LITMIR.BIZ

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      “For what, ma’am?”

      Slightly flustered by the man’s comment, Annabelle said, “Uh…hmm…well, I assumed that if he’s coming to Memphis, he plans to work for me.”

      “Possibly, but I couldn’t say for certain.”

      “Oh, I see.”

      “Good day, Ms. Vanderley.”

      The dial tone droned in her ear. She replaced the receiver. Odd man, she thought. Such strange comments. But surely if Griffin Powell was coming to Memphis this evening, he intended to take her case. Why else would he make the trip?

      She remembered meeting Mr. Powell several years ago at a charity function in Chattanooga. More than likely anyone who ever met the man, never forgot him. Like Quinn Cortez, Griffin Powell possessed enormous animal magnetism, albeit a more subtle charisma. If she hadn’t been engaged and totally devoted to her fiancé when she met Mr. Powell, she might have accepted his overtures, but at that time Chris had still been the center of her universe.

      Suddenly, her mind was filled with images of three different men. Chris, her first love, who would always be a part of her. She liked to remember the way they had been before the accident, the two of them young and in love and looking forward to a lifetime together. But more and more lately, thoughts of Chris during the last few years of his life haunted her. Helpless. Melancholy. Begging her to make a new life for herself and yet clinging to her at the same time. And now memories of Chris became overlaid by images of two men she barely knew—men who, each in his own way—had made a strong impression on her. Big, blond Griffin Powell. A reserved, secretive man who reminded her of the old saying about still waters running deep. And then there was Quinn Cortez—dark and dangerous.

      Annabelle shivered. Had Quinn Cortez killed Lulu? Had the man who had come to her rescue this morning murdered her cousin last night?

      If the police had any proof whatsoever that he had killed Lulu, they would have arrested him. Right? Of course they would have. He’d been Lulu’s lover, the person who discovered her body, so naturally he headed their list of possible suspects.

      Stop thinking about Quinn Cortez. If he’s an innocent man, then he is of no interest to you. Your only concern must be making sure Lulu’s murderer is caught and punished.

      Uncle Louis was counting on her. He trusted her to do what he was physically and emotionally unable to do. Staying the course until the family could achieve closure on this matter could well be the only thing that would keep her uncle alive. After all, he’d said more than once that Lulu was his only reason for living. Not Wythe. Never Wythe. No father could be proud of a son like Wythe. Spineless, bloodsucking leech. That’s what Uncle Louis had once called him.

      The telephone rang again. Annabelle sighed. Now who? Please God, don’t let it be a phone call from home about Uncle Louis.

      Her hand trembled slightly as she picked up the receiver. “Hello.”

      “Annabelle, darling girl, it’s Aunt Perdita. I just spoke to Hiram and he told me what happened and where I could get in touch with you.”

      “Oh, Aunt Perdita, I’m sorry I didn’t try to contact you, but—”

      “No apologies necessary. I understand. What I want to know is if you need me to come to Memphis tonight. If you do, I can skip this damn wedding and try to catch a flight out right away.”

      “Wedding?”

      “Joyce and Whit Morris’s daughter, Cynthia. You’d forgotten, hadn’t you, dear? No mind. It’s a tediously dull affair. But since I was once engaged to Whit’s brother, that makes me practically Cynthia’s aunt and—”

      “No, please, don’t miss the wedding.”

      “I’ll be there no later than tomorrow night. I’ll book reservations right away for the first flight from Louisville to Memphis, hopefully in the morning.”

      “There’s really no need for you to come. I’m perfectly fine.”

      “Really, dear? Are you sure?”

      Her aunt Perdita knew her better than anyone, perhaps because she had shared confidences with her mother’s younger sister, had told her things she’d never told another living soul. Aunt Perdita was the only other person who knew that she’d been unfaithful to Chris, that she’d had two brief affairs during their eight-and-a-half-year engagement.

      “I’m numb right now, Aunt Perdita,” Annabelle admitted. “I’m just going through the motions. Hopefully, the police will find Lulu’s killer very soon and I can return home, at least until the trial starts.”

      “Do they have any idea who killed her or why?”

      “Not really.”

      “No suspects.”

      “No.” Not unless she counted Quinn Cortez and for some unfathomable reason, Annabelle didn’t want to think of him as a suspect.

      “If you’re sure you’re all right—”

      “I am.”

      “Then I’ll phone you in the morning. And if you need me, I’ll come running. I know how alone you are.”

      Annabelle said good-bye, then headed for the kitchen, which was kept fully stocked. She hadn’t eaten a bite since the cup of coffee and cheese Danish she’d had before leaving home early this morning. As if on cue, her stomach growled when she opened the refrigerator.

      She removed an apple and a bottle of Perrier. For dinner tonight, she’d either order in or make reservations at a nearby restaurant for six o’clock. She had an eight o’clock appointment at the Peabody with Griffin Powell and didn’t want to be late. She suspected the man appreciated punctuality. Something they had in common.

      After settling onto the living room sofa, she turned on the television to the history channel, then opened the bottled water and took a sip.

      I know how alone you are. Her aunt’s words reverberated in her mind.

      As Annabelle munched on the Granny Smith apple, she told herself that Aunt Perdita was wrong. She wasn’t alone or lonely. She had servants who lived in at the home she’d inherited from her parents. She had a secretary, a personal assistant and dozens of friends. Her social calendar was full. And if she wanted to date, she could have her pick of eligible men.

      Her solitary life was by choice. She enjoyed her freedom. And she wasn’t interested in getting married just for the sake of marrying. If she couldn’t love someone as much as she’d loved Chris, she had no intention of settling for anything less.

      The moment Kendall Wells entered her house, she smelled the delicious aroma of food. Smiling to herself, she tossed aside her jacket and briefcase, then undid the top two buttons on her silk blouse. Quinn Cortez was in her kitchen. That meant he was cooking. Remembering their brief affair, she sighed when she recalled that not only was the man extremely talented in the bedroom, but he was also a master in the kitchen. If he hadn’t decided there was more money in being a lawyer, Quinn could have been a chef.

      Kendall paused and sucked in a deep breath as she watched Quinn. Wearing a large white apron—one of hers—around his waist, he stood over the stove, stirring some kind of sauce in an stainless-steel pan with one hand and sipping on a glass of red wine that he held in the other hand. What a man! Exotically alluring with his rich bronze skin, his wavy black hair and eyes so dark and fathomless that looking into them was like being sucked into a sensual black hole. Once a woman dived in, she would be forever lost.

      “Welcome home.” He offered her one of his cream-your-panties smiles. God, the man was lethal, even in small doses.

      Scratch that thought, she told herself. Considering the fact that Quinn was a suspect in a murder case, she didn’t want to associate the word lethal with him, not even in her thoughts.

      Think about something other than how much you’d like to

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