Page 36 of The Lady Has a Past

Gerald glanced at Simon. “Not Mr. Cage, I take it?”

Simon swallowed some of his cocktail and gave Gerald a warning look.

Gerald was a waiter. He had just delivered Lyra’s pink lady and Simon’s martini to the table. Simon was not certain how it had happened, but at some point Gerald and Lyra had fallen into an intimate discussion of Gerald’s love life, which evidently had taken a downturn recently.

Simon was caught between amazement and exasperation.

Lyra gave Gerald a warm smile. “Mr. Cage came along after my engagement ended. You could say he swept me off my feet. Ours was a whirlwind, runaway romance.”

“Wow,” Gerald said. “Just like in the movies, huh?”

“Yes,” Lyra said. “And I’m sure there is a lovely young woman here in Labyrinth Springs just waiting for you to ask her out on a date. But you’re going to have to forget what’s-her-name and look to the future.”

“Betty,” Gerald said. “Her name is Betty.”

“Not anymore,” Lyra said. “From now on she is what’s-her-name as far as you are concerned. It’s all about focusing on the future, Gerald, not the past.”

“Okay,” Gerald said earnestly. “I’ll try. Thanks for the advice.”

“Anytime,” Lyra said. “And thank you for the excellent service.”

Gerald glowed. “You’re welcome. Next time you come into the dining room, just ask for me.”

“We’ll do that.”

Gerald hurried away. Simon looked at Lyra, who was seated on the opposite side of the table.

“Do you always end up becoming best friends with the waiters when you go out on a date?” Simon asked.

Lyra raised her brows and picked up her glass. “Gerald and I have a lot in common, and this is not a date. You and I are working a case, remember?”

“I’mworking a case. You appear to be engaging in a very personal conversation with a man whose last name you don’t know.”

Lyra took a sip of her pink lady and lowered the glass. “Why are you annoyed?”

I have absolutely no idea,Simon thought. But that was not entirely true. It alarmed him that he had used the worddate. It was Lyra’s fault. She was wearing a slinky evening gown that framed her elegantly rounded shoulders and displayed a lot of skin in back. The gown was a mysterious cobalt blue and it gleamed in the candlelight. Long, lacy black gloves framed her hands and forearms. Her hair fell in deep, sultry waves. He did not want to take his eyes off her.

“I’m just trying to stay focused on our investigation,” he said.“You’re the one who pointed out that we don’t have a lot of time to waste.”

“Relax. I felt sorry for Gerald. It’s obvious he’s depressed, and when it came out that his girlfriend dumped him to go to Hollywood, I thought it would cheer him up to know that he isn’t the only one in the world who’s recently had a bad romantic experience.” Lyra widened her eyes. “Say, maybe you should tell him about your fiancée ending your engagement. Sympathy from another man who has been through a similar experience would do him a world of good.”

“Got news for you. Men don’t talk about stuff like that.”

“How can you say that? A few hours ago you told me all about how your fiancée ended your engagement.”

“I meant men don’t talk about stuff like that to other men. Gerald and I will not be having a conversation.”

Lyra waved one gloved hand in graceful dismissal. “Suit yourself.”

She took another sip of her pink lady.

Simon watched her for a moment. “People talk to you.”

“Probably because I talk to them. If you want people to talk to you, I suggest you try learning how to make polite conversation.”

“What I’m saying is you have a talent for getting people to open up to you. That’s a useful skill in our profession.”

Lyra’s mouth tightened. “You make it sound like I manipulate people.”

---