Southern Ghost (40 page)
Authors: Carolyn G. Hart
Willie delved into the last box and, triumphantly, yanked up a stack of sheets so electrically pink that Annie blinked.
“Here we go.” He handed one to Annie.
Annie took the sheet.
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Annie took a deep breath. Oh, Lordy.
“Would you like extra copies?” Willie asked helpfully.
“Five.”
Before pulling the brochures from the box, she saw him glance at her wedding ring.
Annie took the flyers. “Thanks so much.”
“Oh, we’ve got hundreds. We’ll have a stack of them here this afternoon at the cocktail party.”
“Who’s coming to the cocktail party?”
“Ken sent out invitations to booksellers. But you’re definitely invited. Five o’clock. Here in the suite. And feel free, take some extra copies of the flyer.”
Willie smiled happily, obviously unaware his offering was as welcome as the Bud Light truck at a Baptist church social.
Annie accepted another handful. Should she give flyers to her authors as they arrived? Or should she await a propitious moment?
She turned toward the door.
Willie didn’t exactly block her way, but he was right there, an eager hand on her elbow. “How about a drink tonight?”
“I’m not sure,” she replied vaguely, “but thanks.”
“Anytime. Just give me a ring.”
He leaned against the doorjamb and watched as she walked toward the elevators.
As Annie punched the button, she gave him a final, noncommittal smile. Willie probably preferred married women. She stepped into the elevator, the pink sheets in her hand, and wished that she had nothing else to do that day but fend off Willie’s advances. That she could do. Duck soup. Instead, she had a horrid premonition that her Gang of Five might make mincemeat out of her. She opened her
purse and absently dredged up a partially squashed mint.
No, stress didn’t make her hungry, fill her mind with images of food.
Of course not.
SOUTHERN GHOST
A Bantam Book /July 1992
Bantam paperback edition /August 1993
All rights reserved
Copyright © 1992 by Carolyn G. Hart.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information address: Bantam Books
.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 92–2543
eISBN: 978-0-307-57068-0
Bantam Books are published by Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Its trademark, consisting of the words “Bantam Books” and the portrayal of a rooster, is Registered in U.S. Patent and Tradmark Office and in other countries. Marca Registrada. Random House, Inc., New York, New York.
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