Criminal Confections Read Online Free PDF Page B

gave me a shy smile. “You’ve always been so nice to me, Hayden. I really appreciate it.”
    Aw. Unfortunately, I’d chosen that moment to sneak a glance at the final station. Christian had thrust both arms in the air, I saw. He seemed to be performing a victory dance while his Lemaître lackeys and other guests applauded. On him, that ridiculous spectacle actually looked pretty good. Christian was fit, forty, and brilliant enough that even his competitors lauded the way he’d updated his company’s quaint confectionary.
    Discomfited to have been caught not being so nice to Adrienne at a crucial moment, I shook my head. “If only I could do more,” I told her guiltily, knowing my report to Christian might well torpedo all the work she’d done so far. “I really wish I could help you”— not have your work wasted —“even more.”
    She gasped with evident delight. “Do you mean it?” She grabbed both my arms. “Oh, Hayden! That would be great !”
    Ruefully, I wriggled free, not wanting to commit. I’d been hoping to devote some one-on-one attention to Danny during my downtime at the resort. I was mostly booked solid with warm chocolate-fondue body wraps and cacao-nib-and-espresso-bean pedicure scrubs, but on my off-hours, I’d hoped to have fun.
    I’d missed Danny. He understood me. He made me laugh.
    He was more to me than just a tardy stud in a suit, there to make me look as if I had a modicum of normalcy in my life.
    â€œI’m not sure how much more I can do, Adrienne,” I hedged, but before I could say more, Christian Lemaître spotted me.
    â€œHayden Mundy Moore!” he bellowed jovially. “The chocolate whisperer herself! You made it! That’s excellent !”
    Uh-oh. I recognized that tone. I hadn’t worked with Christian long, but for all his brash intelligence, he wasn’t exactly complicated. He liked to seem important. The end.
    This time, he meant to use me as a means to that end.
    â€œNot that I’ve ever needed Hayden’s services at Lemaître, of course,” he lied in a smooth undertone to his associates. “But I’m happy to introduce all of you losers to Hayden!”
    His guffaws of laughter grew louder as he came closer.
    I looked his way again. Like the Pied Piper of chocolate he aspired to be, Christian strode toward me while surrounded by adoring industry types. His blue crew-neck T-shirt made him look younger than his years; his avaricious expression made him look older. Just then, he reminded me of a middle-aged frat boy.
    Bernard frowned as his nephew sailed past. Christian didn’t seem to notice. That was Bernard and Isabel’s cue to leave.
    In their wake, Adrienne’s yellow T-shirted pal drifted closer. I tried to send him a mental message to approach Adrienne and ask her out for drinks later. My telepathy failed.
    I noticed redheaded Nina, too, bounding along devotedly in her boss’s wake in three-inch pumps (on the grass!) with a grace and alacrity I envied. She seemed to have calmed down a little, with only one phone in hand and her clipboard stowed someplace, now that the scavenger hunt appeared to be a rousing success.
    Even if the host had won it, I recalled. Lame.
    Christian’s over-the-top laughter struck me again. So did Adrienne’s downright panicked expression when she heard it.
    Was she supposed to be working right now ? She must be. That was the only explanation for the way Adrienne went still, like a frightened rabbit, gazing unblinkingly as her boss approached.
    Christian didn’t seem pleased to find Adrienne standing there. “Ms. Dowling!” he barked. “Shouldn’t you be in your magical workshop, coming up with some tasty treats for later?”
    â€œUm,” Adrienne began. Her gaze darted to me. “Uh—”
    Christian’s abrupt clap made her jump. “Yes! Get on