Free Diva 03 _ Diva Paints the Town, The by Krista Davis

plate at the moment. “In a couple of weeks?” I said. “After Rooms and Blooms is over.”
    “It ends tomorrow.”
    Apparently, he couldn’t take a hint. “But I’ll still be busy. Two weeks from now would be great.” I couldn’t evade him the way I usually did—by running off—because I was still holding the liner. I contemplated dropping it, but the fight that would surely ensue between Posey and Ted forced me to stick it out.
    “But she’s here now.”
    I nodded toward the liner I held. “I’m a little tied up. Find her and say something to her about an exhibit. Just strike up a conversation. It doesn’t have to be brilliant. Then, when you’re comfortable, ask her if she’d like to get a cup of coffee. Take the coffees over to the center, where all the flowers are, and sit on a bench and talk. It’s that simple.”
    He frowned. “I’m afraid she’ll turn me down.”
    I was afraid of that, too. “Humphrey, that’s how people meet. How will you ever get to know her better if you don’t spend time with her?”
    He brightened up. “I have tickets to the Design Guild dinner tomorrow night.”
    I wondered why a mortician would be interested in the Design Guild dinner, but I didn’t really care. “Perfect. That would be a lovely first date. And on Valentine’s Day, too. What could be more romantic?”
    He flitted off in search of a red rose to give her when he asked her out. Poor woman. Then again, maybe she was as shy as Humphrey, and he’d finally met the right person. I hoped so.
    Ted shouted for me to release my hold on the plastic. I let it go and exercised my stiff fingers.
    When he came to thank me, I said, “Not the best-quality liner?”
    “There’s nothing wrong with the liner.” Ted held up five sharp nails.
    “Finishing nails?”
    “Exactly.” He held one between his fingers and pretended to aim it like a dart. “Just about perfect for making holes in liners when shot with a nail gun.”
    “I thought nail guns had safety catches. Don’t you have to press them against something to make them fire?”
    Ted laughed. “Every guy who has ever used one knows how to hold back that latch and fire in the air.”
    He didn’t appear to be too upset, but I was worried. “Are you saying someone intentionally caused that leak?”
    “Don’t be so shocked. Designers and decorators aren’t beneath a little sabotage. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if Posey herself flicked these nails into my pond.”

EIGHT

    From “Ask Natasha” :
    Dear Natasha,
    We’re building a new house and my mother-in-law insists that all proper homes have a butler’s pantry. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one, but I am sure I will never have a butler. Is she just making fun of me?
     
—No Butlers in Butler Beach

     
    Dear No Butlers,
    Listen to your mother-in-law! Butler’s pantries aren’t just for butlers anymore. They provide additional storage for fine crystal and china, and for those bulky serving pieces that clutter up kitchen cabinets. Today these little hallways between the kitchen and the dining room even double as bars. They’re the perfect place for wine storage, an additional sink, a dishwasher, or a refrigerator. Or build in drawers for storing table linens.
     
—Natasha
    I skipped lunch since I would be taking time off for Mordecai’s bequest party. By one o’clock, I’d had enough of scheming designers and gladly walked home. As I strode along King Street, I caught a glimpse of Wolf seated at the front window of Café Ole with Tara, the officer who’d responded to my call about Kurt. They sat side by side, and she leaned toward him with familiarity, her head tilted and her hair swinging loose. Momentarily surprised at seeing them together, I felt a pang of jealousy that quickly swerved to uneasiness. Even though I knew I’d done nothing wrong, the mere fact that she must be telling him about our bizarre encounter early that morning made me uncomfortable. Hoping they hadn’t