Page 190 of The Re-Proposal

I blink again.

Vargas—the saint—breaks the awkward tension. “Ms. Maura, you and Clarissa look so much alike. It’s like you’re sisters.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere, son.” Liandra’s mouth doesn’t move from its hard line. It’s like that frown is carved in. “And I’m not going to Clarissa’s or a hotel.” She juts her chin out. “I’m sticking with you this morning.”

Vargas gives me a panicked look and I return it.

“Ma’am?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said I’m keeping my eyes on you, boy. Since my daughter’s clearly gone and lost her mind, I’m going to take it back from you and return it to her as soon as I can. Now,” she tilts her head to the side and gives me a challenging look, “where are we heading first?”

* * *

At my office,Vargas knocks on my door and brings in a cup of coffee. He throws a cautious look over his shoulder before setting the cup on my desk.

“I’ve met a lot of people who can’t stand you, Bolton, but I think she takes the cake.”

“No need to be scared.”

“She’s going to staple your tie to the back of your hand when you’re not expecting it. You just watch.”

Ridiculous.

“Do you know what Liandra does for a living?” I murmur, pausing my research to glance up.

“She said she doesn’t have a job.”

“That’s not true. She’s a professional mama bear. She hunts down the people who need care and protection and she delivers on both. If she’s that way with strangers, how much harder is she going to protect her own daughter?”

We both glance at Liandra.

She’s glaring at me from her seat outside. I can’t blame her.

I’d hate me too if I was Clarissa’s mother. The only thing Liandra knows is that I’m the jerk who left her daughter on our wedding day and never called or showed up again.

“I’m glad you’re so calm about this.” Vargas wipes his sweat with a handkerchief. “But she keeps asking where our security cameras are. It’s like she’s looking for blind spots.”

I chuckle. Whatever Clarissa lacks in spunk, her mother makes up for in spades.

My phone rings.

It’s Ms. Phoebe.

“You haven’t forgotten your promise of giving our girls a business talk, have you? We’re about to open next week. Can you schedule us in?”

I check my watch and then glance at Liandra. “How about I do it today?”

Vargas’s eyes widen. He mimes a giant X in the air. “You don’t have time…”

“I can be there in an hour.”

I hear my assistant grunting in frustration.

“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”

I hang up.

Vargas’s lips are twisted in disapproval. “May I remind you that, on top of all the things you have to do today, you’re also being targeted by your very own anti-fan group? This is not the time to be deviating from the schedule.”

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