Everybody Loves Evie
This time her mission is personal…Former casino lounge singer/variety act Evie Parish has moved up in the world, joining Chameleon, an organisation that exposes fraud using reformed crooks to catch current ones. Her last assignment landed her in the arms of the delicious bad boy Arch Duvall, who taught her how to spot a grift and how to get over a lousy ex by having a superheated fling. Now it’s time to take to heart what she’s learned.When Evie’s mum falls for a sweetheart scam, Evie rushes to the rescue (undercover, of course), accompanied by Milo Beckett, her sexy new boss at Chameleon. Closely pursuing is Arch, who’s decided Evie may not be a passing fancy after all. It’s hard to concentrate on the case with these two macho males squaring off, but Evie’s up to the challenge.
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Dear Diary,
What was I thinking? Creating a character with a background in entertainment similar to mine. I should have known that friends and family and people who’ve worked with me within the entertainment industry would read All About Evie. I should have been prepared for the comparisons. “Obviously Evie is your alter ego,” said my husband. “Do you really feel like that?” said my sister. “I see so much of you in Evie,” said friends. And … “I had an audition that went down almost exactly like that. Was that about me?”
There are three answers to all of those questions. Yes. Sort of. And no.
Didn’t they read my Dear Reader letter?
I admit, some of Evie’s adventures and tribulations are loosely based on my own experiences within the entertainment industry. However, she and all of the featured characters are purely fictional.
I’m thinking I should make that my official disclaimer. I’m thinking I should send a mass e-mail to friends and family in preparation for Evie’s second adventure, because—what was I thinking?—in this book Evie, Arch and Milo visit Evie’s native state (which happens to be my native state) to bail her mom out of a scam. I’m thinking I should call my mom. “What you’re about to read is purely fictional! I didn’t really do ‘that’ or ‘that’ and I’m not going to do ‘that,’ although maybe I did fantasise about ‘that’ one thing.”
Luckily, my friends and family have a sense of humour and actually adored Evie. As did multitudes of readers I have never met. Speaking of readers, I need to write a new Dear Reader letter for Everybody Loves Evie. I’m thinking of something along these lines …
To the readers who wrote and asked if I really have those costumes hanging in my closet … Yes. To the readers who wrote saying I’d have to fight them for Arch Duvall … you’ll have to duke it out with Evie, because she’s got a real thing for that bad-boy con artist. To those who wrote wondering about Evie and Arch’s future, Arch and Milo’s past, Milo’s interest in Evie and Evie’s new career with Chameleon—this one’s for you. To those of you entering Evie’s world for the first time, here’s disclaimer No.2: Although I extensively researched con artists and scams, Chameleon and AIA are figments of my overactive imagination. Welcome to my world.
What do you think, Diary? What … oh, rats. My pen’s running dry. Unlike my imagination. Heh. I’ll be back.
Beth
This book is dedicated to my husband, Steve.
Your support and creative input stoked my imagination and warmed my heart. I’m still flying. All my love, always.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To Cynthia Valero with affection and admiration. You went above and beyond, my friend. Here’s to fanciful and satisfying storytelling.
To my editor, Keyren Gerlach (a dynamo and fellow animal lover)—thank you for embracing my characters and helping me to make their story shine! To everyone at my publisher—my eternal gratitude for your tireless and wondrous efforts. To my agent, Amy Moore-Benson—your expertise and enthusiasm is priceless. How fortunate I am to be on this motivated and creative team.
Sincere appreciation to all of the readers, booksellers and librarians who recommend my stories to friends and patrons. Thank you for spreading the joy!
Special thanks to those who cheer me on and keep me going … Pom-pom shakers and friends extraordinaire Heather Graham, Mary Stella and Julia Templeton. The world’s sweetest stalker-fan, Laurie, and her effervescent sister, Elsie. The always smiling JoAnn Schailey. My friends and co-workers at the Brigantine Branch of the Atlantic County Library—Sue, Alicia, Lesa, Denise, Beth, Doris, Jean Marie and Taylor. And to my wondrous family and diverse circle of friends. I am blessed!
CHAPTER ONE
London, England Trafalgar Square
CRIME DOESN’T PAY. Unless you’re a professional grifter who’s never been caught. Then, yeah, boy, ka-ching! Especially if you’re playing the long cons. Time-intensive scams such as bank-examiner schemes, pigeon drops and investment swindles garner thousands, sometimes millions of dollars. Short cons, hit-and-run hustles, can be nearly as lucrative, depending on the grifter’s charm and the mark’s greed. Not that I understand the mechanics of all of these swindles. But, thanks to the man I’m sleeping with, I’m learning.
My name is Evie Parish and I’m a professional performer. At least that’s how I used to make my living, singing, dancing and acting on the stages of the not-so-glitzy Atlantic City casinos. Unfortunately the entertainment industry has a bugaboo about mature women. My career, like my fifteen-year marriage, recently hit the skids. Not that I’m bitter. Okay, that’s a lie. But I’m learning to let go. Over forty does not equal over the hill. In fact, I’ve never felt more alive. Creative sex and a challenging new career do wonders for the spirit. Just now, my thoughts were on the latter.
Both guilt and exhilaration rushed through me as I pocketed twenty British pounds and exited a touristy pub. My eyes registered the boxy black cabs and red double-decker buses navigating Trafalgar Square’s congested streets, but instead of revved engines and squealing brakes, all I heard was the funky, eclectic soundtrack from the
