Janet Evanovich - Full Bloom

"I can't believe you moved out of here. Bad memories?"

He asked a lot of questions. "It just felt too big for one person."

He cocked his head to one side, studied her lazily. "Your husband obviously wasn't a smart man. I can't imagine why he would cheat on you."

"It's quite possible he was a jerk," she said matter-of-factly.

"Well, you're still young. You'll meet your prince charming one day."

"I like my life just fine the way it is."

"Is that why you wear those big shirts? So guys won't notice you?"

He suddenly smiled, and Annie felt her toes curl. Jeez! "Yeah. I'm one of those women who have to dress down in order to keep the men at bay."

"You still look pretty damn good."

"I might have to resort to sackcloth."

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. "You'll probably want references so the blue-haired lady doesn't jump ship the minute I move in."

He fished through several business cards, handed one to Annie. "This guy will vouch for me."

"Was he your warden?"

"My banker." He gave her another card. "And this is my lawyer. I just pay him a flat fee to keep me out of the big house."

"That's always helpful. What kind of business are you in?"

"I'm a professional photographer."

She couldn't hide her surprise. It sounded so tame, and the man before her looked anything but. "How interesting. Maybe you'll show me some of your work."

"I don't think you'd approve."

Both brows arched high on her head. "Oh yeah? What kind of pictures do you take?"

"Mostly women."

"Um." She opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again. "Are they, uh, you know?"

"Some of them wear clothes."

Annie gulped.

"You'd make a perfect model." He reached for a stray lock of hair and twirled it around his finger. "The rich texture of your hair, slightly mussed, as though you just climbed from your bed after making love. The rosy flush I just brought to your cheeks by mentioning it."

Her scalp tingled at his touch, sending tiny ripples of pleasure down her back. Theenie was probably wondering what was taking them so long. "I don't think so," Annie said, thinking how much she sounded like Theenie. She stepped back and tucked her hair behind her ears.

"Doesn't matter. I've branched out. I like traveling to different parts of the country taking pictures of quaint little towns. 'Course, it's not as much fun as what I used to do, and it doesn't offer the fringe benefits." He winked.

Annie stared dumbly. "Do you have any questions about the room?"

"How soon can I move in?"

* * * * *

It was not yet nine o'clock the next morning when Annie called a meeting of sorts with Theenie and Destiny. "I've decided to go ahead and rent a room to Wes Bridges."

Destiny shrugged. "Hey, it's your house."

"Oh my," Theenie said. "Are you sure?"

"I know he looks, well—"

"He looks like one of those biker dudes," Theenie said.

"Just because he rides a Harley doesn't make him a biker," Annie said. "He's a photographer, and he has excellent references."

Destiny took a sip of her coffee. "A photographer, huh?"

Annie nodded. "He wants to take pictures of Beaumont. Because of its historic value," she added.

"What does he plan to do with the pictures?" Theenie asked.

"I don't know. Maybe he sells to travel magazines."

Annie noticed Destiny frowning. "What?"

"Something doesn't feel right."

Annie and Theenie exchanged glances.

"You think he might be lying?" Theenie said, gripping her coffee cup. "Do you sense we're in danger?"

Annie rolled her eyes. "Of course we're not in danger," she said, wishing Destiny would keep her concerns to herself instead of giving Theenie something else to worry about. "I wouldn't have rented to him unless I felt he was safe."

"He's not likely to kill us in our sleep or anything like that," Destiny said as though trying to reassure Theenie, which only caused the woman to start her lip-nibbling routine.

Annie felt the beginnings of a headache. "I've already told him he could have the room." She'd barely gotten the words out of her mouth when a door slammed upstairs. Annie and Theenie jumped.

"What in blazes was that?" Theenie said.

"It's just the wind," Annie said dismissively, refusing to meet Destiny's gaze.

"How can it be the wind when all the windows are closed?" Theenie asked. "I'm telling you, something isn't right in this house, and it seems to be getting worse. And now we've got a man moving in who could be a cold-blooded killer for all we know."

"He is not a killer," Annie said.

Theenie didn't look convinced. "You don't know that. You don't know that his references are valid. He could have paid somebody to lie for him. Killers do that sort of thing for each other. And remember, he even mentioned he was in prison. What if he wasn't joking? What if—"

"He's not dangerous," Annie interrupted, "and I don't think he's trying to hide anything. He told me stuff about himself that he didn't have to tell me."

"What stuff?" Destiny asked.

Annie gave a big sigh. "I wasn't going to mention it, but, well, he admitted that he used to take pictures of women. I sort of got the impression they weren't wearing much."

Theenie looked shocked. "You mean they were nude?"

Annie nodded.

"That's probably where they got that old saying: less is more," Destiny said.

"Oh my," Theenie said. "You know what that means."

Both Destiny and Annie looked at her questioningly.

"It means he probably wonders what we all look like naked."

Destiny chuckled. "Then he and I are even, because I've been wondering the same thing about him."

Annie didn't respond, but for some insane reason she wasn't crazy about the idea of Destiny thinking about Wes in the buff.

"Especially after seeing him in his underwear," Destiny added. She leaned closer to Theenie. "Why don't you enlighten us?"

Annie looked at Theenie, almost ashamed that she was as eager as Destiny for information.

Theenie blushed profusely. "I most certainly will not discuss such private matters. I was acting as a professional when I, um, undressed him, so it's not something I would have noticed."

"Oh, give me a break," Destiny said. "You may have a little age on you, but you're not blind."

"May we change the subject?" Theenie asked.

Annie nodded. "Good idea. I have more pressing matters. Has anyone seen Erdle? His car isn't in the driveway."

"I heard him go out last night," Theenie said. "Probably passed out somewhere. But if you think you're going to chase him with that rolling pin again, you're wrong. I hid it."

"I don't need a rolling pin," Annie said. "I've got my bare hands."

* * * * *

Annie stormed into the kitchen shortly before lunch, almost bumping into Theenie, who was watering houseplants. "Erdle is still not home," she said.

"That's it! I'm throwing him out the minute he shows up." Annie spied Danny Gilbert sitting at the kitchen table and blushed. "Oh, hi, Danny."

"Bad day?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I'm just irritated with Erdle, but that's nothing new."

"I hear you got problems with the house."

Annie glanced at Theenie.

"Well, Danny is a carpenter," the woman said. "I showed him the damage in the ballroom."

"You should have come to me sooner, Annie," he said. "I can take care of the floor. I even have my own sander."

"Oh, I couldn't possibly impose—"

"Don't be silly. Of course, this means you're going to have to go see that new western with me."

Annie moaned. "A western? I'd rather sit through The Mummy again than watch a western."

He grinned. "That's part of the deal, Anniekins. Take it or leave it."

Annie hated to ask for help, hated to put people to any trouble, but she was desperate. "Oh, all right," she said, pretending to be put out. "I suppose you'll expect me to spring for the popcorn, too."