Killing the Carnations (A Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery) (3 page)

“
Maybe not,” Ida agreed as she took a sip of her wine, before her voice grew smoky. “But I can certainly assess the handsome part.” She laughed quietly as he blushed dark red like a tomato. “You're not accustomed to compliments are you?”

“
Not from a woman as engaging and beautiful as yourself,” he replied with a raised eyebrow. Ida giggled, she couldn't help it. She knew it ruined the intensity of the moment, but his suave demeanor and his wandering eyes were enough to make her tingle from head to toe, and unfortunately when she tingled, she also giggled.

“
Now who's being kind?” she smiled a little and brushed her fingers back through her latest hairstyle. After an unfortunate incident that had left it a very unflattering color she had cut it short and dyed a honey blonde shade for the moment. It did make her appear even younger than she usually did, but she found the short cut that drifted against the base of her earlobes to be just a bit too young. As her hand swung back down towards the table Nicholas caught it with his own. His touch was feather soft.

“
It's not kindness,” he said firmly. “It's the truth. I don't think I've ever met anyone quite like you.”

“
Well, now that is something I believe,” Aunt Ida grinned, her eyes gleaming.

***

Downstairs the lobby was still fairly quiet as Vicky tried to hurry through the last of the paperwork. Mitchell was patiently waiting for her, but she was impatient to spend some time with him.

As she finished up with her work a few of the staff members came to her with questions.

“Can you look over the breakfast menu?” Henry, the chef for the restaurant attached to the inn, asked.

“
Sure,” she took it and glanced over as Emily walked towards her from the other side of the lobby.

“
Oh Emily, did you get Mr. Minkle settled in okay?” Vicky asked as she looked up from the menu. Emily's face was a little pale, as if she too had been run ragged by the evening.

“
Yes, he's fine,” she replied swiftly. “I'm going to head back to my room, if that's okay with you?”

“
As long as everything's been taken care of for the evening that's fine,” Vicky agreed quickly. Emily lived in the staff quarters that were located just outside the inn beside the gardens. “Are you feeling okay?” she asked with some concern. Mitchell looked over at Emily as well. Emily looked away shyly and shook her head.

“
I'm sorry it's just been a busy day and I'm feeling a little light-headed. I'd just like to lay down for a bit.”

“
Of course, I'll make sure no one disturbs you,” Vicky said with a warm smile. Mitchell continued to study Emily.

“
Do you want me to walk you to your room?” Mitchell offered politely.

“
No, no thank you,” Emily said quickly as she turned away from him. “I'll be fine by the morning I'm sure,” she added as she hurried off through the side door of the lobby that exited out into the gardens.

“
She's acting a little odd,” Mitchell said with a slight tilt of his head.

“
Oh, stop,” Vicky rolled her eyes with a short laugh. “She's just worn out. That dreamy CEO seems to have a thing for her, maybe she had a little too much fun getting him settled in,” she winked playfully at Mitchell.

“
Dreamy CEO?” Mitchell replied abruptly with a hint of heat in his fierce blue eyes that was diminished by his laid-back smile.

“
Dreamy to her I meant,” Vicky giggled and finished looking over the breakfast menu. She marked a change to be made in the drinks they were offering as she knew that some of the executives enjoyed the fancier coffee drinks.

“
Mmhm,” Mitchell replied in a drawn out hum. He again swept his gaze around the lobby.

“
Would you mind taking this to Henry for me?” Vicky suggested, hoping to keep him occupied with something other than surveillance.

“
Sure,” Mitchell took the menu and walked towards the kitchen. Vicky watched him walk away, her mind wandering to what she had in the fridge that she could cook for dinner. With a couple of candles lit and some nice music playing they could still have a very romantic evening.

***

Ida had nearly finished her glass of wine when Nicholas jumped up to pour her another. As he did he brushed his hand across his pocket, and then grimaced.

“
Ida, I'm so sorry but I think I've left my wallet in the car, I'm just going to run down and see if it's there, do you mind waiting here a few minutes?” he looked at her imploringly. “I'd hate to let this ruin our time together, but I don't want my wallet to get stolen either.”

“
Oh, you don't have to worry too much about that here,” Ida assured him. “Not much gets stolen. But of course I'll wait for you, I wouldn't want to be without my purse,” she pointed out.

“
Wonderful,” he sighed with relief and set her now filled glass of wine down in front of her. “I'll be right back, don't disappear on me, all right?” he smiled at her again. Ida blushed and smiled in return. She hadn't been so catered to in some time, and she could certainly get used to it.

After Nicholas left the room she glanced around. He had yet to unpack or settle in so there wasn't much for her to see. But she couldn't help being a little nosy. She walked over to his suitcase and just looked at how stuffed it was. She liked a man with a good sense of style. The outer pocket of the suitcase was unzipped and slightly open. She knew it was wrong, but that didn't stop her from tugging the lip of the pocket back enough to peek inside. What she saw was Nicholas' wallet. She was about to run after him when she realized how it would look if she declared she
had found his wallet inside his suitcase. She didn't think that would bode well for a second invitation for drinks, or maybe even dinner. Instead she peeked a little further into the pocket. There wasn't much else inside it, aside from a toiletry bag, and what looked like a coin purse. She was going to investigate just a little further, when she heard the knob turning on the door. She jumped back into her chair and picked up her glass of wine just as Nicholas walked back inside. He had a distressed expression and was wiping his hands across his pockets repetitively.

“
Any luck?” Ida asked, knowing exactly where his wallet was.

“
I'm afraid not,” he frowned and shook his head. “I swear I'd lose my head if it wasn't screwed on. My wife was always good at keeping track of things for me.”

“
Your wife?” Ida asked curiously. She hadn't noticed a ring on his finger.

“
Yes, unfortunately she passed several years ago,” he explained with a hint of grief in his voice. “She was a wonderful woman,” his eyes hung on Ida's features as if there was something about her that reminded him of his late wife.

“
Well, I think women have a knack for remembering things,” Ida explained with a warm smile. “If I had misplaced my wallet, I would check all my bags. You know I have several different purses, and sometimes I place my wallet in one and forget about it for a few days, then I have no idea where I put it in the first place. So the first thing I do if it comes up missing is to check all of my bags,” she said again. She hoped she wasn't hinting strongly enough to indicate that she might actually know where his wallet was.

“
I always keep my wallet in my pocket,” he shook his head slightly and then met her eyes again. “But I guess I should check everywhere.”

As he walked over to his bag, Ida released a quiet sigh of relief.

“Well, look it is here!” Nicholas announced with joy. “I was just going to start cancelling credit cards! Ida, you truly are my good luck charm,” he announced as he turned around to face her. He held out his hand to her, and she accepted it as she stood up from her chair. He continued to stare deeply into her eyes as he pulled her gently closer. Ida's eyes grew wide as her heart fluttered with excitement.

***

As Vicky was filing the last of the paperwork from her desk she heard the door between the bar and the lobby open. She looked up, expecting to find a last minute guest to register, what she saw instead was Charleston's fiancée. She was teetering on her high heels and being held up by a large-framed man in a business suit. His cheeks were flushed with exertion and he seemed to be having a hard time keeping her upright on her heels.

“
Ma'am, are you okay?” Vicky asked as she stepped out from behind the desk to check on her.

She waved her hand dismissively.
“Oh, I had a few too many drinks and the bartender kicked me out,” she sighed. “But luckily this fine gentleman was there to save me,” she smiled seductively at the man who still had her propped up on his arm. “My hero.”

Vicky was acutely aware that the man was not Charleston.

“Well, I can help you up to your room if you'd like,” Vicky suggested as she met the woman's eyes.

“
No, I'll be fine,” she assured Vicky. “I know what Charleston will say, he'll say Amanda, why must you always drink too much wine,” she giggled and then lowered her voice as she whispered to Vicky. “I always tell him it's because I'm marrying you, Charleston,” she laughed wildly and headed unsteadily for the elevator.

“
Thanks for your help,” Vicky said with a grateful smile to the man who had helped her into the lobby.

“
It's no problem, we're used to Amanda,” he shrugged mildly. “Poor Charleston has no idea what he's getting into though. At least he'll be CEO so he won't have too much to complain about,” the man headed off towards the stairs. As soon as the elevator doors closed behind Amanda, Vicky wondered if it was a mistake to let her go upstairs alone. Would she even be able to find her room? She knew that Amanda wasn't going to accept help from her, but she hoped that she would from someone she obviously liked. She dialled Aunt Ida's cell phone, which was a device she was still getting used to. She answered on the third ring.

“
Hello?” she asked, and then before Vicky could answer she growled. “Is this thing on? I can't even tell! Is that you Vicky?”

“
Yes it's on, it's me, Aunt Ida,” Vicky tried not to laugh. “Can you do me a favor?”

“
Of course I can,” she replied.

“
Where are you?” Vicky asked.

“
Uh,” there was a pause, and then Aunt Ida muttered something under her breath. “I'm just leaving Mr. Brendan's room,” she explained. Vicky's eyes widened at that, she had been up there for quite some time.

“
Oh really?” she asked with a gossipy tone, but then she remembered that there was business to attend to so she moved on. “I just need you to see if you can find Charleston's fiancée, Amanda, remember you met her earlier today?”

“
Yes I remember, how could I forget such a beautiful dress?” she sighed at the memory.

“
She just headed up to her room, room 309, in the elevator but she's more than a little intoxicated so I'm worried that she won't make it to her room,” Vicky explained, her voice fluttering a little with the anxiety she felt.

“
Don't worry, I'll look after her,” Ida assured her. When Ida hung up the phone she turned back towards Nicholas. The call had interrupted them just as he was leaning towards her. Ida was fairly certain he had intended to kiss her.

“
I'm sorry but duty calls,” she said nervously and twisted her fingertips through some of the material of her blouse. She hadn't felt so awkward since she was just a teenager.

“
I understand,” he said calmly, his eyes still locked to hers. “I hope that I'll have the chance to spend a little more time with you before this weekend's over.”

“
I would like that,” Ida replied with a slow smile, “very much.”

As she walked toward
s the door she heard him following her. He reached past her to open the door for her, showing he was a true gentleman.

As she turned to say a final goodbye, she found him waiting there for her, his lips poised to embrace hers. Ida was startled and swept away by the abrupt but soft and sweet kiss. It made her shiver with surprise and elation.

“I-I have to go,” Ida stumbled over her words. He had her very flustered.

“
I hope to see you again soon,” he murmured and smiled at her as she hurried off down the hallway.

She heard him close the door and let out a long sigh. She had to pause for a moment to regain her composure. She thought the flirting had been fun, but he had been so bold as to kiss her, and that she had not expected. She reminded herself that Vicky still needed her help with Amanda and forced herself to start walking
down the hall. She was almost at the elevator. Her heart was still racing from her encounter and the kiss that she had just shared with Nicholas. With her mind swimming she didn't notice the dark crimson stain at first, not until she stepped down in the middle of it, and the carpet gave a squishing sound. Her heart stopped in that moment and she looked down at the spreading circle that was a very different shade to the tan carpet that covered the hallway.