“Seriously,” I said. “Fiber alignment can be very sexy. The whole subject gives me happy chills.”

There were more chuckles and everyone seemed to relax a little more. I noticed that Baba the cat had taken up residence on the front counter and was curled up next to my soft leather tool bag.

Since the room had its own cast-iron paper cutter in the back corner, I gathered everyone around the machine for a demonstration. Depending on the way the paper was cut, a bookbinder could produce either a smooth edge to the paper or a ragged, uneven edge, based on the style of book one wanted to create.

As everyone took their seats back at the worktable, there was a knock at the classroom door.

“Knock, knock,” Layla called out, then walked into the room. She was followed by a petite blond woman I’d never seen before.

“I hate to interrupt the class,” Layla said, “but I’ve brought you another student.”

I secured the heavy, razor-sharp handle of the paper cutter and made my way to the front of the room. I didn’t know anyone else had signed up for the class, but the more, the merrier.

“Brooklyn Wainwright,” Layla said formally, “this is my dear friend and associate, Alice Fairchild.”

A dear friend of Layla’s? That was worrisome. But I smiled and shook hands with her anyway.

Her hand was small and smooth, and I felt like a clumsy giant next to her. “Nice to meet you, Alice.”

“Alice has been with us over a month now,” Layla said, her tone hushed and reverential. “She’s our assistant director in charge of fund-raising and I don’t know how we ever got along without her. She’s doing a fabulous job.”