Caught in the Frame (Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery Series Book 3) by ReGina Welling (novel24 .TXT) 📕

story.” Lila began. “You know that little bakery we love in St. Tropez, Chlo? L’amie du Pain? Well, I got an early morning craving, so I walked over from the flat I was renting, and on the way back I got my heel caught between two cobblestones.”

“I found her there, cursing fluently in four different languages. What a sight; clutching a giant purse in one hand, and a boule in the other, this vision of golden beauty in two inch heels at six o’clock in the morning. Her shoe, it was stuck fast, and not a hand did she have to aid herself. I did the gallant thing, and set her free.”

“One inch heels, love. Barely higher than flats. And you laughed at me first.” Her indulgent smile drew a shrug from his shoulders.

“I laughed only at my good fortune. It isn’t every day a humble man like me finds his goddess stuck to a street.”

Just as Chloe began to think she could like the man, everything changed, and she wondered whether she had relaxed a little too soon. Unless her highly-honed investigative reporting skills had deteriorated, there was something off about him. Once talk turned to how many people were free to attend the wedding on such short notice, this close to the start of the holiday season—and to his family in particular—Javier’s countenance turned guarded. Nearly every family-related question he passed off with an agility that Chloe felt could have only been developed with considerable practice.

“So, Javier, tell us about your family. Are they able to attend the wedding?” Chloe prodded, a skeptical edge to her voice that prompted a scathing look from Lila and bewildered expressions from both Nate and EV. She ignored a kick in the shins from beneath the table and waited patiently for Javier’s response.

Javier slowly finished chewing before answering vaguely, “Many of them will attend, yes. But they won’t arrive until just before the ceremony.”

Lila interrupted before Javier could say much more. “Javier’s sister-in-law, Baylee, is here already; they’re very close. Actually, she’s an amazing photographer and has graciously agreed to shoot the wedding. When you see her portfolio you’ll understand why we accepted, even though there’s a perfectly competent photographer on staff here at the castle.”

As Chloe opened her mouth to ask another intrusive question, their dinner was interrupted by Antoine, who asked to speak to Javier in private.

“Please excuse me while I attend to some business.” He kissed Lila on the cheek before departing.

“What was that all about?” Chloe demanded, suspicion evident in her clipped tone.

Lila sighed. “Back off, Chlo. Javier just told you he’s in security. His company oversaw the installation of a high-tech system here about six months ago, and agreed to perform a security scan during our stay. In exchange, they’ve comped all our suites. Not that we can’t afford it, but the wedding rates here are pricey, and we were happy to accept the rate reduction. Besides, it will keep him occupied while we attend to wedding plans.”

Wanting clarification, she pressed, but Lila adeptly sidestepped Chloe’s onslaught of questions; waxing on about her dress, the ceremony, and the minutiae of other details necessary to pull off an event of this magnitude on such short notice.

Until she changed the subject altogether with a startling question: “Not to be blunt, but what are your intentions toward my daughter?” Lila turned a gimlet-eyed stare toward Nate.

“Did we just time travel back to the dark ages? Who asks that kind of question?” Chloe ignored the snort EV hastily covered by clearing her throat. The woman had been extraordinarily quiet all evening long.

“It’s fine,” Nate laid a hand over Chloe’s to calm her down. “I love her. I’ve always loved her, and my intentions are to keep on loving her. Will that do it for you?”

Thankfully, Javier returned just in time to put an end to that discussion. He’d barely seated himself when dessert was served.

“Is anything wrong, Dear?”

“I apologize; a guest reported something stolen from her room. It’s all been taken care of.” With the subject of family no longer taking center stage, he was back to his effusive self.

Conversation centered around the trivial, until the last delicious morsel was scraped off the last delicate plate.

“I think it’s time to turn in. EV is almost asleep at the table. Remember, we’ve got a busy day tomorrow, ladies. I hope you’re not opposed to dinner for breakfast. Our tasting with catering starts right here at 9:00 am sharp. I’ll see you then.” Lila pulled Chloe close for one last, clingy hug before leaving the table with Javier’s protective hand at her back.

“All right, sourpuss, what’s your deal?” EV demanded when the coast was clear. Nothing about Javier had set off any alarm bells with her.

Nate nodded in agreement. “He seems nice enough. A little nervous about his family, but you’re not exactly making it easy on the guy, are you?”

“I know when something is off, and there’s definitely something wonky going on with him. And I’d appreciate it if you’d both climb off of my butt. I have every right to scrutinize. It’s not like she isn’t watching you and me like a hawk. You think she would hesitate to grill you like a steak if she hadn’t seen you in diapers?” came Chloe’s irritated retort. “Trust me, she’s trying to figure out our relationship just as much as I’m trying to figure out theirs. Why do you think she stuck you in a room as far away as she could find? She wants to catch us sneaking into each other’s beds. She probably gotten Mr. Security to set up some kind of alarm on my room.”

“All the same, let’s just put a pin in it for now. You’ve been dead set against Javier from the second Lila mentioned she was seeing someone seriously. Do you doubt that we are also good judges of character?”

Chloe crossed her arms and refused to respond. EV hoped a good night’s sleep would calm her friend’s