Page 84 of Enthrall
“Your rent’s going to be really low. Something ridiculous. Turns out Lotte’s quite the negotiator.” He stood and stretched. “We’ll have a welcome home party for you. Let’s see if we can freak out Richard with some more normal.” He chuckled. “It’ll be fun to watch him squirm.”
Cameron made me laugh.
“Mia, some things in life are best taken slow.” He pulled his sunglasses back on.
I tried to read his face but the sun shone in my eyes.
“For the record,” he said. “I’d never ship you off to Sicily. Or for that matter let anyone touch you.” He beamed a mega-watt smile. “That’s our privilege.” He nudged his sunglasses farther up his nose. “You’ll need help moving. I’ll get the girls on it.”
I hadn’t even considered the need to pack. I let out a long sigh and watched him stroll back down the pathway toward the main building.
Reaching for my phone, I saw I’d missed a call from Lorraine. I dialed her back, making a mental note not to bring up my new home until all the details were set.
“How’s my girl?” Lorraine’s voice sounded extra husky.
“Did you just have a cigarette?”
“Jeez, Mia, I’m thousands of miles away and you’re still on my case.”
“Sorry. How are you feeling?”
“No more nausea, thank goodness.”
“I’m so relieved.”
“Me too. And I even managed to go to Mass last night.”
“Wonderful,” I said. “How’s Aunt Amy?”
“Big sis is coming through for me as always,” she said. “She might be able to get me some work up here. She has a friend who’s a waitress at this Bistro calledPastis.Apparently the tips are huge.”
“You feel okay to go back to work?”
“I’m not dead yet,” she said, her laugh screeching down the phone.
“You know what I mean.”
“I do. We went wig shopping today and Bobbi bought me this lush brunette thing.” She sounded excited. “It’s taken ten years off me.”
“Send a photo.”
“I’ll get Bobbi to. I’m crap with this phone. I’m so sorry sweetheart, I forgot to ask how everything is with you?”
The fish eyed me as though edging me on to tell her I’d met someone. Though that certain someone was Mr. Elusive. Even after what Cameron had just revealed it seemed that Richard had no intention of following up on those feelings.
“You still there?”‘ said Lorraine.
“Oh yes. Nothing new here.” I gave the fish a glare.
“This is a little delicate for me to bring up, Mia.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, I forwarded that payment you sent me to the insurance company. The check was returned to me this morning in the post.”
Paper ruffled in the background and I sensed she was looking at it as we spoke.
“What do you mean?” I said.
