Elizabeth C. Main - Jane Serrano 02 - No Rest for the Wicked Read Online Free PDF Page A

supposed to meet Nick later, ” I said . “ So if we’re running late, maybe tomorrow would be better. ”
    “ Oh ho. Then by all means, let’s meet tomorrow. ” Minnie was all for romance. “ Tyler, could you help me carry the gingerbread guns I have in the car? ”
    Watching Minnie and Tyler amble down the sidewalk, I wondered how many of the guns would make it from the car to the cookie jar.
    “ I k new we could count on you, Mom. And now that the meeting’s off , I can run back to the Wedding Belle to see a lady who wanted to meet with Wendell tonight. ”
    Amazing, the ease with which order had been restored for everyone. I flashed back to the days when a kiss on my daughter’s skinned knee could make everything all better. Bianca apparently still had perfect faith in my ability to work magic, right up to and including getting a friend out of jail. I wish I had the same optimism. D read lurked in the corners of my mind, whispering that s omething wasn’t right. “ Sure. Wendell has an appointment? ”
    “ To test colors. You know, for a special collar to match some bridesmaids’ dresses. No, not the Starrett wedding. ”
    I looked at the all-black dog. Should be easy to accessorize, no matter what the bridal color palette. Maybe if I concentrated on Wendell, the fact that my friend was being questioned about a murder wouldn’t see m so surreal. Bending down to pat Wendell’s sleek head, I murmured, “ Fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You even have to work nights. ” My hand encountered a folded paper attached to his collar. “ What’s this? ”
    Bianca clapped her hand to her mouth. “ Nick told me to deliver it the minute I got here. Sorry, in all the excitement . . . ”
    “ No problem. You’ve delivered it now. ”
    “ And I didn’t read it either, in case you wondered. ”
    I smiled at the old family joke. Respecting the privacy of others had been a big deal when the girls were growing up.
    Bianca went on, “ I mean, if you have anything special to tell me, you will, right? ”
    My face warmed at the studiously casual look on her sweet face, and I knew phone calls would be beaming in short order to her sisters, Susannah and Emily. All three girls were hoping Nick would soon be joining our family. They figured that three years of widowhood was long enough.
    “ You’ll be the f irst to know. Thanks, Wendell. ” Talking to the patient dog before me beat worrying about Alix. Just one more peaceful moment and I’d take up reality again.
    I unfastened the rubber band holding the paper to his collar. He stood and wagged his tail, eager for the expected treat. I dug around under the counter for the biscuits I kept on hand for his visits. Since they smelled of mint to keep Wendell’s breath kissing fresh, they were easy to locate. Bianca made them from natural ingredients and cut them into interesting shapes, in another of her creative business ventures. Today’s biscuit formed a question mark, in case the dog consuming it wished to contemplate the deeper meaning of life while he snacked. Wendell had never shown much interest in philosophy, but he was an excellent eater.
    Only after Bianca and Wendell had exited the bookstore did I unroll the parchment and read the fancy lettering. Where on earth had Nick Constantine, attorney by trade and rumpled fisherman by inclination, come up with this wording, not to mention the ornate font?
    Milady, please to cast aside care, don fine raiment, and lower the drawbridge at eight o’ the clock this very even to sup with me on wheaten bread and guinea fowl, accompanied by copious sweet mead? Ah, Madame, far, far too long has’t been since our lips last met, our hearts entwined. We have matters of great im port to discuss.
    Translation: Nick planned to bring over chicken sandwiches and wine after he got back from fishing and I finished the book club meeting. For a moment, Alix’s situation faded. His playful words made me smile , briefly, before