Alas, She Drowned by Monica Knightley

Author:Monica Knightley [Knightley, Monica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Monica Knightley
Published: 2016-04-07T22:00:00+00:00

I WAS sure that closing time would never arrive. After my three hours of sleep the night before, and an intense day in the tea room, I was feeling a bit like a murder victim myself. Needing a break from murders, suspects, sleuthing, and romantic frustration, I said goodnight to Casey and Laura and strolled down to the theater complex to watch the pre-play show. The Friday play in the Globe was a comedy so I knew the pre-show would have the same tone. I watched a little of it and the music and bawdy comedy skits refreshed me and distracted me from reality.

When the show was over, I went over to the Garter for a quick beer and to say hello to Steve. I made my way to the bar, hoping for an empty stool, and saw a welcome face sitting there. Nate. By some miracle the seat to his right was open and I grabbed it.

“Hey there,” I greeted him.

The enormous smile on his face told me he was just as pleased to see me, as I was to see him. “Hello…” I liked the way he said that one word, like it had implications.

Before we had a chance to say anything more, Steve came over and said, “Hi, Maggie dear. So, yesterday, did you—”

“Yes! Absolutely. You were right, that’s a much easier way to get to Milford. Thanks so much for the help.” He stared at me, blinked twice in confusion, and slowly nodded his head.

“Good, good,” he stammered. “What can I get you?”

“Whatever IPA you have on draft, please.”

After Steve turned away to get my beer, I looked over at Nate. “So, I was just wondering,” I began, then paused, took a deep breath, and plowed forward. “How did you happen upon my books, anyway?”

“I own a bookstore, Maggie.” Smirky, sarcastic Nate was much sexier than he should have been.

“I know that. But of all the hundreds of books you carry, what made you look at the inside cover of a romance?”

We were interrupted by Steve bearing beer. I avoided his eye, and thanked him. Not until he was busy with another customer did Nate and I continue.

“One day I sold four copies of your books, different titles, but all these Cassandra St. Jean books and it made me wonder what they were, and why they were suddenly so popular. I read the back blurb and opened to the back inside page and there you were, smiling at me. I wouldn’t have been human if I hadn’t been intrigued and wanted to find out what my friend was writing.”

I ran my fingers through my hair, pushing it back off my face. “I know there’s nothing I can do to rewind time, but you gotta know this is pretty embarrassing for me, right?”

“Nothing to be embarrassed about. They aren’t what I normally read, but they’re good. Well-written. Good plots and characters. Kept me reading, and now I’m on my third.” We each took long swallows of our beers.

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