Lethal Dose of Love Read Online Free

blood—yours, that is—might stimulate the group. We’re quite sick of each other’s stories.”
    “I’ve never been much of a joiner.”
    “They’re a nice group of people.”
    “Does Sean go?”
    Claire laughed. “No. Very few men.” She slipped a book off the shelf— Small Business for Dummies— and handed it to Payton. “I saw you talking to Aden Green at the yacht club meeting.”
    Payton groaned. “Don’t you start too! Everyone’s trying to set us up. What country is he ambassador to? I can never remember.”
    “Uzbekistan. Don’t you like him?”
    “He seems very nice. Polite. Good looking.”
    “Understatement! So why are you avoiding him?”
    A shadow crossed Payton’s face. She busied herself thumbing pages.
    “I wouldn’t have thought you were shy.”
    Payton closed the book with a snap. “My husband only died two years ago.”
    “It takes time.” Claire patted her arm in a motherly fashion. The front door opened and closed. “Well, I’ve got to get out there, someone just came in.” Claire hurried to her desk. No reason to hurry really. People mostly wanted to browse, but she felt funny not greeting each person. It was like welcoming them into her home.
    Brighton James stood in the foyer. He was tall and distinguished, a businessman who spent much of his time in the City as a stockbroker. He dropped a book through the slot under the front edge of the desk.
    “Looking forward to the first meet?” she asked.
    “It’s been a long winter. We took the boat out of storage yesterday.” He lowered his voice and glanced about. “Er, is there somewhere we can talk?”
    Claire led him behind the desk and into her miniscule office overcrowded with boxes of books. “Sorry for the mess. They’re for the upcoming book fair.” Claire waved him to a chair then leaned against the desk.
    There was a long moment of silence where Brighton stared out the tiny window behind her, twisting the narrow silver band on his ring finger. “This is very awkward.”

Chapter 4
    It was just before two when Mamie picked up Claire for the Wanderlust meeting. She rolled her window all the way down to inhale the delicate aroma of lilacs, her favorite flower. Their season was far too short to waste a moment’s appreciation.
    They passed Payton’s house where a crew slapped on a coat of stucco. Another crew was busy removing trees from both the front and side yards.
    “Arrogant to flaunt money like that,” Mamie said.
    “How can you say that? She doesn’t drive a fancy car. She doesn’t—”
    “She wears cashmere and a huge diamond ring.”
    “Her husband gave them to her. Is she supposed to throw them away just because he’s dead?”
    “She’s a widow?”
    “Yes. Two years.” Claire reverted to the original discussion gesturing at the narrow band embedded in Mamie’s left hand. “You still wear Donald’s ring.” Mamie didn’t reply. Claire continued, “Payton doesn’t brag about what she spends. It’s Helen who… Besides, the house she bought wasn’t livable the way it was.”
    Mamie turned left into the community of Madison Barracks, the military post named after President Madison. Much of it had been renovated into homes and apartments, but some remained as an historic site for visitors. Daffodils and tulips marched up walkways the way the soldiers had in the 1800’s. Claire liked that analogy.
    How could she get Mamie out of her funk? Help find a suitable place for a new gallery; that was about the only thing. But where could she find that Mamie hadn’t already thought of?
    The plan to get rid of Sean needed to be sped up. With him out of the way, a number of situations would be served. First, the original gallery plan could be adhered to. Second, the tension between he and Mamie would be removed. Ha! Lots of people’s tension would be eliminated. Thirdly, Claire’s own guilt would be gone. Twenty-seven years, four months and eighteen days of it—ever since she’d given birth to