Page 52 of Spindrift

“Cool.I never want to see them again.” Lillian shuddered.

“Storageroom. Third floor,” Angie said without prompting.

“There’sa third floor?”

“Sortof. Here, I’ll show you.”

Shefollowed Lillian up a staircase worn in the center tread by two centuries offeet, then down a long hallway to a second flight of stairs.

“Mostof us keep our doors shut to keep James out,” Lillian explained as they walked.“Morgan and I are on this end, and Stevie and Angie are on the other.”

Thestairs led to a large room filled with dust motes, boxes, and a few rolledcarpets. Lillian rummaged through a corner until she pulled a crate out from arusting collection of old bedframes. Paintbrush handles and trays poked out ofit, along with a mound of what looked like drop cloths.

“Thisis a huge help.”

“It’syours.”

Emiliaaccepted the box and they descended the stairs, leaving the dusty room shutbehind them.

“Lil,have you seen the first aid kit?”

Emiliastumbled when she heard Morgan’s voice and barely caught herself against thewall. The support, it turned out, was more than necessary. Morgan waited at thebase of the staircase, still damp from her shower and wearing only a sports braand sweatpants. She didn’t seem to have noticed Emilia yet, which gave her amoment to compose herself. Unfortunately, it also gave her more time to stare.The black sports bra accented Morgan’s fair skin, and the dip of cleavage drewEmilia’s eyes down to the line of muscle beneath. She bit her lip. Abs likethat just weren’t fair. Especially abs that ended at those hips, attached tothat ass. What was it Anna Maria had said? Fuckable?

Sheraised her eyes slowly, alerted by the pause in the conversation. Morgan staredat her in shock.

“I’llgrab the first aid kit,” Lillian said with poorly concealed amusement.

“Um.Hi. I had no idea you were here.” Morgan rubbed the back of her neck in agesture Emilia was beginning to recognize as her go-to move when she wasnervous. It also accentuated the attributes Emilia had just categorized asdecidedly fuckable, along with her biceps.

“Yourtruck isn’t in the driveway.”

“Steviedropped me off and went to get gas. I got stepped on by a cow.” She pulled upthe hem of her pants to reveal a bruised and swollen ankle.

“Shit.Should you be walking on that?”

“Itlooks worse than it is. Ace bandage, ice . . .” She trailed off. “I should puta shirt on.”

“No.”Emilia felt herself blush. “I mean, it’s your house. I’m the intruder. I cantake off.”

“Fuck.”Morgan swore under her breath and sagged against the wall. Nell chose thatmoment to bound up the stairs in search of her person and paused to give Morganan exuberant greeting.

“Shemet James.”

“Andyou’re still alive?” Morgan asked Nell.

“Itwas a near thing.”

“Ibet it was.” Morgan stroked Nell’s narrow head.

“Whereare you broken this time?” Lillian asked when she returned.

“Herankle,” said Emilia.

“Andyou’re standing on it, why?”

“It’snot that bad.”

“Thisis why I went into small animal medicine.” Lillian positioned herself next toMorgan. “Let’s get you downstairs.”

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