Read Murder on the First Day of Christmas (Chloe Carstairs Mysteries) for Free Online

“Hard to say.”
         “Really. What’s the story?”
         Dana’ s unerring instinct about men was a funny thing. If she gave Jack the red light, I’d take her word for it. Unfortunately, she was like those fifties superheroes, unable to use her powers for her own benefit.
         “I think he’s single, he seems to be sane, and he’s definitely straight.”
         I raised an eyebrow. “And you know this how?”
         She did her Scarlett O’Hara voice. “He looks as if he knows what I look like without my ‘shimmey’”.
         This I could understand. Men always looked at tall, whippet-thin Dana like they were X-raying her clothing. “I’m not seeing a downside,” I commented.
         “Well, there’s one somewhere. Girls throw themselves at him, literally tripping and falling into his arms on a regular basis. The guy gets propositioned more than a plumber in a porn movie, all to no avail.”
         “Maybe he doesn’t date gals from work.”
         “Three girls have already quit, thinking that very thing.”
         “Interesting.” I sighed, not really meaning it. Jacob was too much of a challenge already. I needed a sure thing.
         “Want to shake your moneymaker?” Feeling sorry for me, Dana pointed toward the floor, where the band thumped under our feet.
        “I think my mother needs rescuing.” I smiled brightly, proving that, beneath my power push-up bra, beat the heart of a survivor.
         I found Mom talking to the Beaumonts and Nancy.
         “How people can lavish so much time and money on Christmas trees, I’ll never understand,” Bunny said.  “I, for one, would rather decorate something more worthwhile like me.” She bent forward and gave us a cleavage shot usually reserved for pay-per-view. “Don’t I need something dramatic around my neck?”
         Mom’s eyes met mine as she telegraphed, “Like a noose?”
         Standing nearby listening to something Robin was murmuring to him, Tony Trianos caught the look. Amused, his topaz eyes raked over Mom in a way that was less than wholesome.
         “Speaking of more worthwhile,” Bunny said to Nancy, her tone slightly suggestive. “Still taking Pilates?”
         Nancy’s round face lit up, “Three times a week, and I can tell such a difference.”
         “I should say so.” Bunny laughed. “Each session is one big hour-long Kegel exercise, right Gavin?”
         Undaunted by a mouthful of stuffed mushrooms, Bunny’s husband agreed, “Yes, indeedie.”
         I couldn’t tell if he was offering a personal or professional opinion.
         Nancy’s creamy skin turned a light pink, “I wouldn’t know about that.”
         “Girl, that’s not what I’ve been told,” Bunny teased. “Maybe I should sign up for a few sessions with Lance. I hear he really knows how to work out the kinks.”
         “Oh, you should.” Robin leaned into our conversation for a sec. “I’ve been going myself. It’s great for flexibility and toning. So important as we age.” Her eyes moved over Bunny, lingering on the places that proved why silver lame is so hard to pull off.
         Naturally, this didn’t faze Ms. Beaumont. Anything you’ve done, she’s done faster, better, more often and in higher heels. Even the spectacularly decked out Robin wasn’t much competition.
         Saul pushed his way into our circle, stumbling against Nancy. “You owe me a dance,” he told Robin, glancing at Tony standing close to her. “Having a good time, Trianos?” Saul slurred his words. “Help yourself to anything you want. Well, not anything.”
         “Thank you, I will.”
         I detected no accent in Trianos’s voice. Rather, he had a quiet, silky way of speaking that commanded the attention of his listeners - a sexy voice.
         “Did Angela fix my drink?” Saul switched his attention to Robin.
         “Doesn’t she