Books of a Feather by Kate Carlisle Read Free Book Online Page A

time.”
    I didn’t trust myself to speak. There were lovely illustrations of birds throughout the book, but more than half of the pages were badly wrinkled and stiff, as though they’d been dunked in a pool. Liquid was the natural enemy of paper—didn’t everyone know that? I could imagine the hot blue fury flashing in my old bookbinding teacher’s eyes if he’d been here to see the injury done to this book.
    The wine Jared Mulrooney had doused the book with hadn’t touched the leather cover, so he must have been holding the book open when the wine spilled. Frankly, I wished he’d spilled it on the cover rather than the pages, because that would be easier to repair or replace. I gave him a clenched smile. “I guess it’s a good thing you were only drinking
white
wine.”
    He moaned softly. “Can you fix it?”
    â€œI’ll give it my best shot.”
    â€œShe can fix it,” Ian said proudly. “She can fix anything.”
    â€œI’ll pay any amount,” Jared assured me. “It’s a treasure beyond price. I found it in a used bookshop in Scotland and it’s become our society’s most prized possession. We’ve always kept it inside a clear, locked Plexiglas display case at our headquarters. But I couldn’t keep my hands off it. Why did I have to . . . Oh, what is wrong with me?”
    â€œNow, settle down, Jared,” Ian said, patting the man’s shoulder. “It’ll be all right. It’s not like you killed anyone.”
    I blinked at Ian in shock, but he just grinned.
    Jared’s face grew even paler and I felt a wave of pity for him. He gave a furtive peek behind him and lowered his voice. “The others can’t find out about this.”
    â€œYou can trust me not to tell anyone,” I promised, patting his other shoulder. Then I slipped the book into my purse alongside the other secret book I’d been given tonight.
    This evening was getting more and more interesting by theminute.

Chapter Three
    I found Derek at the head of the bar line, and twenty minutes later, the two of us had managed to migrate through the crowd over to the dramatic octagon-shaped Shakespeare folio display, where we had a moment alone to enjoy our wine. I gave him a quick recap of my odd encounters with both Genevieve Taylor and Jared Mulrooney.
    Shortly after I’d taken the book from Jared, he and Ian had slipped back into the crowd. I caught an occasional glimpse of Ian chatting and schmoozing with guests, but Jared had disappeared completely. Given the level of guilt and embarrassment he was suffering over the damaged book, I wouldn’t blame him if he’d decided to skulk out before the Audubon was unveiled.
    I realized I hadn’t seen Genevieve, either, since our quick exchange in the foyer. But then, she was short enough to disappear from sight in a crowd this thick. I figured we’d run into each other again tonight at some point.
    â€œHere he is,” Derek said, glancing over my shoulder. I turned and smiled as Crane approached. I couldn’t help noticing a number of women’s eyes following his progression across the room. Hewore another impeccably tailored suit tonight, as did Derek. Once again, I was struck by the overwhelming good looks of both men and knew I was the envy of plenty of the women in attendance.
    â€œI’m glad you made it,” I said, giving him a brief hug.
    â€œThank you, Brooklyn.” He grinned as he shook hands with Derek. “I wasn’t sure I would make it out of the consulate in time.”
    â€œAre you making enemies of the Chinese consulate staff so soon?” Derek bantered.
    Crane gave a worldly shrug. “As always.”
    I must’ve looked concerned, because Crane laughed, then lowered his voice to add, “Actually, I’m about to increase the deputy consul’s plenipotentiary powers to such an extent that, well, let us