Page 26 of Last Chance Love

She rounded the desk and dropped into her chair, smirking. “What? I’m not allowed to have a hobby or a passion beyond this place?”

“That is not what I was saying,” I said, standing in the doorway and looking around. There was another fireplace, but from its pristine state, it didn’t seem to be used. The rugs I was used to seeing, a deep, unobtrusive crimson with swirls, were replaced by a large round one with a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. It reminded me of the Escher drawings I had seen, with every line looping back on itself or twisting in odd ways. “Woah, that…hurts the eyes a little.”

“I find it soothing,” she said, turning her chair around. “If you don’t stare openly but just shut your mind while staring at it, it can be almost comforting.”

“I’ll have to take your word for that,” I said, rubbing my eyes.

“Have a seat then, and stop staring at it,” she said, opening the curtains behind her, letting the light spill into the room, and dropping a couple of glasses on the table. “Drink?”

“Not supposed to,” I reminded her as I took one of the two seats in front of her desk. They were leather like the one she used, but less tall and colorful. However, as I sat down, they were perfectly comfortable.

“I don’t need to be told the rules around here,” she said with a snort. “Let me see here?—”

I raised my brow as she looked me over appraisingly. “What?”

“I’m thinking. Evaluating.”

“Mona, I think I speak for anyone who has been here long enough, that is the most terrifying thing you could say to someone.”

She laughed, the sound lighter than it usually was, as she cocked her head. “It will never stop amusing me that I’m surrounded by felons, and they all treat me like I’m some wild animal that might rip their hand off at any moment.”

“More like a mob boss,” I said, smirking at her.

“Perhaps I should get some more suits,” she said, then snapped her fingers. “I know.”

I watched as she bent down, reappearing with a dark bottle bearing a red label. She set it down, found a small bucket, and put two ice cubes into each glass before tucking it away and pouring. A dark liquid filled the glasses to the halfway point before the bottle disappeared out of sight.

“What’s the point of hiding the booze?” I wondered as she picked one glass up and held it out for me.

I took it and sniffed before drinking it. My brow rose as the flavor washed over my tongue. “Huh, bourbon. A really nice bourbon at that.”

“Bet you also like your beers stout.”

“Huh,” I said, a little surprised, and stared at her momentarily. “I see you’re still full of tricks.”

“Most men seem to be whiskey or scotch drinkers, so it’s not hard to guess.”

“Bourbon drinkers almost inevitably prefer their beers full-bodied and heavy. Some outliers but?—”

“Interesting, a little guesswork and a lot of logic.”

“So, tell me what you think about Leon’s decision with Elliot and Reno,” she asked, taking me by surprise. This topic would not have made the top fifty topics I expected her to bring up.

“What? Why ask me?” I wondered.

She gave me a doubtful look. “Is this the part where I’m supposed to pretend like the two of you aren’t close?”

“It’s funny that everyone thinks we’re so close. Most of my time is spent in the clinic, and most of his is spent with his mentees. We don’t exactly hang around one another constantly.”

“Because people have eyes and ears, they can see and hear that the two of you have some sort of bond.”

“And apparently, they have mouths go with those eyes and ears.”

“You should know that by now.”

I snorted. “Fine, but what does the possibility of Leon and I knowing one another well have to do with why you’re asking me about his decisions?”

“Look,” she said, leaning forward and giving me a serious stare. “I’m going to level with you. After the past few days, I’m not really in the mood to play mind or word games. Between dealing with…well, quite a few people, I’m not in the mood, so I’ll make this simple. Just about everyone knows you and Leon are close, or I suspect, once were.”

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