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

her, she slid in the same direction. When he changed course, she pivoted right on cue, putting her body in close proximity with the rolling menace. The waiter’s face fell into politely annoyed lines as EV bumped a hip against Remy’s table.

The only blip in her plan was that Remy caught his water glass before it dumped over into his lap. Petty, she admitted, but it would have been fun to douse him. Instead, she had to satisfy herself with watching his expression change as he recognized her.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…Remy?” She let her eyes widen in surprise, then filled them with false warmth.

He struggled to replace his initial snarl with a warm greeting. She could see how the effort to drop into character cost him. The veneer of politeness had thinned over the years. And so had his hair.

The way his appraising gaze ran over her made EV glad Chloe had insisted on a makeover. Whatever it was that she had hoped to see—maybe the ghost of the boy she knew had once loved her, or a flicker of regret over the loss of his child and the way he had treated her—there was nothing in him worthy of redemption.

“EV, I was hoping I’d run into you. As soon as I heard about the wedding, I knew I couldn’t miss getting a glimpse of the man who finally corralled Lila.” He stood. “Are you meeting anyone?” When she shook her head, he snapped impatient fingers at the next passing waiter. “Set another place, the lady will be joining me.”

The lady would have preferred slapping him. Or kicking him in the danglies.

“You look good, EV. Beautiful.”

“Thank you. You look,” older, paunchier, like a rat bastard with pointy teeth who probably smells like the fetid hole he crawled out of, “distinguished. Tell me, where have you been keeping yourself all these years?”

“Oh, here and there,” he evaded, “My grandfather passed on last year. Since then, I’ve been handling some of his personal business.” He reached across the table to lay a hand on hers. “What about you? Lila tells me you moved into your parent’s old place.”

“I’m comfortable there.” With an eloquent shrug she deflected the conversation back to him. “Did you ever get married? Have children?” Please tell me you never procreated.

“Come now, it’s bad form to talk about exes on a date.”

Date? In your dreams, you fungus on the butt of humanity.

He glanced up when a waiter appeared at his side. Keeping his eyes on EV, Remy ordered steak au poivre with cognac sauce and fingerling potatoes. “And the lady will have the same.” He flashed her a triumphant smile.

“The lady will have the chicken with garlic,” Lots and lots of garlic—enough to choke a vampire. She flashed Remy a pointed look, “and leek soup to start, You’ll bill both to my room.” Alone again, she said, “This is not a date.” The tart comment slid right past him, since it didn’t fit with the fantasy that he could snap his fingers and have her panting to be with him again.

Could he be a bigger jerk? His ego obviously outweighed his mental faculties if he couldn’t read her complete lack of interest in him. EV took a moment to tune him out and think. Part of her thirsted for payback—the part that lived deep in the most primitive recesses of her mind—for the way he had walked away from her grief over their lost child. For the wild mother in her, this was personal. The primal desire to inflict pain had to be tempered with guile and wit if she wanted to learn his motive for going after Ponderosa Pines.

Listening to him now, even with half her brain otherwise occupied, she was coming to realize his reasons for blackmailing Evan might not have been all that complex. Remy reminded her of an attention-seeking child constantly shouting, “Mommy, look at me!”

The leek soup smelled like heaven, but tasted like dust in her mouth. Spoonful followed spoonful while he prattled on about himself. Her bowl lay empty before he seemed to realize she hadn’t spoken since taking that first bite.

“You’re quiet, EV. I guess your days run together out there in the woods, living the quiet life.”

“I manage to fill my time.” Hadn’t Marjorie told him EV normally spent half the month of February criss-crossing the country speaking about Ponderosa Pines and the environmental innovations used there? She made a note to have someone ask Remy’s aunt that very question. “I’m learning to knit.”

“How quaint.” Remy’s sneer lasted only a second before he shoved a huge chunk of steak into his mouth.

I hope you choke.

Forcing her face into a pleasant mask, EV threw out the first morsel of bait. “Well, you know I’ve felt obligated to stay ever since I practically forced the elders to expand.” EV rolled her eyes, let a small sigh of regret slide his way.

“Then get out. They don’t need you now.” He reached across the table to lay his hand over hers. She stopped the involuntary flinch of disgust, but just barely. The prickling feeing originating from the point of contact had nothing to do with desire, and everything to do with the skin of her hand wanting to crawl off her bones and slink under the table like a kicked dog.

“It’s not that easy. I have ties in the Pines.”

“Lila said you were seeing someone.” He let his eyes go dark and hungry. “You know I’m the only one for you, right? We’re meant to be. It’s kismet.”

Kismet? Kiss it. Just pucker up.

EV dipped her head, cast her eyes down toward the table—let him think she was overcome with emotion, and not just hiding the scorn that leapt into them.

“I’d give you anything you want,” he continued. “Besides, Ponderosa Pines won’t be your problem much longer.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing. Dessert?” He changed the subject.

“Thank you, but I have to meet Lila in,” she looked at her watch, “ten