Page 24 of A Dark and Stormy Night

"We canceled our hotel in Seattle." Cecily was accusatory.

"Mario can help you get a room. Can't you, darling?" Gwen put her hand on his shoulder.

"I can pull strings. In fact, I can get you a suite. For a discount." Mario smiled with all his charm at Cecily. Throwing down his napkin, he rose from the table. "Landon, let me help you get your bags in the car."

Landon sat like a lump. "But I'm not done eating."

Mario looked at him.

Landon scrambled to his feet. "Sure. Good idea."

The two men left the kitchen, Mario herding the reluctant Landon ahead of him.

Cecily sat up straight and indignant. "This is so upsetting."

"I can imagine."

"We have loved spending this time with you."

Free food, free lodging, as many insults as you can shovel out from between those sugar-coated teeth. "I know. It has been such an experience!" Take that! Cecily wasn't the only one who could sling a double entendre.

"I would think you could change your plans."

"We really can't." Because we don't have any plans.

"Is this a special occasion of some kind?"

You're leaving. "Our first date."

"That is so romantic! You must have had many, many, many anniversaries of your first date."

"Are you done eating?" Gwen snatched up Cecily's bowl of cereal. "We had better go help the men pack your belongings. I don't know about Landon, but I could never trust Mario to get everything I need." Like all the guest soaps and our towels.

Gwen didn't really care, though. Cecily could steal the whole cottage, as long as she left and never came back.

Cecily stood up, indignation radiating from every stiff line of her well-rounded figure. "At least I'll never have to wear these ugly slippers again."

"That's the way. Look for the silver living," Gwen said encouragingly.

Cecily marched down the stairs to the front door. She donned her stiletto heels—the heels she'd had to be reminded to discard every time she came in the house—and stalked outside.

You're leaving. You are so leaving . . .

Gwen got into the cottage in time to see Cecily storm into the bathroom and slam the door.

Landon whimpered.

All of Gwen's political correctness collapsed.

Mario was right. The guy was pussy-whipped.

Gwen knocked at the bathroom door. "Cousin Cecily, I will start packing for you." That sounded, she realized, like a threat.

Hmm. In fact, it was.

She picked up the empty suitcase and flung it on the bed.

Cecily snapped open the door and came out holding her cosmetic bags. Three of them, pink and decorated with a curving sparkly C. "I'll do it."

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