Page 55 of Deadly Deception
“It’s been a rough day. Boone and I just got back to the hotel. I was about to listen to Lynn’s message when you called.”
Nana made an irritated sound. “Do yourself a favor and delete it before you listen. I’m sorry, Franklin. I really don’t know what to say beyond that.”
Considering I hadn’t listened to Lynn’s message yet, I wasn’t sure what Nana was apologizing for, but thought it safe to assume it was Lynn who needed to do the groveling, not Nana.
Inhaling, I pinched the bridge of my nose, begging the universe for a calm I didn’t feel. “Lynn’s really holding your great grandchildren hostage on Christmas?”
Nana huffed. “She thinks so, but let me tell you, that sister of yours has another thing coming if she thinks I’m going to be dictated to in that manner. I willnotbe told who I can and cannot invite into my own home for the holidays. Honestly, your mother would roll over in her grave if she knew what your sister is trying to pull. For that matter, so would your father. Neither one of them would have stood for this type of foolish bigotry.”
Nana’s righteous fury cooled my own, melting the block of ice that had settled in my chest. “Thank you Nana, but honestly, I doubt Boone and I’d make the trip back up here for Christmas anyway. Truth be told, I hadn’t even given the holiday much thought.” I’d ventured back to Nana’s the past few years either for Christmas or in the week or two after. I didn’t always get the holiday off, and had no idea what the schedule was for this year. Besides, I was with Boone now. I knew he followed his father’s spiritual beliefs, but I also knew Lydia Boone was centered by Christian beliefs. I had no idea what their holiday traditions were.
“Are you certain?” Nana asked, a hint of disappointment rather than relief in her tone.
“I’ll talk with Boone. Maybe we can make it up sometime around the holiday, but I doubt we’ll be here on the twenty-fifth. You can tell Lynn that she doesn’t need to worry.”
“Pfft, that’s the last thing I’m telling your sister. Believe you me, that woman has a lot to worry about from me. Honestly, if it wasn’t for her girls, I’d tell Lynn she’s not welcome in my house until she readjusts her frame of mind.”
I grinned. There was a reason Nana was so damn special. “I’m sorry she brought the girls into this.”
“I am too, but that’s your sister’s decision, not mine and certainly not yours. I want you to know that youandErasmus are welcome in my home anytime. He’s such a nice young man. Lynn’s idiocy aside, I’m so happy for you, Franklin. You treat that boy well. Erasmus is a keeper.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice, Nana. I already figured that out.”
Nana chuckled. “I always said you were the smart one in the family. Now don’t you go telling your brothers that. Feel free to tell Lynn though.”
Laughter bubbled up from deep within my chest, easing the ache there. When I looked up, Boone was standing just outside the bathroom door, his head slightly cocked to the side and a curious grin lifting the corner of his lip. Hair wet, its darkness clung to his skin, highlighting its paleness. Boone was beyond beautiful. The outside packaging was just the tip of that beauty. The inside was the true showstopper. Lynn was a fool for closing her eyes to what was right in front of her.
As the saying went, you can’t fix stupid. All you can try and do is work around it, and I had no trouble navigating the stupid that surrounded Erasmus Boone’s life. I’d found the real prize and preened like a damn peacock over my good fortune.
“Thanks for the heads-up, Nana. And thank you for being you.”
“Who else would I be?”
I laughed again. “I have no idea and I’m glad I’ll never have to find out. I love you.”
“I love you too, Franklin. Never doubt or forget that.”
“No worries,” I answered.
“Try and get some rest. Be careful and take care of yourself and Erasmus.”
“Done and done,” I promised before ending the call. I eased my phone onto the side table, giving Boone my full attention.
“Was that Ms. Violet?” Boone asked, his southern drawl sending shivers down my spine.
“It was.” I tapped my lap. Boone’s eyebrow quirked but he padded forward on bare feet, slipping fluidly onto my lap.
I pulled him closer, and Boone protested. “I’ll get you wet with my hair.”
“Don’t care.” I wrapped my arms around him, holding on for dear life. Boone’s wet hair was cold against my chest, but like I’d said, I didn’t care. The rest of the man was warm and pliant.
“It’s been a hell of a day,” Boone said quietly.
“It has.” I rubbed my hand up and down his arm. “Everything’s going to work out.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No, what I don’t know ishowit will work its way out.”
