Page 108 of One Big Little Secret

I have to admit Delly Rory has aged insanely well.

“You look fine. You’re staying active. That’s a win at your age, I’m sure.”

“We lead very different lives as widows, Delly and me. I blame the cold back home. Oh, and the winter darkness… it’s awful without Walt around to fly us to Nevada for a long weekend. Sin City was my very own light therapy back in the day.” Evelyn laughs sadly. “Of course, I’m not saying I’m jealous of Delly.Never.She deserves every speck of happiness for all the wonderful things she does here. Kansas City has a lovely rustic charm, but Minnesota, that’s my home. I can’t wait to get back when things are greening up.”

“I’m sure it’s beautiful. You clearly have a way with plants.” I eye the flowers again.

“Oh, yes, that was Walt’s thing, and I suppose it had to rub off. I just love flowers, even when I had no hand in growing them. A few times, we even pitched supplying flower arrangements to the big casinos in Vegas, but alas, the distance just wasn’t workable to keep them fresh in those days.” She stuffs the bouquet into a large empty urn on the reception desk. “There. Don’t they make this place pop?”

“They do,” I agree, more enthusiastically than I feel.

At least we’re on safer ground now. Talking about her dead husband feels easier than whatever she suspects is going on between Patton and me, or the real estate deal I have no say in.

But why does she suspect anything at all?

Is the chemistry—oh my God, that stupid word—really so obvious to a family friend?

“I should get going,” she says, picking up the entire urn, probably to put some water in it. “And don’t worry, dearie, I’m on your side. We girls must stick together, especially when real estate moves like lightning. I’m sure a kind word or two will bring them around, right?” Her voice drops to a whisper. “And by the way, I think you’d make the sweetest couple!”

I watch her leave, speechless, as she shuffles away.

Wow. She’s a little more aggressive than I guessed.

The audacity, thinking I haveanysay whatsoever over whether the Minnesota deal happens or not.

I can’t decide if it’s worse than her thinking there’s anything cute about my awkward, self-destructive non-relationship with Patton Rory.

There’s zero chance it evolves into anything good.

Zero.

Before this day can inflict more weird surprises, though, I hurry from the building. The last thing I need is to bump into Patton again somehow.

Actually, though, that’s not quite right.

Thelastthing I need is a vacation with this man.

Save me now.

14

UP THE STAKES (PATTON)

It’s business.

It’s business, it’s business, it’s just goddamned business.

I’ve been repeating that mantra all day, ever since I picked her up outside her apartment early this morning.

It’s what I’ve kept telling myself the whole time at the airport, with her fussing about Arlo and everything else she’s reluctantly leaving behind for a few days.

And now, as she’s sleeping in the seat beside me as our charter jet hums along, I have to repeat it again.

Because every mile closer to Utah makes it feel like a bigger lie.

Let’s be real, these real estate ‘conferences’ are less about celebrating big ideas than they are glorified networking events. I’ve been to plenty in the past—alone.

No one ever questioned my solo appearances.

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