Shaded Light: The Case of the Tactless Trophy Wife: A Paul Manziuk and Jacquie Ryan Mystery (The Manziuk and Ryan Mysteries Book 1) Read Free Page A

Shauna’s always preferred books to people.”
    He had been ready to agree that Shauna should stay in the apartment. Now, perversely, he changed his mind. “No, she isn’t staying here. She’s coming with us.”
    Jillian stopped in the doorway. “She’s what?” Her voice rose perilously close to a shrill note.
    “I said she can come with us. George has a big house. One more person won’t make any difference.”
    “You can’t be serious!”
    Shauna rose halfway out of her chair. “Oh, no, Peter! I don’t want to go. I couldn’t possibly just go there uninvited. I don’t even know them!”
    “They were at our wedding last year. You met them then. And you’ve seen George once or twice since. Ellen’s easygoing. She won’t mind.”
    An edge to her voice, Jillian said, “Peter, Shauna doesn’t want to go, and she needn’t go.”
    Peter stood up and took a few steps toward his wife. Clearly and softly, he said, “My dear, if Shauna says she told you she was coming this weekend, I believe her. She wouldn’t make a mistake like that. So it’s not her fault we weren’t prepared, and we are going to do the best we can to give her a good weekend. That means taking her along.”
    Jillian opened her mouth but shut it without making a comment. Instead, she fluttered her eyelashes. “But, Petey.” She came toward him, her eyes mutely distressed, lips in a beautiful pout, hands reaching up to grasp his lapels and pull him toward her. “It wouldn’t be fair to either the Brodies or Shauna. She’d never fit in.”
    “Oh, no, I wouldn’t, Peter.” Shauna’s voice was distressed. “Jillian’s right. It’s very nice of you to suggest taking me, but I wouldn’t fit in at all. I’ll be just fine here when I get my books. Or—or I’ll go back home.”
    “Either you go or we all stay here,” Peter said. Again, the words seemed to slip out of their own free will.
    “That’s nonsense!” Jillian snapped.
    “You can’t mean that!” Shauna’s eyes darted from her sister to the man in front of her.
    Peter saw fear in those eyes. Of whom, he wondered. Himself or Jillian?
    “Peter, why are you being so silly? Shauna doesn’t want to go, and besides, she won’t have proper clothes.”
    “She can borrow some of yours, can’t she? You’re the same size. I thought you’d given her quite a few of your things.”
    The look Jillian flashed him was not one of unbounded love and affection. But Peter continued without regard for that look. “I came home to pack. I have to get back to the office for a meeting with a client. I’ll be here to pick you up about four. You should both be able to get ready by then.” He moved toward the bedroom. “By the way, Jillian, I tried to call you this morning around 11:00. There was no answer. I didn’t know you were going out.”
    She followed him into the hallway. “I had shopping to do. Should I have checked with you first?” Her voice made him think of tempered steel.
    “No, of course not. I only wondered if there was a problem.”
    “No problem, Petey.” She walked up to him, her slim hips swaying in the silky pajamas, and he waited for her to come close.
    “You look tired,” she said. “You know you shouldn’t work so hard. Do you really have to go back?”
    “Yes,” he said bluntly. She was right, though. He was tired. Of his job? He didn’t think so.
    Her slender hand came up to caress his cheek. But his mind ignored her touch and focused cynically on the very large, glittering diamond. The one he’d bought her. Stupid middle-aged fool, he thought ruefully. Then he remembered the wife before Jillian. No, he wasn’t a middle-aged fool. Just a fool.
    She kissed him and he responded. Might as well get something for what he’d paid.
    As she felt his response, she pressed against him.
    His arms tightened.
    She whispered in his ear, “You didn’t really mean that about Shauna’s going, did you? You were just teasing me.”
    He kissed her again before