Til Death Do Us Part: Valentine Mystery Book 4

"Please don't ever stop writing about the Valentine couple." ~ Amazon Reviewer

 

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Excerpt 

Tess scanned the bottom of the spreadsheet and grinned. Who’d have thought underwear could be so profitable? She did, of course. After all, she’d spent a fortune on couture lingerie at Cezarier’s Boutique before buying it a few months ago.

She hit the print button to save a hard copy of last month’s profits. Reaching toward her printer to grab the paper, the plump red ruby on her left hand glinted, reminding her she was even more blessed than just having a profitable shop. Life was good. Really good.           

“Hey, Tess. There is a fine looking man out here wanting to know if you’ll model something for him.”

Tess turned her attention to Regina, who was once her legal assistant and now worked as her store assistant.

“He’s got taste too. He’s looking at that Carine Gilson you’ve been eyeing.”

“That deserves my attention,” Tess rose from her seat. She left her office, entering the main section of the small boutique. Normally, she’d be distracted by the racks of expensive silk—her equivalent of a kid in the candy store. But nothing could compete with the brilliant blue-green eyes and single dimple that smiled back at her.

“Can I help you?” She approached him.

He was dressed casually in jeans and a dress shirt, but his presence said he had money. And just about anything else he wanted, she knew from experience.

He held up a blush-colored chemise with delicate lace trim. “I’m thinking of buying this for my wife. I’m wondering how it will look on her. Do you model?”

“Showings are done after hours…in private.”

He looked intrigued. “Can I make an appointment? Tonight? My place?”

“I think I can pencil that in.”

He leaned toward her, his arm wrapping around her waist. “Shall we seal the deal?”

“If you think it’s necessary.”

He grinned before giving her a firm, thorough kiss that held the promise of something more later.

Even after all these months, it still took a moment for the fog to clear when he kissed her. “So, are you here simply for lingerie?”

“No. That’s the perk. I have a lunch date with an old friend and I thought you might like to come along.”

“Date, huh? Is this date a man or a woman?”

He hesitated a little longer than usual, the only sign of discomfort. “A woman.”

“I’m having a profound sense of déjà vu,” she said.

Jack’s hand splayed on her lower back and pulled her closer. “I love it when you speak French.”

With effort, Tess ignored all the warm sensations that tingled through her body when he held her close. “The last time you met an old friend, we nearly broke up and you were almost killed.”

“This is different.”

“Uh-huh.” She wasn’t convinced.

He smiled, the one he used to get his way. “I promise.”

She studied him and his beguiling smile, as if she would be able to say no. They both knew she couldn’t. “Let me check with Regina.”

“Go ahead, boss. I’ve got it covered,” Regina said from behind the counter.

Tess sighed. “Okay then. Let me get my purse and sweater. And you,” she said handing Regina the chemise. “Can wrap this up for me.”

 

 

“So who’s the old friend we’re going to meet?” Tess hoped he really meant old, as in elderly, which seemed less threatening.

“It’s a surprise.”

Usually Tess liked surprises when they involved chocolate and jewelry or of course, lingerie. She didn’t like ‘old friend’ surprises as much. Jack’s last old friend turned out to be a former girlfriend, which was bad enough. She also turned out to be a murderer.

“A hint, then?”

He lifted their linked hands and kissed the back of her hand. “It involves the law.”

Well, that didn’t sound like a surprise. After years working as a lawyer, Tess knew the law could be boring and tedious. “A better hint.”

“Here we are.” He opened the door to the Fox & Hound Pub several storefronts down from her shop. It looked and operated like an English pub, so it was dark and mostly full of men. His hand on her back guided her toward the back, where it was darker and more secluded.

“Is she on the run?” Tess asked, taking a seat in the leather booth.

“Not exactly.” He sat next to her. “Don’t worry. You’re going to love this.”

He was grinning again, which by osmosis, made her grin. “You better be right. Or our appointment tonight is off.”

“Ouch. So how about one last kiss, just in case.”

“Sure, why not.”

He leaned in. This time, his kiss was a preview of things to come.

“So this is what’s been keeping you too busy to call?”

Tess broke from the kiss to look up at the woman standing by their table. She wore classic but baggy clothes, and had a large hat and sunglasses that she took off as she sat in the booth opposite them. That’s when Tess realized who the woman was. She looked at Jack, who smiled like a Cheshire cat.

Tess swallowed and willed herself to not act like a complete idiot. But it wasn’t everyday you met a huge movie star.

“Hi. I’m—”

“Ava Dumont. You’re Ava Dumont.” Tess knew Jack had once dated Ava, but she hadn’t realized they’d remained friends. She would have to think about what that meant, as soon as she got over the shock and thrill of meeting Ava Dumont.

Ava cast disapproving eyes at Jack. “From the look on her face, she doesn’t know about me.”

“Oh, I know,” Tess said.

Ava narrowed her eyes at Jack. “What did you tell her?”

“Nothing. She saw the magazines.”

“Oh, Jack. Don’t tell me that’s all she knows about me,” Ava chastised.

He shrugged. “She didn’t ask.”

“How do you put up with him?”

“It can be hard,” Tess said, still in shock, but now wondering what Jack hadn’t told her. She turned to him, hoping the surprise in her face was replaced by a stern expression.

He gave her a sheepish smile. “Ava and I grew up together.”

“Since about first grade.”

“First grade? Was this a secret?” Tess asked.

He shook his head. “No. I just always got the impression you didn’t want to talk about it.”

“You make it sound like there’s something to talk about,” Ava said. “And there’s not. Not even when the paparazzi was snapping pictures of us a couple of years ago.”

“Nothing?” Tess’ eyes narrowed with accusation. “You let me think—”

“We just never talked about it.”

“You’re bad.” Tess hoped her expression and tone chastised him. She wanted to be mad, but for some reason, knowing she wasn’t ever compared to Ava Dumont in a romantic way was a relief. “And you’re in trouble.”

“Does that mean we’re off for tonight?”

“You two are adorable…and disgusting. But Tess, I’m so glad to finally meet you. I can’t tell you how many pining sessions I had to endure from this guy about you.”

“I didn’t pine alone,” Jack said.

“No, you didn’t.”

Tess wondered who Ava pined about. Was it Reece Wilder, her co-star in their hit TV show Order in the Court? Tess, along with other fans, wondered if the chemistry off-screen was as hot as on-screen. Although Tess knew intellectually that characters and their actors were different, she’d always had a secret fantasy that Ava and Reece had true love. She was disappointed when out of the blue he’d married D-list actress, Amya Grosse.

“So what brings you to Jefferson Tavern?” Tess asked.

“Work. A movie.”

“It must be really interesting to make movies,” Tess said.

“It can be. But it’s tedious at times too. I’m so glad you and Jack are in town. I’m going to need all the moral support I can get.”

“Why?” Tess and Jack asked together. Tess asked more out of curiosity, but she could hear concern in Jack’s voice.

“You’ll never guess who my co-star is.”

“Not Reece?” Jack asked.

He made it sound bad, but Tess was thrilled. Ava and Reece together again. The movie was guaranteed to be a hit. Even after years of being off the air except in syndication and DVDs, fans still couldn’t get enough Order in the Court and speculating on their relationship.

“You and Reece don’t get along?” Tess hoped she sounded like a concerned friend more than a curious fan.

“It’s a long story. One you have my permission to tell,” she said to Jack.

A waiter arrived to take their orders.

“I can’t stay for lunch, but we can get drinks,” Ava said.

Jack gave their drink orders and then asked. “Is there a story to tell now?”

“No. But I’m still glad his wife won’t be here.”

The disdain in Ava’s voice echoed what Tess thought about Amya, although Tess didn’t have any personal experience on which to base her dislike.

“I thought they were getting a divorce,” Tess said.

“They are. It’s killing Reece’s reputation since it hasn’t been that long since their son died. Reece is a good guy, so you know it must have been really bad for him to potentially ruin his career by looking like a louse and leaving her.”

“You really think leaving her will hurt his career?” Jack asked.

“I think he can rebound. I’m sure that’s why he’s doing the movie. He knows there’s still a fan base for Order in the Court. We know the rumors.”

Tess was dying to ask about the truth to the rumors, but sipped the glass of wine the waiter brought.

“But enough about me. Tell me, how’d he propose?”

“He thought he was dying,” Tess said.

“What?”

“It was a little better than that,” Jack defended himself.

“He was shot by his ex-lover and while I was trying to save his life, he proposed.”

Ava laughed. “I’m surprised, Valentine. I’d thought you were more romantic than that.”

“It was romantic. Besides, I made up for it.” He gestured toward Tess’ ring.

“Wow, beautiful. A ruby like a red Valentine. That is better.”

Tess decided not to mention that the ruby was the second ring, because the first ring was now sitting in Versailles.

“Where’d you go on the honeymoon?”

“Paris,” Tess answered.

“By boat?” Ava said with a snort.

“Plane,” Jack said, tightly.

“Really. You cured him of his flying phobia, Tess?”

“He had medicinal help.”

“Well, it must be love if he endured flying.”

“It must be,” Tess agreed, as she squeezed Jack’s hand under the table.

“I'm sorry I couldn't make the wedding. You didn't give much advance notice. I half expected to show up here today to see a baby bump.”

Tess glanced at Jack, not realizing he’d invited Ava to the wedding. Not that she would have cared one way or the other.

“No baby. Not yet, anyway,” Jack said. “We just wanted to be married.”

“Our way,” Tess added.

“I'm glad to see you so happy.”

Tess thought she saw a little envy in Ava.

“I am happy,” Jack smiled at Tess.

“Listen, I have to run, but there’s a party tonight at the hotel where we’re all staying. It’s a get-to-know-each-other thing. I’d love it if you could come.”

“We like to, but we have plans—”

“Of course we’ll come,” Tess interrupted Jack. His expression was a mixture of confusion and disappointment.

“Great. I need all the support I can get.” Ava stood, donned her hat and glasses, and sauntered away.

“So, am I still in trouble?” Jack asked.

“I can show you lingerie anytime.”

“Not right now, you can’t. Not during the party.”

“Most anytime. But Ava needs our support.”

Jack leaned forward, his blue-green eyes piercing into hers. “This isn’t about seeing Reece Wilder, is it?”

“He is handsome and charming.”

“So am I. And I just bought you lingerie.”

“Do you think he likes Carine Gilson?”

“I don’t think you’re his type.”

Tess frowned. “Why not? What’s wrong with me?”

“For one thing, you’re taken. For another, I think someone else has dibs on him.”

“Ah…is that the long story you have permission to tell?”

Jack nodded. “Let’s order some lunch and I’ll fill you in.”