Page 24 of Maximum Dare
“I’ll put the kettle on,” she said, and then looked at me. “I’ve put you in the spare room, Daisy. You know the one.”
“Thank you—I love that room. But it’s only for a while.”
“It’s company for me,” she said.
Barbara directed the movers to carry my belongings up the staircase to the top floor of her two-story house. It wouldn’t take them long to finish.
I was relieved my aunt knew better than to ask how I was doing in front of other people. Undoubtedly she could see I was on the verge of tears.
Max and I followed her into the front hallway.
“I have a client here at the moment.” She nodded toward a back room. “Okay for me to finish up with them?”
“Yes, of course,” I said. “Sorry my timing was off.”
“Nonsense,” she reassured me. “You are always welcome in my home, Daisy.” She looked back at Max with a curious expression and then gave me a bright smile before walking away.
I started up the staircase toward the room that would be mine. At least until I had saved up enough for a deposit to rent a flat.
Max reappeared at my bedroom door. “I think that’s it.”
“I need to tip them,” I said.
“All taken care of.” Max sat on the bed beside me.
Following his gaze around the room, I looked at the familiar chintzy wallpaper and old-fashioned curtains. I absolutely loved it.
Max looked concerned. “Are you sure you’re going to be fine here?”
“It’s my home away from home.”
“Where do your parents live?”
“Scotland. They run a bed and breakfast on the Isle of Harris.”
They had moved up there to avoid being reminded of the worst day of their lives. They kept busy, hosting tourists in their seaside home. I was glad they weren’t around to see how badly I’d messed up my life.
Max reached into his pocket and withdrew my car keys. He set them on the bedside table. “Your aunt seems nice. What does she do?”
“She’s a fortune teller.”
He blinked in disbelief.
“A high-end one,” I added. “She works from home and has an office at Selfridges.”
“Does she ever read your tea leaves?”
“She read mine two months ago. Her expression told me everything I didn’t want to know.”
“That you and Nick…?”
“I’m guessing she saw our breakup.”
“She didn’t say anything?”
“No, she just brought out the lemon cake. It was like she was trying to sweeten the truth.” To think I’d once liked lemon cake, too. “Will you let Nick know where I am?”
“Daisy, I want you to focus on you.”
