Peril in Paperback: A Bibliophile Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

about it. Finally my books will have some order to them.”
    As Grace spoke, I watched Nathan’s eyebrows lift ever so slightly in a subtle but clear sign of masculine approval of me.
Isn’t that nice?
I reached out and we shook hands. “Hi, Nathan.”
    “It’s a real pleasure to meet you, Brooklyn,” he said, his voice just smooth and deep enough to be wildly appealing to ninety-seven percent of the female population. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
    With all the angst and drama I’d been through earlier,I’d forgotten about working with Grace’s archivist this week. Now I looked forward to having the distraction of work to keep me from wallowing in anxiety.
    The fact that the distraction included a handsome guy wouldn’t hurt, either.
    After a minute more of small talk, Grace left us alone to speak to her other guests.
    “I’ve already Googled you,” he confessed. “I’m impressed.”
    “Thank you.” I smiled. “And as soon as I return to my room I’m looking you up. I hope you haven’t broken any laws lately.”
    His laugh was spontaneous and hearty. Talk about a distraction. “You won’t find anything exciting about me, I’m afraid. I’ve spent most of my working life sequestered in university libraries.”
    “Not such a bad place to be sequestered.”
    “Not bad at all,” he said easily. “I love being around books.”
    I glanced around, then leaned closer. “You’ve come to the right place.”
    “I know.” He chuckled. “This place is stuffed with books, isn’t it? Grace told me she was putting you in her Library Suite. How do you like it?”
    My eyes widened. “Oh, my God, you’ve seen it?”
    “Oh yeah.”
    I shook my head in wonder. “I’m still in shock.”
    He laughed again, then lowered his voice. “It’s like they moved the entire Library of Congress into that room. But I understand the bed is very comfortable. I mean, Grace said she bought a new mattress for the room, so that’s how I know the bed is…oh, boy. Not that I’ve…I wouldn’t…I mean…I’m going to shut up now.”
    He was blushing! How adorable and refreshing. And I was laughing. Having fun. I’d forgotten how flirting with a cute boy could change your attitude about life in general.
    Not that I’d be running off to marry the guy or anything. I really was devoted to Derek. But after that phone call with Thomasina, I worried that I’d be drowning in melancholy and uncertainty for the next week.
    Instead, for a half hour we talked and flirted and sipped champagne. Nathan confessed that he was the world’s biggest football fan, and I revealed my predilection for Ghirardelli chocolate with caramel. As we exchanged information and stories, Nathan glanced casually around the room. I didn’t take it personally because I was doing the same thing. It was what people did at parties. But as I chuckled over his amusing story about the one and only bookbinding class he’d ever taken, something caught my attention at the far end of the room. Something that didn’t belong there. I focused my gaze on it and lost the thread of the conversation.
    I held up my hand to interrupt his story. “I’m sorry, but would you excuse me for just a minute?”
    “Oh.” He was taken aback but recovered quickly. “Sure thing.”
    But I was already gone, weaving my way through the small groups of partygoers. I tried to nod and smile and say hello as I passed quickly, hoping they would forgive me for not stopping to talk.
    When I reached the distant corner of the room, I steadied myself on the firm arm of the couch and knelt down next to the heavy Chippendale end table. Lifting up the front end of the table, I removed the hardcover book that had been wedged under the right front claw foot to keep the table from jiggling.
    Still on my knees, I held the book up to the light and examined it. It was bound in brown leather with five raised bands on the spine, but it was so worn down and cracked that I couldn’t make out the