Blaise nodded. “Yes. You must be Paige. I’m so sorry I’m late. My dog— Anyway, here, these are for you. Katherine Hepburn’s brownies.”
“Fantastic.” Paige took the pan with her free hand, the other occupied with a glass of something bubbly. “And you’re not that late. We’re still getting to know each other. Come on in.” Paige had a slim figure artfully displayed in a great little dress. “Ladies, our final member has arrived. Everyone say hello to Blaise Monroe.”
The women turned. Cece smiled. “Hi, Blaise.”
“Hi, Cece.” It was nice to see a familiar face.
The youngest of the group, wearing a fitted black tank top and a gauzy peasant skirt, gasped. “Hey, you’re the actual Blaise Monroe.”
Having all eyes on her was nothing new. Blaise nodded. There was no point in denying who she was. A simple Google search would show the truth. “Yes, I am.”
The younger woman grinned. “That is so cool. Nice to meet you. I’m Maude Harrigan.”
Blaise smiled right back. “The actual Maude Harrigan?”
Maude laughed. “Well played.”
Paige touched Blaise’s arm. “Would you like a drink?”
“I’d love one. Is that prosecco in your hand?”
“It is. I’ll get you a glass.”
“Wonderful.” Blaise moved closer and met Essie. Paige put a glass in her hand. Blaise took a sip. “Thank you. That’s nice.”
“This is all of us, then. I hope you’re all going to fix yourselves a plate.” Paige reached for one herself, as if setting an example.
Blaise had eaten a salad with chicken earlier but didn’t want to be rude. She cut a wedge of brie for herself and broke off a small cluster of grapes. From the large glass platter, she selected a petit four and a chocolate-covered strawberry. She took her glass and went into the living room, which was fairly similar to hers, though bigger.
She glanced back at Paige. “Does it matter where we sit?”
“Not in the slightest. Make yourself comfortable.”
Blaise took a seat on the couch, setting her plate and glass down on the coffee table. Paige’s tiny house wasn’t that tiny. Her furnishings were beautiful and, at least to Blaise’s eye, well made without being covered in logos. Which usually meant money.
Blaise didn’t care if people had money or not, but she was always interested in how those with money treated others. So far, Paige was making a good impression.
Maude seemed fun. A real carefree spirit who didn’t take herself too seriously. Very pretty without trying and very much like some of the models Blaise had known in the early days. Blaise liked her immediately.
Blaise had only ever chatted with Cece a few times in passing. In this setting, Cece had a way about her that made it seem as if she was absorbing every molecule of information that came her way. Not calculating, exactly. More like her brain was filing away everything there was to know about the people she’d just been introduced to. There was something so curious about her. Blaise looked forward to getting to know her neighbor better.
Essie was delightful. Happy, fun, smiley. Like nothing could bother her. Blaise envied that outlook on life. The enormousdiamond on her hand was interesting. Either her husband had money, or he’d splashed out to make a big impression. The funny thing was, Essie came off as a woman who would have been just as happy with a small diamond.
They all came over with their plates and drinks. Blaise was pleased to see brownies, which she’d cut into smaller than usual squares, on everyone’s plates.
Cece sat next to her. “Are these really Katherine Hepburn’s recipe?”
Blaise nodded. “They are. At least that’s what the chef who gave me the recipe said. I suppose I should do an internet search and see if he was telling the truth.”
“She was famous for her brownies,” Essie added. “I read her autobiography. I remember the book mentioning them.”
“Good to know,” Blaise said. “I hate to think I’ve been lying to people all these years.”
Paige laughed as she joined them. “I think most people would forgive you.” She settled into the sleek club chair that Blaise suspected was actually a recliner. Paige lifted her glass. “Now that we’re all here, thanks again for coming. Here’s to our new book club.”
They raised their glasses. “To book club.”
Blaise sipped her prosecco, then exchanged her glass for her plate. She had a bite of cheese followed by a grape.
