing.”
“I’m listening.”
“No Ming mania, if you please. You’re already spoken for. I’d be forced to dust off my wushu gear and fight him to avenge your honor.”
I gave that scenario some thought. Any female would fancy having two hunks vie for her favors. On the other hand, Deming was man enough for any woman, and high drama made me edgy. Monogamy suited me very nicely.
“Justin is polite and friendly. Purely professional, nothing more. Besides, your client’s wife would claw out my eyes if I even flirted with him.” I reprised the locker room brawl between Heather and the late Phaedra Jones. “What was Horty doing there that night? Pretty risky juggling his wife and his mistress at one time.”
Deming shrugged. “Ask him yourself. He invited us to his place for cocktails tomorrow night. Heather is quite a hostess, or so I hear.”
“Will your parents be there?” Anika was a valuable ally in the information wars. She knew everyone on the social circuit and could charm information from a clam.
“Probably. Be ready about seven o’clock.” Deming checked his watch and headed for the door.
“Will you stop by after your date, Mr. Swann?”
He wrinkled his brow. “Doubtful. I have tons of paperwork to do.”
“Oh. Is that what they call it
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