Coffee Sonata (41 page)

Eryn exchanged a glance with Manon, who signaled, “Why not?”

“Sure, that’ll be good PR for the foundation,” Eryn said. “What did you have in mind? And when? We’re not available tonight.”

“We have a morning news show. Is seven o’clock tomorrow morning okay?”

Eryn grimaced. “That early, huh? Well, I guess we can manage.” They exchanged business cards, and the smiling blonde returned to her cameraman.

“TV already. Who knew? Let’s go tell Mike and Vivian.” Eryn motioned toward them, sipping from champagne flutes. “They’ve found the buffet, I see.”

“We’re off to our fifteen minutes of fame tomorrow.” Manon laughed as she reached for some champagne. “Well, except for you, Vivian. Your fame is like fifteen times two—years! And then some.”

“What’s happening tomorrow?”

As Eryn filled the others in, Mike said, “Great. Tomorrow’s Sunday. I don’t have to be back till brunch.”

“Okay,” said Manon. “I think we’ve fulfilled our duties here today. Why don’t we locate Benjamin and go home.”

“Speaking of that, I miss the limousine,” Eryn groused. “It’s not the same with a minivan.”

“I know, but it draws less attention. And it’s just as luxurious, even more so.” Manon patted Eryn’s arm. “You’ll get used to it.”

“If you say so.” Eryn pouted and then dropped the act. “Actually, I don’t care if we ride a bicycle, as long as we’re together.”

“Hey,” Mike interrupted, “aren’t we always together? When we’re not working, we’re living in the same house.” She raised an eyebrow at Manon and Eryn. “Any more together we’d be Siamese quadruplets!”

“You make it sound like we live in a two-bedroom apartment,” Vivian said as they approached the minivan where Benjamin faithfully waited. Vivian felt her way with a white cane and entered first. “Hi, boys. Did you have nice walk while Mommy sang?”

Perry and Mason wagged their tails and sniffed Vivian’s hand through the bars that kept them separated from the backseats.

“Of course I know we have more space than we can use, but unless we start looking for more tenants to fill out the Dodd Mansion, I think we’ll just have to live with it. After all, Mrs. Dodd Endicott lived there alone most of her life.” Mike sat down next to Vivian and gave her a quick kiss. “You all right? The light in there was pretty bright.”

“I’m fine,
cara
. I haven’t had any pain in six months, and today was no exception.”

“Good. Just checking.” Mike smiled faintly.

Eryn sat next to Manon and, mindful of the people crowding outside the car trying to catch a glimpse of Vivian, she didn’t lean in for a kiss. Instead she took Manon’s hand, surprised when Manon rubbed her thumb along Eryn’s palm. “Manon!”

“Just so you know,” Manon replied blithely. “I’ve missed you.”

“I know, and I’ve missed you terribly. I’m so glad I made it back for today. It was touch and go for a while since the fog in Boston nearly made the plane head for Newark. I’m not going away again for months.” Eryn knew her book-signing tour throughout New England had kept her away far too much. She was relieved she would be able to work from home again. Her publisher wanted her to write a fictional novel about a settler’s family and perhaps turn it into a series of five. “I can’t wait to have you to myself.”

“I love you,” Manon whispered, and as usual her throaty voice sent shivers through Eryn’s system.

“I love you too.” Eryn leaned her head against the backrest and admitted to herself how tired she was. “Mom and Dad were there. I saw them just before the show began, and they said they’d stop by later in the week. I have ten more books signed for them to auction off at the church bazaar.”

“They’re very proud of you.”

“Yes.” It was a source of constant happiness and occasional disbelief, but Eryn was finally ready to accept that her parents were doing their best to understand her. She couldn’t ask for more.

“Hey, where’s the bag with the thermoses?” Vivian called out from the back. “Can you see it in the front?”

“Is it red?” Eryn asked, and looked between the seats.

“Yup, that’s the one.” Mike reached for it. “I made some regular black coffee with our new house blend before we left. It should still be hot.” She opened the first thermos and sniffed. “Mmm, it is.” Quickly, Mike produced five stainless steel mugs and poured some coffee. “Here, hand some to Benny, please.”

As usual, “Benny” frowned at his nickname in the rearview mirror, but as always, his eyes softened when he looked at the four women. “Thanks, Mike,” he responded, and carefully reached for the mug.

“You’re welcome.” She looked around at her friends and took Vivian by the hand. “I propose a toast.”

“A toast.” Vivian beamed. “Wonderful. Go on,
cara
.”

“To Manon, whose work saves lives and helps people help themselves. To Eryn, who writes women’s stories and gives them visibility. And to Vivian, who touches us with her voice.”

There was a brief silence.

“To Mike,” Manon said, “who is proof to so many young people that it’s possible to overcome adversities beyond belief and…I have a couple of surprises for you, Michaela.”

The use of Mike’s real name made them all listen. Eryn looked from Manon to Mike. She could tell from her lover’s face that this was going to be good.

“You’ll hear it officially tomorrow, but our new chairman of the East Quay Chamber of Commerce gave me permission to let you know that you’re this year’s winner of the Business Person of the Year. Congratulations, Mike.”

Mike paled, and then two burning spots of red appeared on her cheeks. “Me? They chose me?”

“Yes. Unanimously.”

“I…I never…” Mike stopped talking and stared down into her mug.

“You never thought it, but we all hoped and guessed,” Vivian said, and scooted closer. “What’s the next surprise, Manon?”

“An even better one.” Manon smiled broadly. “I hired a private investigator a few months ago, but I didn’t want to say anything to get your hopes up prematurely.”

“A PI?” Mike moved her hands to Vivian’s upper arm and pressed closer to her partner. “And?”

“And he sent me his report yesterday. Here. Read out loud.”

Mike accepted a thin folder and opened it with unsteady hands. “Josephine Quinn, counselor. New address: 2105 Gardener Street, East Quay…East Quay…” she whispered. Mike’s eyes flew down the page. “She moved here only a month ago! Oh, Vivi, she might’ve beaten the cancer, don’t you think? I mean, it’s been more than two years—”

“Now you can go see her and make sure.” Vivian laughed. “That’s wonderful news. Manon…you made our day in so many ways.” She raised her coffee mug again. “So here’s to all of us!” As Ben turned the car off Main Street and headed toward home, Vivian kissed Mike’s cheek before she sipped her coffee. A content smile spread over her face. “Oh,
cara
, this is an excellent blend.”

Gun Brooke combines her lifelong love for science fiction and romance novels by writing both genres—always with romance at center stage. She resides in the Swedish countryside with her very patient family in a village displaying remnants from the Stone Age and Viking era.

Having first written fan fiction, Gun caught Bold Strokes Books' attention when she entered an online writer's challenge, and the international second edition of
Course of Action
is the happy result. Creating character-driven stories about relationships, whether set in the future or contemporary times, now keeps this Swede occupied fulltime.

Putting her fascination with the latest technology to good use, she keeps in touch with friends around the world through the Internet and maintains her own Web site, http://www.gbrooke-fiction.com. She has also been known to create Web sites for other people on occasion.

When not working on her next book, Gun loves movies, reading, cooking/eating/talking, and creating computer graphics. She also enjoys traveling and meeting new people, whom she stores in her evergrowing gallery of characters for future stories.

Look for her next release from Bold Strokes Books,
Supreme Constellations: The Protector of the Realm,
in December 2005.

Fierce Overture
by Gun Brooke. Helena Forsythe is a hard-hitting CEO who gets what she wants by taking no prisoners when negotiating— until she meets a woman who convinces her that charm may be the way to win a battle, and a heart. (978-1-60282-156-9)

Trauma Alert
by Radclyffe. Dr. Ali Torveau has no trouble saying no to romance until the day firefighter Beau Cross shows up in her ER and sets her carefully ordered world aflame. (978-1-60282-157-6)

Wolfsbane Winter
by Jane Fletcher. Iron Wolf mercenary Deryn faces down demon magic and otherworldly foes with a smile, but she’s defenseless when healer Alana wages war on her heart. (978-1-60282- 158-3)

Little White Lie
by Lea Santos. Emie Jaramillo knows relationships are for other people, and beautiful women like Gia Mendez don’t belong anywhere near her boring world of academia—until Gia sets out to convince Emie she has not only brains, but beauty...and that she’s the only woman Gia wants in her life. (978-1-60282-163-7)

Witch Wolf
by Winter Pennington. In a world where vampires have charmed their way into modern society, where werewolves walk the streets with their beasts disguised by human skin, Investigator Kassandra Lyall has a secret of her own to protect: She’s one of them. (978-1-60282-177-4)

Do Not Disturb
by Carsen Taite. Ainsley Faraday, a high-powered executive, and rock music celebrity Greer Davis couldn’t be less well suited for one another, and yet they soon discover passion has a way of designing its own future. (978-1-60282-153-8

From This Moment On
by PJ Trebelhorn. Devon Conway and Katherine Hunter both lost love and neither believes they will ever find it again—until the moment they meet and everything changes. (978-1- 60282-154-5)

Vapor
by Larkin Rose. When erotic romance writer Ashley Vaughn decides to take her research into the bedroom for a night of passion with Victoria Hadley, she discovers that fact is hotter than fiction. (978- 1-60282-155-2)

Wind and Bones
by Kristin Marra. Jill O’Hara, award-winning journalist, just wants to settle her deceased father’s affairs and leave Prairie View, Montana, far, far behind—but an old girlfriend, a sexy sheriff, and a dangerous secret keep her down on the ranch. (978-1- 60282-150-7)

Nightshade
by Shea Godfrey. The story of a princess, betrothed as a political pawn, who falls for her intended husband’s soldier sister, is a modern-day fairy tale to capture the heart. (978-1-60282-151-4)

Vieux Carré Voodoo
by Greg Herren. Popular New Orleans detective Scotty Bradley just can’t stay out of trouble—especially

The Pleasure Set
by Lisa Girolami. Laney DeGraff, a successful president of a family-owned bank on Rodeo Drive, finds her comfortable life taking a turn toward danger when Theresa Aguilar, a sleek, sexy lawyer, invites her to join an exclusive, secret group of powerful, alluring women. (978-1-60282-144-6)

A Perfect Match
by Erin Dutton. The exciting world of pro golf forms the backdrop for a fast-paced, sexy romance. (978-1-60282-145-3)

Truths
by Rebecca S. Buck. Two women separated by two hundred years are connected by fate and love. (978-1-60282-146-0)

Father Knows Best
by Lynda Sandoval. High school juniors and best friends Lila Moreno, Meryl Morganstern, and Caressa Thibodoux plan to make the most of the summer before senior year. What they discover that amazing summer about girl power, growing up, and trusting friends and family more than prepares them to tackle that all-important senior year! (978-1-60282-147-7)

In Pursuit of Justice
by Radclyffe. In the dynamic double sequel to Shield of Justice and A Matter of Trust, Det. Sgt. Rebecca Frye joins forces with enigmatic computer consultant J.T. Sloan to crack an Internet child pornography ring. (978-1-60282-147-4)

The Midnight Hunt
by L.L. Raand. Medic Drake McKennan takes a chance and loses, and her life will never be the same—because when she wakes up after surviving a life-threatening illness, she is no longer human. (978-1-60282-140-8)

Long Shot
by D. Jackson Leigh. Love isn’t safe, which is exactly why equine veterinarian Tory Greyson wants no part of it—until Leah Montgomery and a horse that won’t give up convince her otherwise. (978-1-60282-141-5)

In Medias Res
by Yolanda Wallace. Sydney has forgotten her entire life, and the one woman who holds the key to her memory, and her heart, doesn’t want to be found. (978-1-60282-142-2)

Awakening to Sunlight
by Lindsey Stone. Neither Judith or Lizzy is looking for companionship, and certainly not love—but when their lives become entangled, they discover both. (978-1-60282-143-9)

Fever
by VK Powell. Hired gun Zakaria Chambers is hired to provide a simple escort service to philanthropist Sara Ambrosini, but nothing is as simple as it seems, especially love. (978-1-60282-135-4)