Diva 02 _ Diva Takes the Cake, The Read Online Free PDF Page A

and wiggled my fingers at him.

    “Naturally. You,” Wolf pointed at Craig, “and Sophie stay here. Everyone else go home.”

    No one moved.

    “Now!” he growled.

    The crowd filtered out through the small passage to the street. Nina didn’t leave. She narrowed her eyes to mere slits as she observed Wolf and Craig.

    “Hannah,” I hissed, “go with Nina.”

    Hannah’s face worked into a determined expression that meant she’d made up her mind and wouldn’t listen. She shook her head.

    Wolf motioned to me. Holding Daisy’s leash, I walked beside him deeper into Natasha’s walled garden. Roses, yellow lilies, and bold purple Dutch irises bloomed in beds along the fence. He slung his arm around my shoulders and if there hadn’t been a dead woman nearby, it might have been romantic.

    I hadn’t seen much of Wolf lately. We’d both been busy, and though we kept trying to set up dates, it simply hadn’t happened. It didn’t help matters that my job kept me busy at night and on weekends. But Wolf planned to attend the dessert party at my place tonight and had promised to be my date for the wedding. For once I wouldn’t be seated next to my ex-husband, and I wouldn’t hear my parents’ friends whispering about my unmarried state.

    Wishing we could have met under different circumstances, I stood in front of him, taking in his broad shoulders and strong jawline. Wolf carried a few extra pounds, but they looked good on him. He puffed out a deep breath and stared at me like he couldn’t believe I found the body.

    I explained what happened. “I moved the table. I’m sorry. She must have stood on it and kicked it over because it was on its side and then we were so desperate to get her down that I gave it to Craig to stand on before I realized that it was important.”

    “What do you know about this woman?”

    “Nothing. She walked up this way earlier today, looking for Craig. I didn’t even know she existed until this morning. Apparently Craig thought she had some emotional issues and was afraid she would make a scene at the wedding.”

    Natasha screamed, and for a second I thought maybe Emily had been revived. But she pointed at Wolf and me, her face screwed into anger.

    Wolf bit back a smile. “I think she’s upset with Daisy.”

    I looked down to see Daisy squatting among Natasha’s gorgeous blooms. I shrugged at Natasha. I couldn’t stop Daisy now.

    “What about Hannah?” he asked. “Had she met Emily before?”

    “She didn’t even know Craig had been married before.”

    “His family in town yet?”

    “They’re not coming. It’s kind of sad,” I said, “they’ve been estranged for a long time.”

    “Wolf!” An officer called him back to the body.

    He rested a hand on my arm. “You okay?”

    I still trembled, but I nodded anyway.

    “I’ll see you tonight then, if the party’s still on.”

    I returned to Hannah and Craig, who hadn’t moved.

    “Hannah,” I said gently, “I think you should come with me.” I wasn’t leaving my little sister behind to get herself into trouble.

    I wished I hadn’t been stupid enough to move the table. The cops might not find suicide as obvious as I did. They would look to Craig first as a potential murderer, but as his fiancée, Hannah would be a close second. My sister might be a computer wiz, but sometimes she didn’t have much common sense. She would defend Craig, not considering the peril her words might create for herself.

    I grabbed her arm. “Come on. You know Wolf doesn’t bite. Craig will be fine. I’m sure he’ll come over shortly.”

    Hannah shook me off. “No, I’m not leaving my husband when he needs me.”

    Her husband? They weren’t even married yet. The tragedy of a stranger’s death had wiped out her doubts and anger about Craig. Amazing.

    “Go on, Sophie.” Natasha waved at me to leave. “Hannah and Craig can come up to the kitchen with me and wait for Wolf.”

    Backing away, I said, “Hannah,