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THAT NIGHT, CONNIE squeezed through the ridiculous line that hung outside Barnes and Noble for Grayson’s book signing.
Grayson sat at the table signing books for eager women who appeared to have more on their minds than his signature.
Yet, Connie wasn’t jealous. Her heart pounded with pride when she passed the huge poster announcing the signing.
She smiled, holding Grayson’s latest release to her bosom as women took cellphone pictures with her man knowing they’d never have him.
Twenty minutes later, Connie got to the front of the line with two women gushing behind her.
Grayson looked up, his striking face alive with surprise. “Well. Isn’t this a surprise?”
“Is it?” Connie set her copy in front of him. “How could I not make it to the signing of the most famous mystery author in Baltimore?”
He held the pen to his face, drawing attention to his hunky features and those I ‘wanna-make-love-to-you-now’ eyes. “Glad you made it.” He opened the hardback and scribbled inside the cover. “You said you’d be working. You tricked me.”
“I have to keep you guessing so you don’t get bored, don’t I?”
He handed her the book, smiling with his eyes crinkling in the corners. “Read it.”
Arching her back, she peeked at the inscription.
Are you wearing any underwear?
She closed the book and wiggled her eyebrows. “I am.” She leaned over the table and whispered, “I don’t intend on having them on much longer.”
Grayson’s face reddened, and he glanced at his female assistant who spoke with the store liaison. “Don’t go anywhere,” he whispered to Connie.
“Oh, I don’t plan to.” She tucked the book under her arm and stood beside him behind the table. “There’s a lot of women here.”
“Most of my fans are women.” Grayson had a short conversation with the two women who’d been behind Connie. They grinned from ear-to-ear as Grayson took a selfie with them.
“Have a nice day, ladies,” Grayson told them after signing their books.
The next woman stepped up in the line, smiling and blushing as the others did.
“Must be nice getting all this attention.” Connie drummed her fingers against her book. “Didn’t realize you had so many groupies.”
Grayson scribbled his signature in the woman’s book, thanked her and she left. “I can’t help I’m desirable, Connie. It helps me sell books.”
“I bet.” She pinched his ear.
“Ow.” He chuckled, taking the book from the skinny guy in the tie-dye jeans.
“You inspired me to write.” The man beamed. “I always had ideas in my head but until you I didn’t know how to harness them.”
“Take my card and if you haven’t checked my blog, please do.” Grayson handed him the card. “I post writing tips every Monday.”
“Will do.” The man put the card in the book Grayson signed. “Can we take a picture?”
Grayson chuckled, standing. “Sure.”
They squeezed their heads together while the man clicked a photo on his phone.
“My dad will be so jealous,” the man said. “He’s a big fan of yours but couldn’t come because he’s in the hospital with lung cancer.”
“I’m so sorry.” Grayson sat, straightening his chair. “Tell him to mail me a copy of his favorite book and I’ll sign it and mail it back to him.”
Connie smiled.
“Thanks so much.” The man shook Grayson’s hand, holding the books to his chest. “Bless you, Mr. Paul and whatever happens don’t stop writing.”
Grayson waved as the man left.
“That was nice,” Connie said.
“These people are my bread and butter.” Grayson greeted another woman and took her book to sign. “It’s the least I can do.”
“As if my opinion of you couldn’t get any higher.” Connie stroked his shoulder, her arousal becoming harder to ignore until CeCe and his aunt Rosalie Kachel walked through the entrance. “I don’t believe this.”
Grayson continued signing books, not noticing Connie’s sudden distress.
Rosalie looked through her books while CeCe threw a shifty grin at Connie.
Grayson glanced up. “You okay?”
A vein beat deep in Connie’s neck. “That’s CeCe and his aunt.”
Grayson looked in their direction while another groupie laid her book on the table. After Grayson got through with her, Rosalie and CeCe, wearing a black hoodie with the hat halfway on his head, moved to the front of the line.
“Mr. Paul!” Rosalie snatched his hand. “It’s such an honor to meet you.” She slapped four books on the table. “I’ve read all your books. You’re my favorite writer in the entire world.”
CeCe smirked at Connie.
“Always glad to meet a loyal reader like you,” Grayson said to Rosalie. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Rosalie Kachel and this is my nephew CeCe.” She pulled him forward. “Say hi, CeCe.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Paul.” He took Grayson’s hand. “I love your work, sir.”
“Thank you.” Grayson glanced at Connie as if seeking her approval for being nice to CeCe. “That’s very sweet of you. Did you bring a book to sign?”
“Sorry.” CeCe’s eyes sparkled when he looked at Connie. “I only read ebooks.”
“Ebooks.” Rosalie rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing like holding a book in your hand to gain a connection. To dive into the experience.”
Grayson chuckled, signing one of Rosalie’s books.
CeCe pushed his hands into his hoodie. “How are you, Connie?”
“Fine,” she kept her tone neutral. “Ms. Kachel, how are you?”
Rosalie curled her mouth, scoffing. “Nice to see you again, Detective.”
“That doesn’t seem too genuine.” Grayson handed her the book back. “Is there an issue here?”
“No.” Rosalie directed a flimsy smile at Grayson. “Just didn’t appreciate how your girlfriend tried to pin Prisha Banerjee’s murder on my nephew.”
CeCe raised an eyebrow. “Aunt Rosalie.”
She huffed. “Well, she did.”
Connie shrugged. “I was just doing my job.”
Rosalie grimaced, bobbing her head. “Uh-huh.”
“Ladies.” Grayson flashed a lopsided grin and signed another of Rosalie’s books. “Let’s move on, shall we?”
“I agree,” CeCe said. “Let’s leave the past in the past.” His mouth set in a hard line. “Right, Connie?”
She put on a tortured smile, touching Grayson’s shoulder.
“Here you go.” Grayson passed Rosalie the last book. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“I’ll cherish this always.” She held the books to her chest. “Are you working on a new book?”
“Always working on something.” Grayson rested his arm on the back of his chair. “Just check out my website to keep up with what I’m working on.”
“I will.” Rosalie opened the cover of the first book and read the inscription.
“You’re an inspiration, Mr. Paul.” CeCe tapped the table, glancing at Connie. “I wanted to write mysteries because of you but never had the courage to do so.”
“Let nothing stop you.” Grayson lifted his index finger. “You might be more talented than you realize.”
“You think he’s right, Connie?” CeCe arched toward her. “Think I could be a mystery writer too? Bet you don’t think I’d be good as Mr. Paul, right?”
“I don’t know about that, CeCe.” She stiffened. “Something tells me you have quite the imagination.”
He formed a boisterous smile that ignited his whole face.
“Excuse me,” the store liaison interrupted. “We have more people in line.” She pointed behind CeCe and Rosalie. “We have to keep it moving.”
“So honored to meet you, Mr. Paul.” Rosalie blushed. “Have a nice evening.”
Grayson gave that charismatic smile that made Connie melt. “You too.”
“It was nice meeting you, Mr. Paul.” CeCe winked at Connie, straightening the hat of his hoodie. “See you at work, Connie.”
He followed his aunt out the store.
****
JONATHAN STOOD ON THE front walkway of the Wales estate surrounded by soaring stone walls and imperial iron gates. “Really?” he asked into the cell phone. “Lydia’s going out of town?”
“I heard Dee at work,” Lucian said. “She was telling Winston that Lydia would be gone about a week to visit her boyfriend Cam.”
“Mm.” Jonathan’s nature rose thinking of possessing Lydia. “Find out everything you can about this trip and when she’s getting back.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
“Find a way. Once you do, call me.”
“What’s going on, Jonathan?”
“Just thought of the perfect way to get Deidra back.” He chuckled, caressing the 7ft statue of Venus de Milo. “And, it’s an even better idea than what I thought of before.”