Page 51 of Leon

"Tired," he corrected briefly. It was the end of the workday, one that had him running around from one meeting to the next with hardly a break in between. It seemed as if everything had stood still, waiting for his return. And the bad news was that he had a trip either tomorrow or the next day. He had finally sent David home after seven, practically pushing him out the door. His fastidious assistant had a standing date at the opera at this time of year. Leon was certainly not going to be responsible for the man missing his show.

His sister had dropped by on her way home from the hospital to check in.

"How was the trip?"

A smile touched his lips fleetingly. He had spoken to his wife once this afternoon, and she had told him the good news that she was going to tell her dad tonight. He was anticipating her coming home to him tomorrow or at the latest by the end of the week. He could certainly wait that long.

"Amazing."

"You sorted out things?" she asked hopefully.

"She's going to tell her dad the news tonight. I asked if she wanted me there for moral support, and she said no." He worried the paperweight, picking up the teal blue glass pyramid she had bought him just recently.

"How do you think that's going to go?"

He shrugged. "He had to know sooner or later. I'm thinking of calling Justine."

His sister's smile widened. "The interior designer. Darling, you really are looking forward to her moving in."

"Yes." He felt his heart jump and then settle. "I know she has her own style, but she will need room for her clothes. And perhaps a change of color scheme."

Lisa shook her head as she stared at him.

"What?"

"I never thought I would see the day."

"She's my wife," he muttered.

"Have you told Dad?"

"No." He put down the paperweight. "I want to hear from Kadian first."

Lisa frowned at him as she stretched her legs out and slipped out of her tennis shoes. She was exhausted. Working a twelve-hour shift was her usual milieu, but when it was combined with two teenagers coding on the operating table, it was an excruciating one. "You don't think she's going to tell him."

He shook his head. "I don't know." Pushing from the desk, he strode toward the cabinet and pushed the button. When it slid smoothly toward him, he plucked out a bottle of scotch and turned to lift a brow at her.

"I'm driving. Some coffee would come in handy."

He set about pouring the brew and his scotch. Bringing it over to her, he sat and cradled the glass between his palms. "Something you said to me stuck."

Turning sideways, Lisa gave him a puzzled look. "What something?"

"That her dad was playing her or something like that."

"Oh." She blew on the liquid, watching the steam rise. "I might be wrong."

He studied her face for a second and took a sip. "But you don't think so."

She shrugged. "No. Look, I saw the man once, and it struck me that there's something off about him. After what Dad told you, I am beginning to think I was right."

He nodded thoughtfully, the weight of unspoken suspicions settling between them like a dense fog. The lamplight caught the swirling amber in his glass, casting fractured shadows across the desk. "Dad doesn't trust him either," he admitted quietly. "He thinks he's hiding something."

Lisa's eyebrows arched. "What kind of something? The usual, or—?"

He hesitated, staring into the depths of his drink as if it might offer up answers. "I don't know. But whatever it is, Kadian deserves to know. I wanted to tell her so many times during the trip, but I didn't want to spoil things between us." He exhaled, a slow, tired sound. "Maybe I'm just overthinking after a long day."

She gave a small, sympathetic laugh. "Or maybe you're finally letting yourself care enough to worry. It's not a bad thing, Leon."

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