Page 94 of Tempt Me

I threw my arms around her. We weren’t really a hugging family, but my feelings were too big to contain.

“Thanks.” I sniffled.

“Don’t do that.” She pulled back and dabbed under my eyes with her thumbs. “You’ll get all puffy. And what do you have to thank me for? I’m your mother, and I love you. But what about Jamila? Does she feel the same way?”

My chin trembled. “No. We”—I swallowed down the details I’d been about to give—“we dated for a little while, but it didn’t work out.”

“My poor little girl. Maybe you should go down to Mexico for a few days. Let the ocean breezes blow away your troubles.”

Mexico, where horrible Winslow had gone to spill his secrets while pretending to have a sick grandma. It reminded me of what I needed to ask.

“Mother, I need a favor.”

“Of course you can use my credit card. How else would you afford a trip?”

“No, not money, a connection. You know Billie Woods, right?”

“Certainly. From the library foundation. Remember, I told you to go to her party when Charles and I were out of town at Christmas.”

As much as I’d prefer never to see Billie again, I had to do it for Jamila. “I need to talk to her.”

“Why do you need Billie? This probably isn’t a good time for her. She’s recently divorced, you know. She’s out of the country at Pangkor Laut. I suppose you could go there instead of Mexico.”

“I don’t have time for that. I need to talk to her about her divorce. I think it might have something to do with the leak at Jamila’s company.”

“You think she knows something about it?”

“No, but I’d bet my favorite Fendi bag that her ex had something to do with it.”

“And you think this could win Jamila’s affections?”

I slumped. Jamila’s trust was like the boarding door on an airplane. Once it was closed, there was no opening it again. “No, but I still want to help her.”

She gave me a rueful smile. “And you need Billie for that?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll call her. It’s early in Malaysia, but she might pick up for me.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“My phone is over there on the charger. Get it for me?”

I spotted it on the small table next to the door where my mother deposited her jewelry before digging in the dirt. I scurried over to grab it and carried it back to her.

She dialed.

“You’re not going to text first?” I’d hate to get an unexpected call, especially before—I checked the time difference on my phone and winced—ten a.m. on her Malaysian beach vacation.

“Why would I do that?” She held the phone to her ear. “Hi, Billie, it’s Audrey Hayes.”

I rolled my eyes. Billie had to know who it was from the caller ID.

My mother listened for a moment and smiled. “That’s wonderful. I hope I’m not disturbing you?” Her cheeks pinked. “Well, then. I won’t keep you long. My daughter Natalie has some questions.”

She paused, then nodded. “Here she is.” Holding a thumb over the microphone, she handed me the phone. “Be quick. She’s entertaining a guest.”

“A what?” My jaw dropped open. “You mean a guy? I don’t want to—” But I did. The sooner Jamila got rid of that snake, Winslow, the better.

---