The Inventive Bride by Maria Hoagland

Author:Maria Hoagland [Hoagland, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gelato Publishing LLC
Published: 2017-09-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The bell over the door at Frank & Signs rang again, for the third time probably that day with another actual, paying customer—this one a middle-aged woman with grown-out highlights that weren’t quite covering all the grays. Frankie didn’t know what had sparked an interest in antique shopping on a lazy September Wednesday, but she’d take it. Perhaps the DIY and decorating TV shows had started their new seasons. That would make sense. The increase in business was making it difficult to finish any of her other projects—especially the desk that she worked on only while Harper was at school—but the sacrifice was worth the trade-off.

“I’m looking for a coat rack.” The woman drew a green cardigan around herself, despite the still-warm outside temperatures.

After showing her a couple of items, Frankie stepped back to let her browse, especially when the woman showed interest in far more than the coat rack. Lucy, Brooke’s sister and Logan’s receptionist, stood near the cash register, an expectant look on her face and her wallet open.

“You ready to check out?” Frankie noted the milk can umbrella stand Lucy had next to her and the reclaimed wood sign leaning against her leg.

“Sure am. I can’t believe I spent my whole lunch break here—you have so much great stuff. But Logan’s expecting me back any minute.” Lucy pulled a platinum credit card from her pocket rather than her purse and swiped it. “Oh! I forgot to tell you. You’ll never believe who came in this morning … Denzel Washington!”

Frankie laughed; Lucy was joking, right? When Lucy looked at her with a straight face and wide eyes like You don’t believe me? Frankie tried to get hold of herself. “You’re serious.”

“Absolutely.” Lucy’s face was devoid of humor. “I swear. He was gorgeous, with that a-maz-ing voice all buttery and smooth.” Was Lucy going to swoon right there?

“In Cobble Creek?” Frankie was still skeptical.

Lucy scrunched her face in an of course look. “It’s what all the stars do. I mean, they have to have doctors too, you know, but if they can come in to one of these small towns, throw on a pair of dark glasses, and skip all the cameras … Without the makeup and the fancy clothes and stuff, no one ever recognizes them, and they can pass for regular people.” She fanned herself. “Except I would have known Denzel Washington anywhere.”

Frankie wasn’t buying it. “I’m sure his medical record said Denzel Washington too, right?” Maybe Lucy hadn’t thought about that, but it would have to be in his legal name, wouldn’t it?

She shook her head. “He used a fake name. Paid with cash. Said he’d be out of town for the next week, but he’d be back to pick up his prescription sunglasses and contacts.” She leaned on both elbows on the tall counter to get closer. “Wouldn’t leave his cell number. That alone is suspicious.”

Frankie breathed out a chuckle and shrugged. “You may be right.” But she doubted it. Wouldn’t a star just have Lasik surgery and be done with it? She handed Lucy her receipt.

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