A Story to Kill Read Online Free Page A

Laine. She’s not going to be joining us this evening.”
    â€œOh.” Rose’s disappointment showed on her face. “So Tom Cook is attending this retreat right?”
    Oh no, a diehard fan . Cat knew she needed to nip this fangirl moment in the bud before the author got here or he’d be overrun with Rose’s questions and attention. “He is, but remember, the purpose of the retreat is to allow the participants time to write away from their normal world. I’m sure he’s going to be just as focused on his work in progress as you will be.”
    Daisy poked her sister. “I told you not to get your hopes up. Besides, we should see him at the group activities. I’m sure he’d sign a book for you then.”
    Cat smiled at the other sister. Thank God she had an ally in the discussion. “Exactly. So let’s get back to your writing. What made you choose to write romance?”
    Daisy took a sip of her wine, then set the glass down. “I like sex.”

Chapter 3
    The flight from Chicago had been delayed, so it was after eleven by the time the final two guests arrived. Cat had stayed up to wait for the group, but Rose and Daisy had retired to their room hours before. Sara still hadn’t returned. Cat glanced out at the darkening night wondering where the young woman really was at this late hour. “A meeting with your thesis advisor? I don’t think so.”
    When the lights from the SUV flashed by the window, Cat went to the front desk to get the men’s envelopes ready. She’d kept the soup on low, but turned off the oven, not wanting the bread to dry out. The men followed Shauna into the lobby area and grabbed their room keys, rejecting the offer of a meal or even a drink. Tom Cook looked like he’d been sleeping on the plane, his hair doing rooster tails where he’d settled into the headrest of the seat. The other man, Billy Williams, looked the opposite. Wired, he was bouncing on the balls of his feet.
    â€œYou must get a lot of ribbing about your name.” Cat smiled when she handed him the envelope.
    â€œWhy?” Billy’s tone was flat, and something in his glance made the hair on the back of Cat’s neck stand up. The guy was strange enough to be a character in the mystery books he claimed to write.
    â€œTwo first names? William Williams?” When the guy shook his head, she continued. “No matter. Are you sure I can’t get you anything before you retire?”
    â€œNo.” Tom Cook was already heading upstairs with his bags. Billy spun on his heel and followed.
    Shauna waited until we heard the two doors close upstairs. “So that was weird, right?”
    â€œA little.” Cat closed the cabinet over the lobby desk and locked it. “Just wait until I tell you about Sara. These three make the romance sisters seem tame.”
    * * *
    Cat’s alarm went off at five a.m. Even though she trusted Shauna to get the breakfast buffet set out and ready for their guests, she felt a responsibility to make sure everything went smoothly. Just this first time.
    Who was she kidding? Cat never slept past six even on weekends. If she wasn’t needed in the kitchen, she’d spend the time in her office, working on her manuscript. She quickly showered and dressed for the day, then headed downstairs, following the smell of vanilla bean coffee.
    She grabbed a cup off the sideboard in the dining room and filled it before she entered the kitchen. Shauna had been busy. Muffins, butters, and three different kinds of bread sat on the sideboard next to the three coffee pots. V ANILLA , D ARK , and D ECAF signs were laminated and hung on each pot. If guests wandered down early, there was plenty to keep them busy until the main meal arrived.
    â€œGood morning,” she called out as she entered. Cat stopped short inside the kitchen. Shauna wasn’t alone. Seth Howard sat at the table, drinking coffee. Shauna set a