Free Murder in Nice by Susan Kiernan-Lewis Page A

from her shower. He wore his
dark brown hair almost to his shoulders and shaggy. His eyes were
dark, nearly pupiless. Maggie always found them sexy, but a little
disconcerting too.
    “ But you’re in here,” Maggie said, stung at
being ordered out—especially after Haley’s comments.
    “ And I will be in our
bedroom later,” he said, a smile edging his full lips, “where you
may have my undivided attention.”
    “ It’s not all about sex,
you know,” Maggie said as she swiveled on one foot to make a
dramatic exit.
    “ Yes, it is,” he called
after her.
    She strode to the double set of French
doors, opened wide to the terrace. It was after nine but still
light out. She saw Grace had lit candles and placed them in nearly
every room visible from the outside where the table was set for
dinner. The heat of the day had given away to a definite chill and
while not uncomfortable, the stack of sweaters and light shawls by
the door would be welcome later.
    Haley stood at the outdoor table, her jeans
replaced by a long tunic dress. She’d put her hair up too, Maggie
noticed. She turned when Maggie stepped out onto the terrace.
    “ Grace said you had a
babysitter come over to take care of the kids tonight,” she said by
way of greeting.
    “ I did. Danielle Pernon’s
grandniece is visiting. The kids love her and she loves
babysitting.”
    “ I would have been happy to
give them their baths tonight.”
    “ Well, you can do it
tomorrow night,” Grace said as she joined them. “Isn’t it heavenly
out here? Maggie’s got a small plantation of lavender planted just
over there. Can you smell it?”
    Haley frowned and looked in the direction
where Grace pointed.
    “ The candles are perfect,
Grace,” Maggie said. “And the table is beautiful. I’m such a
slouch.”
    “ You were tired after your
long drive from the coast,” Grace said. “Setting the table is fun.
It’s the washing up afterward when you’ll be hard pressed to find
me.”
    Maggie laughed. “Laurent does that, too,
although he may leave it ‘til morning tonight.”
    “ Oh? Reward redemption
night, is it?”
    “ You are so amusing,
Grace.”
    Haley turned away and rubbed her arms as if
cold.
    “ There are wraps by the
door,” Maggie said to her. “Shall I get you one?”
    “ I’m fine.
Thanks.”
    “ Where’s Ben? I haven’t
even seen him yet.”
    “ Is that a criticism,
because I warn you I’m not as desperate to please as some
people.”
    Maggie turned to her brother as he stepped
onto the patio. He wore jeans and a polo shirt with loafers.
Although she didn’t expect a hug, a smile would’ve been nice.
    “ Everything okay?” she
asked.
    “ What is that supposed to mean?” he
said as he found a seat and slumped into it. Laurent came out onto
the patio carrying five wine glasses and a bottle of
wine.
    Grace turned to Haley. “So, Maggie says the
two of you were in school together. Is that how you met her
brother?”
    “ That’s right. Ben was
three years ahead of us.”
    “ So you knew Lanie,
too.”
    “ Not really,” Ben said.
“She was just one of my little sister’s amorphous-faced silly
little friends. Made no impression.”
    “ Unlike, one would presume,
another of her little friends?” Grace smiled at Ben and nodded in
the direction of Haley, clearly indicating that now would be a good
time to compliment one’s wife.
    Ben didn’t respond.
    Haley said, “Did I mention, Maggie, that Ben
and I went to my fifteenth reunion at Pace?”
    Maggie smiled. “No, you didn’t. Was it
gruesome?”
    “ No, not at all. I was
surprised I could convince Ben to come with me, but I think he
ended up enjoying himself. Didn’t you, Ben?”
    “ Oh, for Christ’s sake,”
Ben said and reached across the table to take one of the
wineglasses that Laurent had filled.
    “ Was Lanie there?” Maggie
asked turning back to the conversation. Laurent got up from the
table and returned to the kitchen.
    Haley frowned. “I didn’t see her.