"Laurell K. Hamilton - Anita Blake 06 - Killing Dance" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hamilton Laurell K)

Catherine joined us. Her copper-colored hair flowed around her face in a
wavy mass. She was the only one I knew with curlier hair than mine, but its
color was more spectacular. If asked, most people described her from the hair
outward. Delicate makeup hid the freckles and drew attention to her pale, grey
green eyes. Her dress was the color of new leaves. I'd never seen her look
better.
"Marriage seems to agree with you," I said, smiling.
She smiled back. "You should try it sometime."
I shook my head. "Thanks a lot."
"I have to steal Anita away for just a moment." At least she didn't say she
needed help in the kitchen. Richard would have known that was a lie. He was a
much better cook than I was.
Catherine led me back to the spare bedroom where the coats were piled in a
heap. There was one real fur coat draped over the pile. I was betting I knew
who owned it. Monica liked being close to dead things.
As soon as the door was shut, Catherine grabbed my hands and giggled, I
swear. "Richard is wonderful. My junior high science teachers never looked
like that."
I smiled, and it was one of those big, dopey smiles. The silly kind that
say you're in horrible lust if not love, maybe both, and it feels good even if
it is stupid.
We sat down on the bed, pushing the coats to one side. "He is handsome," I
said, my voice as neutral as I could make it.
"Anita, don't give me that. I've never seen you glow around anyone."
"I don't glow."
She grinned at me and nodded. "Yes, you do."
"Do not," I said, but it was hard to be sullen when I wanted to smile. "All
right, I like him, a lot. Happy?"
"You've been dating him for nearly seven months. Where's the engagement
ring?"
I did frown at her then. "Catherine, just because you're deliriously
happily married doesn't mean everyone else has to be married, too."
She shrugged and laughed.
I stared into her shining face and shook my head. There had to be more to
Bob than met the eye. He was about thirty pounds heavier than he should have
been, balding, with small round glasses on a rather nondescript face. He did
not have a sparkling personality, either. I'd been ready to give her the
thumbs down until I saw the way he looked at Catherine. He looked at her like
she was the whole world, and it was a nice, safe, wonderful world. A lot of
people are pretty, and clever repartee is on every television set, but
dependability, that's rare.
"I didn't bring Richard here to get your stamp of approval; I knew you'd
like him."
"Then why did you keep him such a secret? I've tried to meet him a dozen
times."
I shrugged. The truth was because I knew she'd get that light in her eyes.
That maniacal gleam that your married friends get when you're not married and
you're dating anyone. Or worse yet, not dating, and they're trying to fix you
up. Catherine had the look now.
 "Don't tell me you planned this entire party just so you could meet