Page 19 of Inked Persuasion

I laughed. “That sounds about right.”

We said our goodbyes and hung up, and I looked down at my desk, wondering what I would do when she didn’t call on my lunches anymore. It wouldn’t serve me to focus on that, but I’d moved up to Fort Collins and changed my entire life and career to be near my family. And after she was gone? After the doctors were finally proven right?

I’d stay, wouldn’t I? Or would I run again? I shoved those thoughts from my mind, not wanting to focus on them. It would only make me ill again, and I couldn’t breathe if I let my thoughts go down a path of shadows so far in the future—at least I hoped it was far in the future.

I cleaned up my desk, pulled out my water, drank half of it down, and then got back to work. I’d focus on the paperwork in front of me, on the people who needed me right now, and then deal with everything else later.

There was a light tap on the door, and I looked up to see Seressia frowning at me.

“What?”

“There’s someone here to speak to you. I wasn’t sure if I should send them away or not.”

For some strange reason, Annabelle’s face popped into my mind, and I stood up. “Tall, average height, dark brown hair, vivid blue eyes?”

Seressia’s smile made her look like a cat in cream, and I could have cursed. “No, but after work, once I’m not on the clock, I do believe you need to explain that to me.”

I held back a wince. Damn it. Seressia was far too good at ferreting out information, and I’d walked right into it. “No, I don’t believe I do.”

“Whatever you say. But, no, it’s not her…whoever the dream girl is.”

“Seressia.”

She sighed and then visibly braced herself. “It’s Mrs. Queen.”

I closed my eyes, counted to five because I sure as hell wasn’t going to make it to ten, and let out a breath. “Why don’t you just send her back? I’m sure she didn’t give you a reason for being here.”

She gave me a pointed look. “Okay, we’ll be here to call you out on business in ten minutes.”

I snorted. “You know what, I’ll take you up on that offer.”

“It’s what we’re here for.”

Seressia left, and a few moments later, I heard the click of heels against the hardwood of the older home we’d converted into my office.

Susan Queen was gorgeous. Vivid red hair and curls that framed her face. Her green eyes were piercing, and you never forgot them. She had a pointed chin and a semi-pointed nose. Her face was dusted with freckles, and she looked like a fey queen. She had sinful curves, something she called them herself, and looked as if she could take on the world.

And she did.

She had taken me on, after all—and then spat me out after she chewed on me a bit.

“Hello, Jacob. It’s good to see you,” she said softly as she made her way inside. She leaned forward, grabbed my shoulders, and air-kissed my cheek before leaning back to study my face.

“You look tired. How is Kelley?”

“Mother’s doing just fine. Father, too. And I’m probably tired because it’s the middle of a workday and I haven’t had coffee since nine.”

“Why don’t we take care of that? I’ll take you out for a cup. There has to be a little café around here. One owned by a little barista with a cute smile. Maybe one that serves the best cinnamon rolls in the state.”

“How many Hallmark movies have you been watching lately?” I asked wryly.

“Enough. They’re on Lifetime now, too. Though those are a little spicier.”

“I don’t have time for coffee, Susan.”

She looked past me to the papers on my desk and frowned. “I’d hoped that you coming up here to this little town of yours would help you not work so much. I can see that isn’t the case.”

I resisted the urge to shove her out of my office because that wouldn’t be nice. And I didn’t hate Susan. I just didn’t like her anymore. “Susan, first off, Fort Collins is not a little town. It’s a city. A decent-sized one.”

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