Fields' Guide to Voodoo by Julie Mulhern

Author:Julie Mulhern [Mulhern, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J & M Press
Published: 2019-02-28T06:00:00+00:00

Eleven

I followed Carter to one of the gingham-covered tables. Thor and I were seated with Patrice and Pete Coombs, Quint Arnaut, and a handful of people I hadn’t yet met.

The wheels in my mind turned.

Rather than take the open chair next to Thor, I chose a seat next to Quint.

Thor’s brows rose, but he said nothing.

Quint’s brows also rose, but he pulled out my chair. “This is my lucky day.”

I sat and smiled up at him. “I think it’s mine.”

Consuela sank onto her haunches. “Grrr.” She didn’t agree with my assessment. At all.

He sat.

I worried for his ankles—when Consuela took against someone, she didn’t believe in half-measures.

I scooped her into my lap.

Quint ignored the little dog in my lap and leaned close to my ear. “Trouble in paradise?”

I glanced at Thor, who sat next to Patrice. “No, but I can talk to Mark whenever I want. It’s a treat to talk to you.”

Quint’s answering smile didn’t touch his eyes. “Did you have fun last night?”

“We did. It’s not every day Harry Connick, Jr. sings at a party.”

“Given who your mother is, I assumed you’d find New Orleans a bit dull.”

“Not in the least. There are so many interesting people to talk to.”

“If by interesting you mean slightly crazy, I have to agree.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” How to bring up the man he’d been talking to at the party?

“I noticed Patrice palmed you off on Reynard last night. You got both crazy and dull.”

“Reynard was entirely charming.” And a tad crazy. And more than a tad dull.

“You are a very polite young lady.”

It was now or never. I fluttered my eyelashes and served up one of Chariss’s best smiles. “I noticed you speaking to someone who looked familiar to me.”

“Last night?”

“Yes,” I purred. “Six feet tall, dark hair, brown eyes, a divot in his chin.” I touched the center of my chin.

Quint’s eyes narrowed.

“He wore a lime necktie.”

He nodded. Once. “John Howard.”

“Why would I recognize him? Is he on television?”

“No.” Quint lifted a goblet filled with iced tea to his lips.

“The movies?” I knew that wasn’t true. “Is he from New Orleans?”

“He lives here now.”

“I wonder how I know him…” I paused, hoping he’d fill the silence.

“Maybe he’s got one of those faces.”

“Those faces?”

“People think they recognize him when they don’t.”

“Maybe…” I drew the word out and doubt rounded its edges. “How do you know Mr. Howard?”

“You’re very curious.” His tone was polite, but annoyance flashed across his face.

I’d stop with the questions when Quint told me what I wanted to know. “Am I?”

“You are.” He smiled past me at a man taking the chair on the other side of me. “Have you met Brooks Avery? Brooks, this is Poppy Fields.”

I looked up at a man who carried his extra weight with aplomb. Laugh lines radiated from the tanned skin near his eyes and the grin that stretched his face had me smiling too.

“Poppy, it’s a pleasure. I’m a great fan of your mother’s.” He held out his hand.

My smile faltered a tiny bit.

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