Book 4: Simmer Down!

Rose

“Dr****d?” I repeat Tristan’s word out loud, mostly to myself. It makes sense, considering how awful Mark looks, but I’m worried. After all, the chef was dr****d—poisoned—and she died. “Is he going to be okay?” I ask.

“Probably,” Eli assures me, his hand on my shoulder. “It’s probably some kind of a r**fie, something that was meant to make him sleep so she could set it up like they were having sex.”

“But, I have to wonder, the way that Barbara was all worked up, maybe she was supposed to give him something else, too,” Reece says.

I look at him in surprise. “Like what?” I ask.

“Like some kind of aphrodisiac,” Tristan responds for Reece. “Maybe she accidentally gave it to herself.” He chuckles under his breath. “Goes to show that even the best-laid plans don’t always result in anyone getting laid.”

I turn and look at him, raising an eyebrow, but I don’t say anything. How can he be joking at a time like this?

“I’ve summone