Read Online Out of Sight by Stella Cameron - Free Book Online Page B

fragile and unlikely way. A high-necked, long-sleeved black lace blouse fitted a very nice body. Since her full skirt, with a hint of red showing at the bottom, reached her ankles he had no idea what the rest of her might look like, other than slight. She fascinated him.
    What fascinated him even more was that this woman was the object of Nat’s affection, the center of all his female interest. And Nat, well over six feet tall, broad-shouldered, athletic and with a face any camera would have a ball with, couldn’t be less of an obvious match for Wazoo.
    He felt eyes on him and turned to look into Nat’s face. The other man raised his brows. Nat had seen Sykes looking at Wazoo, for a long time.
    Sykes grinned and nodded. He moved a step closer and said, “You are an interesting man, bro. Be careful you don’t break her.”
    Nat showed his very white teeth in a soundless laugh.He sobered. “Ward Bienville’s still at the station,” he said. “It’s not my case but it could be if I want it.”
    “Why would you?” Sykes stared into the other man’s eyes.
    “If it meant enough to all of you. I might prefer to be the one keeping a close eye on things.”
    “What’s that?” Poppy said. “Nat? What are you and Sykes talking about?”
    “How many times have I warned you not to whisper, Nat,” Wazoo said. “We women can just sense it when you whisper and it always means you’re bein’ secretive.”
    They all laughed.
    “I can’t get away with a thing,” Nat said. “Sykes and I are going to talk boring stuff. If you ladies want to—”
    “Listen to your boring stuff, we can?” Poppy said for him. She indicated a group of seating around a brass table with the currently dark globe in the center. “Let’s sit down. What will everyone have? Are you hungry? I’m told our lunch menu is worth considering. The kitchen’s open.”
    “A cup of coffee would do it for me,” Nat said.
    “Not a crawfish omelet? Just a little one? Or a roast beef po’ boy?”
    Sykes grinned at Nat’s expression. He deliberately waited for Poppy to sit so he could be beside her.
    “Is there lots of mayo on that po’boy?” Wazoo said.
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Gravy made from the bones?” Wazoo seemed in asemi-trance. “Of course there is. I’ll have one of those, please. If you’re eatin’, too. And Nat never passed up a crawfish omelet in his life.”
    Poppy called a waiter over and gave him their order. She ordered Sykes a muffuletta and he opened his mouth to ask how she knew he wanted one.
    She gave him a tight little smile. “I must be mind reading, right? Or don’t you eat them for lunch most days anymore?”
    “Thanks,” he said. “I still do.”
    His thigh brushed hers and they looked at each other sharply. Static electricity, it had to be. The charge suffused his leg and his belly. Poppy moved an inch away and Sykes didn’t know if he was glad.
    Her cheeks were pink and she looked at her own knees, pressed tightly together now.
    Liam came back and picked up the lilies. “Okay if we put these on the bar? You’ll want to see each other while you talk.”
    He was letting them know he wouldn’t stick around.
    Sykes decided he would fill Liam in later if there was anything to say.
    “So you can take the case Poppy and Sykes are interested in, Nat?” Wazoo said. “If they want you to?”
    The lady had good ears.
    “We can get to that after lunch,” Sykes said, certain Nat wouldn’t want to talk police business in front of…He might not want to discuss it at all.
    “It’s okay,” Nat said. He touched a single forefingerto the back of Wazoo’s hand and rubbed slowly back and forth. “You all will let me know what’s on your mind. If I can help, I will. Ward Bienville was brought in around six this morning. Word is he’s a reasonable guy.”
    “Reasonable?” Sykes said. “What the hell does that mean here?”
    “Woken up from a sound sleep by a screaming housekeeper. Dead woman in the foyer. Hauled down