The Stardust Readers Retreat #3
“I thought Vic . . .” She frowned. She picked up one of his books, only to put it back down. “Oh, I see some other influencers. Bye for now.”
Jo scootched closer to Eric. “Sourdough and crochet?”
“I knit too. Made the sweater I’m wearing.” He held out his arms.
She smiled. “That’s adorable.”
The signing didn’t last much longer. When all the readers were gone, the staff started rearranging tables. Jo grabbed her backpack and Aspen’s leash.
“That was fun,” she said.
Eric nodded. “You know, if anything strange happens this weekend—”
“We compare notes.” She finished.
Jo stepped out of her room wearing a dress more suited to a character in her books than her.
She looped Aspen’s leash around her wrist, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
The door to Eric’s room opened before she had a chance to knock.
He stepped out wearing an impeccable suit and a knit tie that looked suspiciously homemade. She wondered if he’d made it himself.
“Apparently, you clean up nice,” she said with a smile.
He turned, his eyes taking in every inch of her. “As do you.” He offered his arm. “Shall we?”
She took his arm, allowing him to escort her to the welcome reception, Aspen padding along beside them.
The welcome reception filled the Redwood Room, all low lighting and soft jazz, champagne flutes glistening from the chandelier light. Readers clustered in small groups, while authors circulated like minor celebrities.
Jo felt it immediately—the shift from intimacy to performance.
A man’s voice cut through the murmur of the crowd. “If it isn’t the most talked about crossover of the convention.”
Jo felt Eric stiffen.
The man approached them wearing confidence like armor. His jacket was perfectly tailored, his eyes sharp, and his smile honed like a blade.
“Bennett Crowe, literary critic.” He extended his hand to Jo. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
She let go of Eric and shook Bennett’s hand. “Josephine Hart.”
“I know.” Bennett looked around the room. “I think everyone knows after today.”
Before she could respond, he was already being dragged into another conversation, leaving behind the faint impression of scrutiny.
Aspen watched him walk away, tail still.
“Should we get a drink?” Eric asked.
“Normally, I would say no, but I have a feeling tonight calls for it,” she said.
Jo watched as Bennett moved from one group to another until Eleanor flagged him down.
“I thought you were going to handle the champagne.” Eleanor’s eyes darted around the room.
Bennett dismissed her concerns with a wave of the hand. “Victor will like this brand more than what he’d ordered. Trust me. I’ll make sure all the VIPs get a bottle.”
He left Eleanor standing alone. She stormed out of the room.
Jo turned to see if Eric had heard the exchange. The entrance of Starla Fontaine distracted her. The former showgirl walked to the bar like she owned the room, radiant in an off the shoulder gold gown that made her skin glow. She sipped her champagne, relaxed, until Victor sidled up next to her.
Jo couldn’t help but watch as they hissed at each other. Whatever was being said, Victor had his claws out, and Starla didn’t appreciate it much.
Starla squared her shoulders squared as she sat her champagne flute down on a table. Victor put his hand on her bare shoulder before she could walk away. His hand lingered long enough to be considered a warning.
She shook him off with a laugh that was too sharp to be real.
Victor’s expression hardened.
“What is going on between those two?” Jo watched as Starla walked away.
Eric leaned closer to her. “Whatever it is, it’s not friendly.”
Moments later, Eleanor appeared at Victor’s side with an untouched champagne flute.
“I told you,” her tone tight. “The distributor change was unavoidable.”
He took the flute from her, setting it down without taking a sip. “You should have mentioned it sooner.”
Eleanor’s jaw clenched. “You don’t run events, you run people.”
“Same skill set.” He smiled, showing more teeth than necessary.
She turned away before Jo could read her expression, already greeting another guest like nothing had happened.
Eric glanced at Jo. “Did you hear that?”
“Distributor change,” Jo said softly. “Did you hear Bennett and Eleanor? He had something to do with the change.”
Aspen sneezed pointedly.
The music swelled. Laughter filled the room.
On the surface, the evening glittered like gold, underneath, that was an entirely different metal.
“Do you dance?” Jo asked.
Eric looked at Aspen, then Jo. “Only when asked by a lovely lady and her dog.”
The sun rose the next morning with more sparkle than a chandelier. Jo stretched just outside the hotel, Aspen by her side, ready for her morning hike.
“I don’t know how you convinced me to do this. I only get up this early when I’m baking cinnamon rolls.” Eric moaned as he walked up beside her.
Jo laughed. “Come on, the fresh air will be good for you.”
She walked to the trailhead. It was a resort trail, much easier than what she was used to, but there wasn’t time to conquer mountains today. She’d do that after the event was over.
“Are you coming?” She called over her shoulder.
He sighed. “Yeah, of course I am.”
As soon as they were on the trail, she unleashed Aspen, letting her run up and down the trail for a bit. It didn’t take them long to get to the viewpoint.
“Just look at that.” She sighed. “It’s stunning.”
She sat on the edge, letting her feet dangle.
Eric stood back, glued in place. “Yep, pretty.”
She looked over her shoulder. “Come sit with me, it’s amazing.”
“I think I’ll stay here. Heights and I don’t get along,” he muttered.
She scrambled to her feet. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay. How could you? I’ve just plotted too many murders where someone’s pushed off a cliff.”
“I see you’ve got jokes.” She grabbed his hand. “Why don’t we head back down? Maybe get some breakfast.”
He nodded. Aspen sprinted over to them, allowing Jo to clip on her leash.
“Why don’t you write outdoorsy romances?” he asked.
She looked down the trail. “This is my space. I don’t want to share it with my characters. I’m afraid it will make my adventures feel like work.”
He stopped. So did she.
“I can see that.”
They stood inches away from each other.
The thought that it would be so easy to kiss him skittered through her brain.
“You’d better make up your mind before the ball or I’ll let everyone know what you’ve been hiding.” Victor’s booming voice ended the moment.
They hurried to the service road, but by the time they got there, the only person on it was Victor. He pulled a flask out of his pocket and took a swig.
“I wonder who he was talking to?” Jo tapped her chin.
Eric shrugged. “I wonder if he always has a flask with him?”
The morning and afternoon panels happened without incident, allowing everyone time to get ready for the ball.
Jo was in her room wishing she’d remembered band-aids for her heels; without them, she was going to have blisters by the end of the night.
She paced the length of her room, Aspen beside her, when there was a knock on the door.
“Saved by the knock.” She gestured for Aspen to sit before opening the door.
Eric stood there, handsome in a vintage tuxedo. “I was wondering if you could help me with my cufflinks.” He held up one arm. “I brought snacks.”
“You should have mentioned the snacks first. I’m starving.” She stepped back to let him into the room.
“Cufflinks first, then sourdough snacks.” He set his bag on the table.
Aspen huffed.
“I agree with her, snacks should always come first.” Despite her words, she helped him first.
“Thank you. By the way, you’re stunning,” he said as he prepared a plate for Jo and Aspen.
Jo twirled her violet gown, which was reminiscent of Ginger Rogers. “Thank you. I especially like Aspen’s matching bandana.”
“It does set off her eyes rather nicely.” He stood. “Shall we go?”
“Not until I finish eating.” Jo smiled. “I won’t be deprived of food that taste this good.”
The ballroom doors were already open. Music drifted into the hall. Candlelight flickered off the walls, transforming the room into the glitz and glamour of the past. Tables lined the edge of the dance floor, arranged with name placards and half-filled champagne glasses.
“They sat us together, really playing into what the readers want.” Jo looked around the room.
“I rather like sitting next to you.”
Jo blushed. She crouched, looping Aspen’s leash securely around the leg of the table. “You stay right here,” she murmured. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
Aspen sat, tail wagging in agreement.
Eric offered Jo his hand. “Shall we dance?”
She took it.
The music slowed to something classic and romantic. Eric’s hand settled just above the small of her back, steady and warm. The world faded away as they moved together in a traditional waltz.
The song ended. Applause filled the room.
The smile on Jo’s face fled when she turned back toward the table. “Aspen?”
Her leash lay slack on the floor.
“I have to find her.” She turned one way then the other, not knowing where to search.
Eric held her hand. “Let’s check by the food first?”
She nodded.
A bark, sharp and insistent, from behind a service door stopped them in their tracks. Jo turned and ran through the door.
“Oh my—” She never finished her sentence.
Eric turned her into his arms before she could look, shielding her as soon as he saw the body. Aspen sat next to them, leaning against Jo’s legs.
Starla screamed before fainting.
“Is that Victor?” Jo asked, her voice muffled.
She felt Eric nod. “Yes.”
“Is he . . .”
“Dead. It appears so.” His arms tightened around her.
Eleanor stood in the doorway. “I’ve called the police. Resort security is locking down the floor.”
“We need to get out of here before we contaminate the crime scene.” Eric led everyone out of the room, his arm still wrapped around Jo.