Permanently Booked (15 page)

“It’s possible,” Georgiana answered finally, with a shrug from the front seat. She didn’t turn around this time. “I did take a second look at that photograph. Blurry, and quite dated. But, you see, I am probably quite a bit younger than Lorella.”

Dash cleared his throat, and Summer bit her freshly-geranium-pinked lip as she shot Dorothy a dubious look.

“Oh yes, of course,” Dorothy said. “How silly of me.”

“Darling, where is the lighter in this fancy car?” Georgiana asked her son. “My e-cigarette is out of juice, and I need to recharge.”

“We don’t have one, Mother,” Dash said. “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait.”

“Hmmph,” Georgiana said, looking quite put out. “Well, fine. If you don’t mind, everyone, I need a few moments to think about my off-the-cuff remarks for this evening.”

Clearly, that was the end of the conversation regarding Lorella. For now, anyway. Dorothy knew she’d need to find some other way of bringing up the subject later. Georgiana was obviously being evasive about her fellow alumna—but why?

Chapter Fifteen

Summer was relieved that the rest of the drive downtown to Milano Book & Bar had been quick and relatively painless, with everyone lost in their own thoughts.

She was starting to feel a little nervous about the whole deal with Garrett. It was a stupid idea to try to set him and Jennifer up, she realized now. Even for something as tame as this, a book signing party. At least nobody thought of bookstores, even cool ones with a bar like this one, as big hook up places. Totally safe, no pressure.

So hopefully, Jennifer wouldn’t be mad at her, and with luck maybe Garrett wouldn’t even realize she’d invited him here under false pretenses. But she did need to talk to Detective Donovan alone tonight about seeing Ray near the golf course.

As they all got out of the car, Dash quizzed the valet on exactly how and where he planned to park the Mercedes. The kid pointed to a supertight spot, just a few feet away from the bookstore entrance.

Sometimes Milano was a lot like LA, after all.

“Do you think there will be anything to eat at this thing?” she whispered to Dorothy as they stepped through the heavy oak door. Dash and Georgiana were still outside, getting ready for another one of her big entrances.

She was starting to get a really good idea of why Dash was always so annoyed by his mom.

“I imagine there will be something,” Dorothy said. “Hors d’oeuvres, at least, since they’re serving cocktails. There should be a large group of us for dinner at the New Algonquin afterward. I believe that’s what Parker mentioned, anyway.”

“Never heard of the place,” Summer said. “But at least it’ll be a chance for us to dig up more dirt for the case, I guess.”

“Yes, it may be more of a challenge than we’d expected here at the signing,” Dorothy said. “Just look at all these people.”

“Wow, you’re right,” Summer said. Milano Book & Bar was packed, and not just in the bar section. It wasn’t the biggest space in the world, but the bookstore part probably hadn’t seen this many people in years. Maybe ever.

She spotted Garrett just after Dorothy excused herself to find the powder room. He was waiting right by the sign that said Welcome, Authors and Guests. Signing Today: Georgiana Hamel, Bestselling Author of
Murder in the Mist.
Below it, in smaller letters, a bookstore employee had tacked a large green sticky note that said And Carrie Dunbar.

Ouch.

“Hey.” Summer gave Garrett a grin as she went up to him, but not a really big one so he wouldn’t get the wrong idea.

“You look really nice,” he said, smiling back.

So did he, in his casual blue-toned madras sport jacket, pale blue polo, and khaki pants. But she wasn’t even paying attention to that, really. Where were Detective Donovan and Jennifer? They hadn’t gotten here yet, unless she was missing them in the crowd.

She didn’t recognize a lot of these people. Not many of them were Hibiscus Pointers, that was for sure. At least, not so far. Carrie was already up there in the roped-off authors’ area with Parker.

A long, velvet-skirted table was set up toward the back of a parquet dance-floor-type space. It held two microphones, piles of books for signing, and two brass holders. This time there were cards printed with both authors’ names. At least Carrie was getting equal billing this time.

The sort-of debut author did look pretty happy as she stood there in a bright green retro dress with a swirly circle skirt, smiling out at the crowd. Every now and then, she gave a little wave and an even bigger grin.

Summer looked around. Who was Carrie waving to? No one, she realized. The newbie was totally faking it, trying to make it seem like people knew who she was. Jeez.

Behind the table, Parker—wearing all black, as usual—seemed too busy to look up. She was laying out postcards for people to take in front of Carrie’s book pile and placing bookmarks inside each title.

“So, what exactly is this event, again?” Garrett asked. “I think I see a few Majesty members here. I’m sure they’d be happy to make some big donations, since your charity is such a great cause. Do you want me to introduce you?”

Yikes. “Um, no, thanks,” Summer said. “We don’t want to hit them up right away. You know, before the authors speak. That would be really rude, I think.”

Where was Georgiana, anyway? She and Dash sure were taking their sweet time. “How about a drink?” Summer said. “It’ll take forever for the servers to get to us, but we could grab something at the bar. Oh, and I see a good friend of mine right near it. Let’s go.”

She’d never been so glad to see Ernie. By the time she and Garrett joined him, Dorothy was also headed their way. Good. Now she and Garrett wouldn’t have to chat about nothing. Or worse, charity donations.

“Nice to meet you, Garrett,” Ernie said, after she had introduced them and the guys had shaken hands. “Looks like our girl Summer here is taking a step up in the date department.”

Summer felt her face grow hot as a fireball shot. What was
that
supposed to mean? Now she was probably the same shade as her bright pink dress.

“Ernie!” Dorothy scolded as she reached their group. “Summer and this nice young man have just met, I believe. I’m Dorothy Westin,” she added to Garrett. “It’s lovely to meet you. Are you a fan of Georgiana Hamel’s?”

“Not really, I’m afraid,” Garrett said. “I guess I’m just a fan of my gorgeous date here.”

Oooooh. This was not good. Maybe she could talk Dash into playing the fake jealous ex-boyfriend. If he ever showed up. “How about that drink?” she asked Garrett. “I’d love a mojito with an extra stick of cane sugar.”

“Sure,” Garrett said. “Anyone else?”

“Chardonnay would be lovely, thank you,” Dorothy said.

“I’ll step over to the bar with you, son,” Ernie said quickly. “I could do with another Scotch myself. What do you drink?”

The tennis pro shrugged his wide shoulders. “Pellegrino, mostly. I’m pretty much in training year-round.”

Ugh, Summer thought. She and Garrett were complete opposites, she could already tell. She was all for being healthy and everything, but...Where was Jennifer, for cripes sake? And Detective Donovan? Those were the two biggest straight arrows she knew.

But at least she and the detective had a few things in common. They both solved murders. Donovan had a sense of humor, at least, underneath that sharp suit he always wore. Along with the ripped bod.

“Oh, look, Georgiana just walked in,” Dorothy said.

“Good.” Summer glanced over at the authors’ area. “Looks as if Parker’s got everything set up, so maybe they’ll start soon.”

“If Georgiana isn’t waylaid,” Dorothy said. “Look who else is here.”

Summer turned back toward the door. Professor Bell had just stepped out from behind a pillar near the book display at the front. He had his man bag over his shoulder again and it looked as if the buckles were going to burst on that thing. “I think he’s written even more pages of that manuscript he’s dying for Georgiana to read. Should I go over and rescue her?”

“Oh, I bet Georgiana can handle him on her own,” Dorothy said, just as the famous author stiff-armed the professor and swept past him with a haughty glare.

Dash and Georgiana didn’t make their way to the authors’ area right away. Instead the two of them headed straight toward the bar. The crowd quickly let them through after the author made it clear with a few head shakes that she wouldn’t sign autographs until later.

“It’s like they’re royalty or something,” Summer said.

“Well, Georgiana has often been called the queen of mystery.” Dorothy smiled at Ernie as he handed her a very full glass of white wine with a Book & Bar cocktail napkin.

Garrett was right behind him, with his water and her mojito. “Thanks,” she said, taking a huge sip. Yum. Nice and sweet. So what would they talk about now?

Luckily, Ernie started talking about some spy thriller he’d just finished, which Garrett’s dad thought was awesome, too, and Dorothy joined in, so Summer didn’t have to say much.

As she stirred her drink with the little sugarcane stick, watching Dash try to get an order with the harried bartender, Georgiana came up beside her.

“Striking ring,” the tall woman said in a low voice as she readjusted her red scarf over her shoulder. “I noticed it in the car.”

Oh. Summer had almost forgotten she was wearing it. Neither Dorothy nor Georgiana had mentioned it earlier. “Uh, thanks. It was my grandma’s.”

No way would Grandma Sloan have worn anything that expensive. She’d been pretty cheap, from what Summer could tell. And she’d never even met her other grandma, Harmony’s mom. She’d probably been an unmaterialistic hippie.

“I’d love to have a closer look at it,” Georgiana said.

It didn’t sound as if Dash’s mom would take no for an answer. Why had she worn the stupid thing tonight? She’d grabbed it from her drawer as she was getting dressed and it had looked kind of cool. She didn’t think anyone would notice it, really. She only wore big jewelry when she was getting super dressed up.

Summer switched the mojito to the other hand, twisted the ring off her finger—it was a little tight—and handed it over to Georgiana.

The author held the bloodstone ring up to the light, compared Lorella’s to her own, then turned it around and peered at the gold band. “Lovely,” she murmured, returning it to Summer with a deep frown.

Dash returned then with his mom’s drink, and Parker started tapping on Carrie’s microphone. “Georgiana, shall we get started?” she called.

Georgiana swept toward the authors’ area without another word, drink in hand, and Summer breathed a sigh of relief.

Obviously, Dash’s mom didn’t like anyone to copy her, she thought. Okay, so maybe she shouldn’t have worn the ring tonight.

But Georgiana needed to get over herself.

* * *

Dorothy allowed her mind to wander a bit as Parker introduced GH Hamel and Carrie to the crowd. Milano Book & Bar had been the perfect choice of venues for the signing event and, judging by the expressions on their faces, the staff was clearly thrilled by the turnout this evening.

The bookstore was simply lovely. Why hadn’t she been here more often? Too many trips to the library, she supposed. The rich feel of the mahogany bookshelves, Oriental rugs over shining wooden floors, and just the right amount of lighting gave the place a cozy, highly literary feel.

Too bad the WMLO news crew Carrie had been so excited about in that note she’d left her in the library hadn’t materialized.

“So our signings will take place directly following a few short readings by the authors from their latest books,” Parker was saying. “Please hold any comments or questions until afterward, because we’ll be having a brief Q&A session, as well.”

Dorothy couldn’t help feeling relieved and grateful that Parker was acting as mistress of ceremonies this evening. Hopefully, once the book club activities were scaled down after the guest authors’ departures, she wouldn’t be quite as nervous leading meetings.

Perhaps the members could even take turns running the show. She doubted that that idea would fly, though—everyone always seemed too busy to fully commit to things, and besides that, the Hibiscus Pointe Book Club seemed to attract the most argumentative individuals.

Dorothy tried to move, slowly and casually, closer to Professor Bell. He was leaning back against a pillar now, his brow furrowed and his arms crossed against his chest, as Georgiana and Carrie presented their opening remarks.

She imagined he looked much the way his students did as they listened to his lectures. Half listening, with a hint of bored resignation.

She hoped she wasn’t giving that impression herself right now. And heavens, had Charles Bell actually noticed the way she was rudely staring at him?

To her horror, he smiled and actually winked at her. A very quick flutter, but most definitely a wink. Oh dear.

Dorothy immediately focused her full attention on the authors at the table, who were now taking turns reading from their works. In public, Georgiana was gracious and charming, and Carrie played the starstruck fan and ingénue to the hilt.

Dorothy was familiar with GH Hamel’s highly polished books, of course, but she had to admit that she was pleasantly surprised by Carrie. It was entirely possible she hadn’t given her enough credit.

The younger author read steadily and lightly, pausing in all the right places, and the story line of her first book,
A
Debut for Death
, didn’t sound half bad. A beautiful debutante murdered at her own coming-out ball, leaving behind a grieving twin sister and a heartbroken suitor to solve the crime together.

The crowd loved it. Even Georgiana applauded lightly when Carrie had finished reading. Perhaps she would purchase the book tonight, Dorothy told herself, instead of waiting for it to appear in the library or in paperback.

Her to-be-read pile on her nightstand was already almost as tall as the lamp, of course. But she should buy
Debut for Death
anyway, as the new head of the Hibiscus Pointe Book Club—and no doubt it would make Carrie very happy.

There were plenty of questions for both authors during the Q&A. Dorothy took that opportunity to edge her way back closer to the bar area, where Ernie, Dash, Summer, and her date—what was his name again?—were still gathered. Sadly, but perhaps not unsurprisingly, the three men and her sleuthing partner all looked rather out of their elements.

Dorothy wasn’t about to risk glancing back over her shoulder at Professor Bell, but she did stop for a moment in the crowd to listen as Georgiana answered a few questions about how she’d gotten her start and where she got her stories.

Could the reigning queen of mystery have been involved somehow in Lorella Caldwell’s death?

It was almost ridiculous to even speculate on that, of course. Georgiana was a successful career author who had seemingly nothing in common with shy Lorella other than a possible, long-ago college connection. Besides, she lived nearly fifteen hundred miles away in New York City.

Surely it had to be just a coincidence that Georgiana had shown up in Milano on the exact day of Lorella’s murder. But still...something wasn’t right.