Deadly Stuff Read Online Free Page B

other establishments. But we’re by far the oldest and best society. We have no less than six members who own and run their own companies. We have the reputation, no doubt about it,’ Vicki said confidently. ‘And no, Maurice isn’t the only one capable of getting the commission. There are one or two others. Well, four at least, but Maurice, being Maurice, is sure that he’ll get it.’
    Jenny, aware of James’s speculative brown-eyed gaze uponher, was just wondering herself how she was going to gracefully cut herself and the luscious divorced hunk free from Vicki’s orbit, but before she could come up with a strategy, Vicki suddenly came out with a pithy and startling epithet.
    ‘Speak of the bloody devil,’ she added, and plastered a patently false smile across her face. Jenny turned, not at all surprised now to see Maurice Raines bearing down upon them.
    His eyes went straight to Jenny, his bright blue gaze running over her with obvious interest.
    Jenny sighed heavily. Just what she needed when trying to test the waters with James – an ageing Lothario with ambitions above his station.
    ‘Maurice,’ Vicki said flatly. ‘You know James?’
    ‘No, can’t say as I do,’ Maurice said briskly. ‘A newbie, aren’t you?’
    ‘Yes. I’ve been a member for just a couple of months.’
    ‘Done much?’
    ‘A cat. One or two fish. I’m currently working on a corn snake.’
    Maurice waved the corn snake away as irrelevant. He turned to Jenny. ‘Now you I’m sure I’ve never met. You are, if I may say so, unforgettable.’ He reached out to take her hand and Jenny wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d attempted to kiss it.
    He sounded as if he’d watched too many classic Hollywood romances. What was she supposed to do now? Swoon at his feet? Jenny bit back a grin as she wondered what he’d do if she did. If he attempted to catch her, she’d squash him flat.
    ‘Mr Raines, isn’t it?’ she said instead, firmly pumping his hand up and down and then releasing her own. ‘Your fame goes before you,’ she promised him archly.
    Vicki snorted but wisely sipped her coffee and made no comment.
    ‘Oh – all good I hope?’ Maurice said with a laugh.
    Jenny smiled and said nothing. Anyone could hope, after all.
    ‘Down, boy,’ Vicki said, with a false attempt at humour that had far too much bite in it to work. ‘Jenny here isn’t one of us. She’s the lady responsible for the wonderful meal we all enjoyed tonight. She’s the college cook.’
    ‘Oh, for the summer conference season only,’ Jenny corrected.
    ‘Ah, I see. Well, you’ll get no complaints from me, my dear,’ Maurice said, smilingly showing off a set of very white and even teeth. Jenny would have bet her month’s salary that they were all capped. ‘I particularly liked the starter.’
    Jenny smiled and inclined her head graciously.
    ‘Vicki, I needed to see you about some rescheduling in the itinerary for tomorrow,’ Maurice said, reaching out and peremptorily taking the treasurer firmly by the elbow. As he began leading her off, Jenny heard her already start complaining.
    ‘Oh come on, Maurice, I’ve already given you the prime mid-morning slot in the lecture hall….’
    ‘Not a match made in heaven, those two,’ James Raye said, somewhat uncomfortably, as the obviously hostile couple moved away.
    ‘No, so I’ve already been told,’ Jenny agreed. ‘So,’ – she turned and smiled up at him – ‘What exactly made you want to be a taxidermist of all things?’
    It wasn’t an idle question. A good-looking, recently divorced man in his early thirties didn’t need to resort to such quite spectacularly desperate measures in order to start socializing again, surely?
    James laughed. ‘I haven’t got the faintest idea how it happened,’ he admitted. ‘Vicki is a friend of my older sister. I somehow found myself invited to dinner with big Sis, whereI met Vicki. And from then on I seemed to get drawn into the Greater Ribble lot