by Cat Chandler
He nodded. “I have your numbers if I need anything else.”
Nicki rolled her eyes at him as she got up and followed Matt out into the hallway. He took her hand and smiled.
“If we hurry, we can beat Jenna and Maxie to the hotel.”
Matt’s timing was perfect. They walked into the St. Armand just a few minutes before Jenna and Maxie came through the front doors, a bellman with a cart full of luggage following in their wake. Nicki intercepted them with hugs and kisses before they even made it to the front desk. Matt stood waiting his turn, smiling and shaking his head at a reunion that would have been worthy of a ten-year absence.
“Where’s our bride?” Maxie demanded, looking around after she’d given Matt an affectionate kiss on both his cheeks.
“Dealing with her mother,” Nicki said. “Which is something we need to talk about.”
“And what I’m going to leave you beautiful ladies to do,” Matt declared. “Right after we get all of us checked in.”
“All of us?” Jenna raised an eyebrow at him. Tall, with a huge mass of kinky dark hair that she had tied into a long pony tail, the self-proclaimed computer geek stared at Matt over the rim of her glasses. “When did you get here, Lancelot?”
Matt frowned. “Lancelot?”
Jenna waved a hand in front of his face. “Lancelot? Knight in shining armor? With all that Ivy-League education of yours, I’m sure you’ve heard of him.”
His forehead wrinkled, as if he was thinking it over for a moment before he broke out into a grin. “I can live with that. I flew in this morning.”
Jenna switched her gaze to Nicki. “So you finally managed to get hold of him?”
“No,” Matt said as he urged them toward the front desk. “It’s a long story that you can all talk over while I take a quick nap. I was up most of the night.” He suddenly yawned, emphasizing his point.
“Sounds good. I need to return a couple of calls first.” Jenna looked down at her cell phone and frowned.
“The cell service isn’t the greatest here.” Nicki’s voice held an apology. “But the internet is better.”
“Not much,” Matt groused. “Unless you use the hard-wired computers in the business center. At least that’s what the concierge told me when I dropped my bag at the desk.”
“Great,” Jenna huffed. “I brought a signal booster for my laptop. I’ll have to dig it out and give it a try.”
“In the meantime, why don’t we check in and then meet in the bar. I understand it has a lovely view,” Maxie said. “And then Nicki can fill us in on how the wedding plans are going, and the murder investigation.”
“Should be a fun weekend,” Jenna grinned. “By the way, Maxie brought a roll of butcher paper and some masking tape, to use as a makeshift murder board.”
“We simply can’t work without one,” Maxie declared. She wrapped an arm around Nicki’s waist. “But before we get to that, and once we’ve settled in a bit, I want to hear all about how Alex is doing.”
“Me too,” Jenna chimed in. “Our doctor friend sent me the weirdest text. She asked me to do an internet search on deserted islands.”
Chapter Eighty-Five
Nicki smiled and waved when Jenna and Maxie walked into the bar thirty minutes later. Both women stopped and stared at the magnificent view offered by the floor-to-ceiling window spanning the entire wall in front of them, before joining Nicki at the table.
Jenna’s eyes were glued to the striking panorama while she ordered a locally brewed beer. Maxie asked for her usual glass of chardonnay, smiling at Nicki who sat with her hands folded and resting on top of the table.
“You’ve had quite a time of it since you arrived,” the silver-haired genealogist said. She tapped a coral-pink nail against the wooden tabletop. “Helping to deal with the wedding glitches and trying to solve a murder all at once.”
“I haven’t solved much of anything,” Nicki admitted. She wished it were that easy. But the suspects were few and their motives lukewarm at best. Well, except for Brad, and maybe Paul, if the old will was still in force and he inherited the business.
Maxie reached over and gave Nicki’s folded hands a motherly pat. “Maybe you just need to step back from it for a bit. There is some interesting news from Soldoff, and it concerns our Jenna.”
“Oh?” Nicki turned a curious eye on her friend, who tore her gaze away from the scenery to frown at Maxie.
“There’s nothing to tell. It was just a business dinner.”
“Oh?” Nicki said again, grinning when Jenna glared at her. “A business dinner with whom, might I ask.” She winked at Maxie. “It couldn’t have been Mr. Giant Client, could it? The CEO of Trident Industries?”
“Like you said, he’s a client. Who else would you have a business dinner with?”
“The mysterious CEO, who I was told is very handsome, flew in his private plane to Santa Rosa, then drove to Soldoff to pick our Jenna up. In a Ferrari.”
“A Fer…” Nicki’s chin dropped to her chest. “He found a Ferrari to rent in Santa Rosa? Or does he keep one in a garage in every city he’s ever been to?”
“Ha, ha.” Jenna slouched down in her seat. “He flew in from Los Angeles and his driver brought the car up from his home in San Francisco.”
“And did his driver come along on this business dinner?” Nicki asked.
“No, he did not,” Maxie said. “It was just the two of them at Mario’s.”
Now Nicki broke into laughter. “He flies in on a private plane, picks you up in a Ferrari, and you take him to Mario’s?”
“Where else would we go in Soldoff?” Jenna demanded.
“There are more upscale restaurants than Mario’s in Sonoma or Santa Rosa,” Nicki pointed out.
Jenna slumped even further in her seat. “I didn’t think of that.”
“Or you could have gone into San Francisco. Plenty of nice places to eat there.”
“My car’s in the shop,” Jenna groused. “And there isn’t anything more to report. He picked me up, we had dinner, he took me home, and then he went on to San Francisco.” She raised a hand when Nicki opened her mouth. “He picked his driver up in Santa Rosa first.”
“Hmm.” Nicki looked over at Maxie. “Is that really all there is to report?”
“Only that Mario told Suzanne who told me that her date was very attentive at dinner.”
“It wasn’t a date,” Jenna declared, glaring at Maxie. “And I don’t know how you always find out everything? You probably know what color underwear I have on.”
“White, dear. I’m sure that’s the only color you have.” Maxie picked up the bar menu and pretended to read it while Jenna crossed her arms over her chest and silently fumed.
Nicki had a wide grin on her face. Small towns. No one’s business was private in a small town. Look at poor Clay Thomas. She’d heard who the police chief had his eye on when she’d only been in town for a few days.
“What about poor Clay Thomas? And who is he anyway? Another Nicki Connors conquest?”
Jenna’s voice broke into Nicki’s thoughts, startling her since she hadn’t been aware she’d said the name out loud.
“He’s the local police chief,” Nicki said. “Nice man but a little intense. Matt didn’t like him much at first, but he’s warming up to the guy.”
“Matt likes everybody. Well, except Rob,” Jenna said, referring to Nicki’s former boyfriend. “So what was it about this police chief that he didn’t like?”
Nicki was sorry she’d even mentioned it. “I think he was a little jealous.”
Jenna’s eyebrows shot up. “Matt? The only time I’ve seen him jealous was over your relationship with Rob.” She paused as understanding dawned in her eyes. “Ohhhh.” Jenna glanced over at Maxie and wiggled her eyebrows. “Just how good-looking do you think this police chief is?”
“Very,” Maxie said. “Since I saw his picture in the local paper that I looked up on the internet a few weeks ago.” She smiled at Nicki’s questioning look
. “I wanted to surprise Alex and Ty with a little family background for both of them. I thought they’d find it amusing.” She made a face. “Oh dear. Now that we’ll have this good-looking chief in our midst, I hope we won’t have a problem with Tyler as well as Matt.”
“I told Matt that Clay is interested in the owner of a local diner called Sunny Side Up, so he’s fine with Clay now.” Nicki grinned. “And if there’s a problem with Ty, it will be because his bride will be trying to talk him into running off to a Justice of the Peace before the actual wedding, and then immediately fleeing to a deserted island.”
“Ah.” Jenna exchanged a grin with Nicki. “The light dawns about the internet search request.”
“Perhaps you’d better tell us what’s going on, dear.” Maxie lifted her wine glass and took a small sip.
“Well, we have a cake problem and a possible wine snafu,” Nicki said.
“Wine? What’s wrong with the wine?” Jenna asked.
“Apparently the order got mixed up somehow, and the distributor had the wrong date, so he can’t get twenty cases of wine here in time for the wedding.”
“Oh my. That is a problem.” Even the unflappable Maxie looked a little troubled.
“And what about the cake?” Jenna asked.
Nicki shook her head at her friend. Sometimes the practicalities of life escaped the computer geek. “The baker who was going to make the cake is our murder victim, Jenna. So no cake.”
Jenna’s brows beetled together. “Can’t they just hire another baker?”
“Where?” Nicki threw her hands out. “Henley Bay isn’t big enough to have two wedding cake bakeries. And Seattle is a good three hours away on the clock, even if we could find a bakery there that would deliver a cake this far away. Not to mention it’s the height of wedding season. Most of them are booked solid.”
“Okay. So no cake. It’s not the end of the world,” Jenna said.
“Tell that to Alex’s mom.” Nicki sighed. They could probably solve the wine problem if it came up again, with Matt’s help if it came to that. But she wasn’t so sure about the cake.
“I can do without cake, but not having any wine at a wedding is a tragedy,” Jenna stated with a firm nod of her head.
“That one we have under control. Amanda thinks she may have solved the problem, and I have an appointment tomorrow to talk to her about it.” Nicki hoped that particular glitch would be all cleared up by that time.
“No baker, no wine, no cell service, no reliable internet, how did Alex survive growing up around here anyway?” Jenna wondered.
Nicki didn’t argue with her because she’d been wondering exactly the same thing. Even with the spectacular scenery, she’d take the busy streets, and all the easily accessible amenities, of New York any day of the week.
“Didn’t you grow up in the middle of Nebraska, dear?” Maxie smiled when Jenna slumped back down in her seat. “I imagine it had quite a bit in common with Henley Bay.”
“Well, at least we had excellent cell service and a few good hamburger joints.” Jenna turned a horrified look on Nicki. “Please tell me they have at least one hamburger joint somewhere around here.”
“Haven’t seen one.” Nicki hadn’t really noticed the lack of fast-food restaurants around until Jenna brought it up. “But Matt said the burger in the hotel’s cafe wasn’t bad.”
“A designer burger? Bite your tongue, Nicki Connors.”
“I make you designer burgers all the time,” Nicki reminded her.
“Yours are in a class of their own. Very different from a restaurant burger. Tomorrow we’re going to have to track down that diner the police chief’s love interest owns. What was it called? Sunny Side Up?”
Nicki stifled a laugh as Maxie turned twinkling blue eyes on her. “Who is Amanda?”
“The events manager here at the St. Armand, and on my list of people to talk to about the murder. We were supposed to meet today, but she called and cancelled, and we haven’t had a chance to reschedule yet.”
Both women perked up.
“Really? Why? Do you think she killed off the only cake maker in town?” Jenna asked.
“I don’t know who killed Robin Boral.” Nicki sighed and looked out the window. The sun was setting so the whole scene had taken on a deep-orange glow. “I’d like to help Alex’s friend, Gin. But the fact is, her husband is the best suspect, especially if he inherits the entire business. The chief is going to check into that tomorrow.”
“Who else is on your list, dear?” Maxie asked.
“Lydia, the ex-second wife. There was no love lost between her and the victim, but then she doesn’t seem to like anyone except her daughter, Tina. Then there’s a girlfriend who goes by the name of Mink, and Paul Franklin. He’s been Robin’s friend since they were in diapers together.” Nicki paused to silently consider that last name. “He’s also doing the flowers for Alex’s wedding.”
“Then let’s not get him tossed into jail before the ceremony, or we’ll really be in trouble,” Jenna declared.
Nicki glanced over to the doorway leading into the bar and spotted Alex. “Shh. There’s our bride now.”
Jenna’s head swiveled around. “And she doesn’t look happy.”
“It’s up to us to cheer her up, ladies. So put your smiles on. She doesn’t need to see any glum faces.” Maxie rose and met Alex halfway, giving her a warm hug before leading the way back to the table.
Alex plopped down in the seat next to Jenna. “I’m exhausted.”
“You look it,” Jenna said, staring into her friend’s face. “But we have everything under control.”
“Oh really?” Alex looked around the table, her lips twitching up into a smile.
“Certainly,” Maxie said. “Nicki is keeping right on top of the wine mix-up, and I have a solution for the cake disaster which I will discuss with your mother first thing in the morning. And the flowers are fine.”
Alex’s expression took on a sudden look of alarm. “The flowers? What’s wrong with the flowers?”
“They’re fine, dear,” Maxie repeated. “We were about to turn our minds to dinner. I hope you can join us. I’ll send Matt a text and it will be just like a little reunion.”
“Do you really think you can solve the cake problem?” There was a cautious note of hope in Alex’s voice.
“You leave it to me. I’m sure I can convince your mother to go along with my little plan.”
“That would be fantastic.” Alex beamed at the older woman. “Mom is frantic over the whole thing. I don’t care if we have cake or not. Celery and carrot sticks would be fine with me. Much healthier than cake.”
Jenna laughed and pulled Alex out of her seat. “Oh stop being such a doctor and stay in bride mode for a while longer. Some of us happen to like cake.”
“Some of us like anything that will clog our arteries,” Alex declared, but she wrapped an arm around Jenna’s waist.
Nicki walked out with Maxie. “Can you really solve the cake problem?” she whispered, keeping an eye on Alex.
“Of course, dear,” Maxie whispered back. “All Alex needs is a little imagination and a bit of help from her friends, and the cake problem vanishes.”
As they walked across the lobby toward the cafe, Nicki frowned. “Help from what friends?”
“Nicki? I was hoping I’d see you here.”
The entire group froze in place and turned around at once as if they were all sewn together.
“Rob?” Nicki could not believe her eyes. But sure enough, it was Rob, the boyfriend she’d done her best to break up with a few months ago. Of course, that hadn’t stopped him from texting her almost every day, and asking her out on a regular basis. For some reason, Rob was having a hard time grasping the concept of breaking up.
He walked up and took both her hands in his. Nicki was so surprised to see him that she didn’t think to protest.
Instead, she said the first thing that came into her mind. “What are you doing here?”
“
Coming to the rescue of an event the St. Armand is having, and hopefully getting a catering contract from them.”
Rob was the assistant wine buyer for the Catalan House Restaurant Chain, which also did a large catering business. Including supplying the wine for their events. Nicki almost groaned out loud.
“This event wouldn’t happen to be a wedding would it?”
“As a matter of fact, it is.”
Nicki glanced over at Alex who slapped a hand against her forehead while Jenna crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes.
It was Maxie who finally came to Nicki’s rescue.
“How wonderful! That happens to be Alex’s wedding. Isn’t it a small world?”
While Maxie chattered away to Rob, Nicki managed to free her hands from his grip and take a step back to stand with Jenna and Alex.
“What do we do now?” Alex whispered from the side of her mouth.
Since she had no desire to cause her friend any more worry over this wedding, Nicki shrugged. “Nothing,” she whispered back. “Let him supply the wine. He’ll do a good job.”
“But what about you?” Alex asked. “He might be hanging around until the wedding.”
“I’m fine with it. I’ll be too busy to run into him much.”
Jenna gave Nicki a nudge in the side. “That’s great. But what about him?”
Nicki followed the line of Jenna’s gaze, right to Matt. The editor was standing about ten feet behind Rob, his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face.
Chapter Eighty-Six
Nicki’s head swiveled between the two men who were both standing with their feet apart, staring at each other.
“Oh good. A showdown.”
Jenna’s dry comment snapped Nicki out of her deer-in-the-headlights pose. She walked over to Matt and wrapped a hand around his upper arm.
“Matt. You remember Rob?” It was a ridiculous question, but the best she could come up with at the moment.
“Oh sure. How’s it going, Rob?” Matt didn’t blink as he kept his stare on the good-looking, always-perfectly-dressed wine buyer.