Mad About You (A Laurel Heights Novel) by Perry Kate

Author:Perry, Kate [Perry, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phoenix Rising Enterprises, Inc
Published: 2013-06-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

The door to her shop opened. Julie sighed, relieved Sophie had finally arrived. She needed a friend to talk to. Without looking up from the wire she was twisting, she said, “I’m glad you’re here.”

“That’s so sweet,” said a chirpy, sweet voice.

Sophie was many things, but she wasn’t chirpy or sweet. That voice belonged to Dr. Hyacinth Gardner.

Sure enough, Julie looked up to find her nemesis standing in the flower shop, picture perfect in her dress and coat. She scowled. “Did you get lost on the way to your coven meeting?”

“I came to see how you were doing, of course.” Hyacinth headed straight for the worktable, her gaze laser-focused on the frame Julie was building. “Is this for the competition?”

She had the urge to throw herself in front of the green foam blocks she was carving, to protect them from the prying eyes. If only she had a big sheet to cover them.

Hyacinth leaned closer, her nose practically pressed against the wire frame. “Is this Sutro Tower?”

“Seriously?” Julie said. Then she realized what she’d done and wanted to smack herself upside her head. Why didn’t she just let Hyacinth think that?

“Is it a hill? Twin Peaks?” The woman picked up one of the sketches on the table. “Or maybe it’s the start of the seven hills?”

“Give that back.” Julie grabbed the paper and gathered up all the other pages. She shoved them inside a basket behind her, well out of Hyacinth’s nosy vision. “What are you doing here?”

The woman smiled with all the innocence of the Big Bad Wolf. “I was in the neighborhood and I thought I’d stop by to see how you were doing with your design. Really, Julie, it’s time for you to win this year.”

Julie’s gaze narrowed. “Is that what you think?”

“Well, of course.” Hyacinth batted her eyes. “Why bother trying if you aren’t going to be serious about it?”

“You’re right. I wonder why I didn’t realize that,” she replied with dripping sarcasm. She kept her fists ruthlessly at her sides even though she wanted to sock Hyacinth.

“The seven hills isn’t a bad idea,” the woman continued blithely. “However, I wonder if it’s ‘San Francisco Spirit’ enough. Maybe you should do a replica of the Transamerica pyramid in a rainbow profusion of flowers. Or you can build City Hall out of poppies.”

Julie crossed her arms. “Gee, Hyacinth, I really appreciate the ideas you’re giving me, even though they’re what you did in the past.”

The woman smiled like a shark and patted her arm. “I just want the competition to be fair. I feel like I have such an advantage, having won it for the past five years in a row. Of course, I do have an edge with my advanced degrees.”

She pulled her arm away and looked at the spot where the woman had touched it. Great—now she was going to have to disinfect. “Are you done yet? Because I’m closing up.”

“Of course.” Hyacinth adjusted her purse on the crook of her arm. “Call me if you need help, okay?”

“Right.

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