Page 24 of Murder By the Millions

“But, Mother, you’re—” Tegan pressed her lips together.

“I’m what?” Noeline jutted a hip. “Too old? Too feeble? Past my prime?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“You’re in your sixties,” Vanna said without thinking. “Near retirement age.”

“Tosh! I’m not going to retire until death do I part.”

Good for you,I thought. Her sister Marigold would be thrilled with her energy and enthusiasm.

Noeline clapped her hands once. “I’m excited for the challenge. I’ve hired a great contractor to do the renovations.”

“Patrick Hardwick,” I said.

“Yes. How did you—”

“I ran into him at Ragamuffin yesterday, and he mentioned he’s going to start by renovating your office.”

“He has all sorts of clever ideas for the rest of the place.”

“I’ll bet he does,” Tegan said. “To drive up his paycheck.”

“Nonsense. He’s quite attentive to cost. Everything is written in a proposal, with no possibility of going more than ten percent over the estimate.”

“I like him,” Chloe said. “He reads across genres, is very eager to please, and is so handsome.”

“Speaking of handsome men,” Noeline said, “have all of you met Jason Gardner? He’s new to town. I ran into him earlier at Blessed Bean. He’s going to—”

“Build a mall,” Tegan cut in. “Yes, we met him. He’s going to join theGatsbyevent.”

“Isn’t he extraordinary looking?” Noeline said. “His square jaw and blond hair. He reminds me of Ryan Gosling.”

“I’ll wager he hears that a lot,” I said. “Those eyes. The wicked smile.”

“Yes.” Noeline tittered. “You know, Tegan, with Winston out of the picture, you should—”

“Mom, thanks, but no thanks. I’m not interested in Mr. Gardner. Besides, Vanna has set her sights on him.”

“I have not,” Vanna said, but her pink cheeks belied the statement.

“Allie is going to a business dinner with him tonight,” Tegan said.

Vanna lasered Tegan and then me with a lethal look.

“Whichever of you wants him, go after him,” Noeline said. “I’m all for it. He’s polite and charming and well read. We were talking books while standing in line. He’s quite a Dashiell Hammett fan, with a penchant forThe Thin Man.” She snapped her fingers. “But if he’s not to your liking, Tegan, then Chloe’s got a point. Consider dating Patrick. He’s a catch.”

“Patrick?” Vanna exclaimed and wagged her head. “No, no, an emphatic no.”

I laughed and explained to Noeline how Vanna thought Patrick was nuts because he was a raw-food omnivore. “FYI, he eats muffins, Vanna, so he might be a quasi–raw-food omnivore.”

“You like muffins, Tegan,” Noeline said.

“Isn’t he a little old for me?” Tegan asked.

“Oh, darling, men mature slower than women. Give it a think. I’m off.” She pivoted and wiggled her hand overhead as she swept out of the shop.

“My mother wants to buy a new B&B?” Tegan murmured to me. “Why, for heaven’s sake?”