Page 40 of Out of the Shadow

I snort. “Don’t get me started.”

She plops down into one of my guest chairs. “You know what I mean. Don’t think small. The world’s your oyster. Act like you have more money than Poppy Mayflower. How would she spend it?”

“I can’t even,” I reply honestly. “But I’ve been thinking big. Instead of cookies, we’ll have caviar and champagne.” I lean on my desk. “Although I’d much rather have those cookies.”

“Me, too, Angie, but not big enough. Wine and dine them. Make this Open House a party for the ages. I bet you winandsell the mansion on Sunday. With a bidding war.”

“Now that’s music to my ears, Mar. Thanks for your wise words. I’m goingbigtoday.”

Her hand covers mine. “What’s family for?”

She heads back to the front, leaving me alone with my files. I study the property we’re going to pitch today. The backyard is to die for. It’s two acres, with perfectly manicured English gardens. I picture myself strolling through the hedges, the sound of classical music complementing the ocean waves.

I jump to my feet. “That’s it!”

Both people in my office stop what they’re doing and stare at me. I slide down into my chair. “Sorry. I just came up with a fun idea.” I grab my pen. “As you were.”

Marlene gives me a knowing look, but King’s eyebrows are furrowed. My excitement has troubled him.

Oh, it’s on, baby agent. Watch and learn.

THE SHOW DRIVESus to the property in a limo. It’s not my first time in a limo, but it’s hardly my usual mode of transportation. When Dante proposed, his parents rented us a limo to take us to a hotel in New York City. They also splurged for us to have a limo on our wedding day. I inhale.

Next to me, King pours himself water in a crystal glass. When he’s finished, he surprises me by tipping the bottle at me. “Please.” He hands me my own glass a minute later.

I sip and review my notes for the proposed Open House. I love my outdoor ideas, but the indoor part of my plan still needs some tweaking. King interrupts my thoughts. “What do you know about the clients the show set up for us, the Maguires?”

I flip the pages of my notebook. “Tessa and Liam. He was born in Ireland. Made his money in tech.” I don’t tell him anything he couldn’t find out with a simple Google search. Let him do his own in-depth research.

“Tech guys can be really challenging. Very exacting.”

If he’s attempting to scare me off, it’s not going to work. “Like most people, then.”

“Probably more so. I think I read that Tessa’s from New York City and she and Liam met while she was studying abroad in Dublin? They’ve been together for thirty years.” He says it with something like disgust, then pauses for a long sip of water. “Long time.”

Hmm. Guess he was testing me before. Ignoring this thought, I reply, “Yeah. It is. When you find your soul mate, you know it.”

King places his glass in the cupholder. “Soul mates, huh?” I nod. “Pegged you.”

To cover up my surprise, I finish my water. He holds up the bottle, and I hand the glass to him for a refill. “What do you mean that you ‘pegged’ me?” I ask, taking it back from him.

“You’re the star-crossed romantic type.”

I sit up straighter on the limo’s bench seat, crossing my legs. “And what’s wrong about being a romantic? Love is wonderful.” Dante’s smile lit up my world, even when he was so weak he was confined to his bed. My right hand reaches for my wrist.

Amber orbs glued to my tattoo, King says, “I’m sure it was. And now it’s gone.”

My fingers wrap around my wrist and hold on tight. “Dante may be gone, but he’s always with me. I can feel him around me, cheering me on. We’ll love each other forever, and not even death can separate us.” I glance toward him. “Not that you would understand.”

He rests his head back against the leather seat and drinks his water. “You’re right. Especially since I don’t believe in any of that mumbo-jumbo.”

“Love? You don’t believe inlove?” How can he be so…I don’t know—alone?

He chuckles. The sound is harsh. “Oh, I believe in certain types of love, that’s to be sure.”

“There’s much more to life than sex, you know.”

His biceps flex. “I’m very happy with my personal version of love. Can you say the same?”

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