Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #16)(12)

“She hasn’t contacted me yet, but there were a couple of messages on the answering machine in my office. I didn’t bother to play them. I think Bev and I said all there was to say to each other.”

Hannah was glad she hadn’t asked, because Norman had volunteered the information. That meant something . . . didn’t it? Instead of pondering the question, she moved a little closer to Norman and tried to put Doctor Bev out of her mind. But Norman’s two-time fiancée wouldn’t go away. Hannah’s eyes widened as she saw Roger Dalworth and Doctor Bev coming out on the dance floor.

“She’s here,” Norman said, noticing them at almost the same time as Hannah had.

“I saw.” Hannah took a deep breath. “Is there anything you want me to do?”

“Just be here for me.” Norman pulled her even closer. “I’m not upset. That’s not it. I’m just . . . puzzled. I can’t figure out why she’s back here. And until I know, I’m not going to do anything.”

“That’s my plan, too. If we’re lucky, we won’t have to talk to her at all. She’s with Roger and it must be serious because she’s got a huge diamond ring on her finger. If she’s engaged to him now, she might leave us alone.”

“Maybe,” Norman said, but he didn’t sound convinced. “I don’t know Roger that well, but he seems like a decent guy. I hope he finds out what a barracuda she is before it’s too late.”

Hannah, who had a better view of Roger and Doctor Bev, gave a little groan of dismay. “They’re coming over this way. I hope she’s not going to cause a scene.”

“She won’t do anything ugly in front of her newest . . .” Norman stopped, obviously at a loss for the right word.

“Conquest,” Hannah supplied it.

“Exactly. Would you like to go back to the table?”

Hannah thought about that for a moment. “No. I don’t think we should let them drive us away.”

“Right.” Norman took a quick glance over his shoulder. “Uh-oh. They’re coming closer.”

“What can they do? Trip us?” Hannah tried for a little humor.

“They can cut in.”

Hannah glanced over Norman’s shoulder again. “You’re right. What should we do?”

“We should let them cut in as if nothing’s wrong. It’s only one dance. And after that dance, we should both think of some polite way to go back to our table.”

“Done,” Hannah said as Roger Dalworth tapped Norman on the shoulder. And then she was in Roger’s arms, dancing a dance she didn’t want to dance, and trying her best not to crane her neck to keep an eye on Doctor Bev and Norman.

It had been an uncomfortable ten minutes, but it was over. Hannah checked her hair in the antique oval mirror that stood on a mahogany stand in the corner of the ladies’ room and decided that there wasn’t much she could do to it without a curry comb and wire brush. There was nothing she could do except play with the genetic cards she’d been dealt. Delores, at well past fifty, was still beautiful with shining black hair, a svelte figure, and perfectly applied makeup. Andrea had inherited their mother’s good looks with the exception of her hair color. She was a natural blonde and she always looked as if she’d just stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine. Hannah’s youngest sister, Michelle, was equally beautiful with lovely brown hair. And then there was Hannah, who looked nothing like her beautiful, petite mother and sisters. She was her father’s daughter with his shock of unruly red hair, tall, gangly frame, and the same unfortunate tendency to put on extra pounds.

After excusing herself to Roger in order to go to the ladies’ room, even asking him where it was to lend credibility to her excuse, she spent five or six minutes sitting on the brocade sofa in the anteroom, staring at her reflection in the mirror, before she ventured out to return to her table.

“Well?” Delores asked before she’d even pulled out her chair.

“She’s engaged to him, but that’s all I know. At least he called her his fiancée. I didn’t want to ask questions.”

Delores turned to Doc. “Sorry. We’re doing that mother-to-daughter telepathy thing again. I wanted to know if Hannah found out why she was back in town and how long she plans to be here.”

“That’s what I thought. Maybe Norman will know. He’s dancing with her right now.”

Delores turned to look. “Norman doesn’t look happy.”

“Just the opposite,” Hannah agreed.

“Shall I rescue him?” Delores asked. “Doc and I can go out there and cut in, just like they did to you. And then maybe Doc can get some information out of her.”

Doc gave a little laugh. “Sorry, Lori. I forgot to pack truth serum in my little black bag.”

“That’s okay,” Hannah said, noticing that Norman and Doctor Bev had stopped dancing. “I stopped dancing with Roger to go to the ladies’ room and I think she just did the same thing. At least she’s heading that way. And Norman’s heading this way.”

Delores nodded. “I’m going to ask him what’s going on. I’m just dying to know if . . .” She stopped speaking as Doc gripped her arm. “What?”

“I heard something.”