Free Deadly Magic by Elisabeth Crabtree Page B

tired.
    “ I’m so very sorry, Grace. I’ve been in court all day and when I wasn’t in court I was meeting with clients.”
    Grace quickly assur ed him that she hadn’t waited very long.
    Seeing Ethan sitting across from Grace, the waiter zeroed in. In record time, drinks, appetizers, and dinner were ordered.
    Once the business of ordering dinner was out of the way, the date finally began. Grace looked over at Ethan, trying to decide what to say first. Where have you been is probably not a very good way to start a second date, she thought with amusement. Not if you would like a third. Although, considering he seemed to be paying more attention to the other diners than her, coupled with the fact she hadn’t heard from him in over a month and he was late to their second date, she was seriously wondering if she necessarily wanted a third date. A handsome face only goes so far. “How’s work?”
    “ Hmm,” he said to the spot just behind her head.
    “ Work?”
    His eyes finally land ed on her own. “Oh. Work? Yes. It’s fine. I’m sorry I didn’t call you sooner. I still can’t believe what happened. That poor woman dying like that.”
    Grace smil ed. “I’m surprised you called.”
    Ethan smiled back. “Why?”
    “ Well, a first date that ends with a murder? How can we possibly top that? I’m afraid the rest of our dates would be dreadfully boring in comparison.”
    Her attempt at gallows humor fell flat.
    “Murder?” he asked surprised. “I read it was a suicide.”
    “ That’s the official report.”
    “ What makes you think otherwise?”
    Grace glanc ed over her shoulder. Suddenly aware that they weren’t quite alone. The victim’s stepdaughter was lurking around somewhere. Deciding it may be in poor taste to begin rattling on about a murder that may not have happened she quickly changed the subject. She glanced around the empty dining room.
    “ Do you think they’re about to close?”
    Ethan shook his head, while assuring her that restaurant was opened for another hour. “No. It’s okay. I often have late night business meetings here with clients.”
    “ Is that what this is?”
    Ethan looked taken aback. “No. Not at all. I’m sorry Grace. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since our date. You don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to pick up the phone. It’s just there was a problem with one of my firm's international clients. The day after your boss’ birthday, I was on a flight to Paris. I just got back the other day. I should have called to let you know. I’m so sorry.”
    Grace smil ed. “Oh, I wish I had known. I just left from there.”
    “ Really?” he asked, surprised.
    She nodd ed. “My sister lives there. My family and I decided to have Thanksgiving in Paris with her this year.”
    “ Did you have a good time?”
    “ A very good time. I made out like a bandit.”
    He gave her a strange look.
    “I did a lot of shopping.” She explained. “It was nice putting all of this behind me.”
    The next half hour was spent eating and getting to know one another. As far as Grace was concerned, things had been going rather well. They talked about basic mundane things most people talk about on dates: birth places, college, hobbies and finally work.
    Unfortunately , like with most of her dates, the moment she began talking about her work, the men lose interest. She glanced at Ethan. His head was tilted at an angle as he peered over her head. Some quicker than others, she thought, slightly amused. For some reason men never want to hear about dolls. The only thing that really seemed to capture his attention was Lily’s death, but she wasn’t ready to share her theories just yet. Not with Lily’s stepdaughter a few feet away.
    “ I’ve been so busy.”
    He glanced back down at her.
    “I have to come up with an idea of a board game.” Ethan’s eyes flitted from her to a spot just behind her head for the sixth time that night. Trying to reign in her annoyance