Death on a Silver Platter Read Online Free PDF Page B

didn’t understand and didn’t much like. She tried to hide herself in large shirts and baggy pants, but the weight had only made her look more attractive, almost voluptuous, not that Tracy saw it that way. She had flawless skin and perfect teeth, and when she smiled, Sophie thought she was quite beautiful, in an odd sort of way. Or perhaps she was odd, in a striking sort of way.
    As Sophie resumed her seat, a waiter came over and offered her the dessert menu. Now that Elaine had fled, it would look truly suspicious to order three desserts. Sophie studied the menu, noting five she wanted to taste. Deep in thought, she calculated which two would be the most interesting for her review. As she looked up to wave for the waiter, Nathan slipped into the chair next to her.
    “Now that Elaine’s gone,” he said, folding his hands on the table, “I thought we might talk for a couple of minutes.”
    She was startled. Had he seen through her disguise?
    “My waiter tells me that you’ve been taking notes on the food.” He leaned forward and looked into her lap, nodding at the notebook. “Are you a reviewer?”
    She tried to deepen her voice. “Well, ah—”
    “I don’t mean to put you on the spot, but if you are, I’d love to show you around. I’m very proud of Chez Sophia.”
    “As well you should be.”
    “You liked the food, then?”
    She nodded. “Very much.”
    “From what I understand, you haven’t had dessert. I’d like to recommend the Torta Milano. It’s one of my favorites. We have an outstanding pastry chef here, Donna Randall, but this was an adaptation of a recipe I created many years ago. A fruited pastry cream between layers of sponge cake soaked in rum and maraschino cherry syrup, covered in whipped cream with an apricot and raspberry garnish.”
    “It . . . sounds wonderful.” Her mouth watered.
    Nathan snapped his fingers and a waiter appeared. He ordered the dessert.
    “This is very kind of you, but I really can’t stay,” said Sophie, glancing at her watch. It was really Bram’s watch. Her own would have given away the game.
    “Oh, but you have to at least taste it,” said Nathan. “I insist.”
    “Really, this isn’t the way I do my reviews,” she said, pushing away from the table and standing up.
    “Don’t go, Sophie,” said Nathan, pressing his fingers gently around her arm. “Not yet. I haven’t seen you for so long. Not that . . . I’m actually seeing you.”
    “You rat! You stinking rat! You knew all along.”
    “What took you so long to get here? We should have been reviewed months ago.”
    She wondered if he really was upset. Not that the lack of a review seemed to have hurt business. “I, ah—”
    “It’s okay. I know it gets complicated when your ex-girlfriend is the reviewer. And the restaurant just happens to be named after her.”
    She was caught. She sat down.
    “How’s Bram feeling?”
    Sophie wasn’t sure if getting into a personal discussion was a good idea. “He’s great,” she said.
    “The operation was a compete success then?”
    “Thankfully, yes. He says he’s back to his old ‘fighting weight.’ ”
    Nathan looked confused. “He was a boxer?”
    She tittered. “Hardly. It’s just his way of saying he’s feeling fit.”
    “Good. That’s good. And how about you?”
    “I’m fine. As always.”
    “A woman of many disguises.”
    She looked down. “All of which you can see through.”
    “I wish. This one was easy. It’s the ones you wear every day that I have trouble with.”
    “Do you honestly think that?”
    “I’ve always wished I understood you better. Once upon a time I thought I had a lifetime to spend figuring you out. There’s only one part of you that I’ve always seen with total clarity.”
    “And that is?”
    “That you love me.”
    “Nathan—”
    “And that hasn’t changed, no matter how much you want it to.” He covered her hand with his. “I’ve missed you, Sophie. I’ve reached for the phone dozens of