Page 90 of Third Time is the Charm
Did you miss me like you missed him?
You should know by now that we are a package deal.
One that you will soon no longer be a part of.
Beth went to crumple the note, but then figured that Darcy might want to see it or bring it to the police.
She looked up at John. “Tell him I’m fine – he doesn’t need to come here.”
With a brief nod, she heard as he relayed what she’d said to Darcy. Arnie walked back in the room at that moment to let them both know that the flowers were brought up by one of the security guards and that they had been delivered to the front desk by the florist they were ordered from.
Beth couldn’t help the small sigh of relief knowing that Caroline hadn’t stepped foot into the building.
She wouldn’t give Caroline the upper hand at unnerving her – not anymore. She snapped a few photos of the vase with her phone and then picked it up, handing it to Arnie.
“I think these should make their way into the dumpster,” she said. The very large man nodded in response, exiting the room with the flowers in search of a large enough trash can to hold them.
“Miss Bennet,” came John’s voice from behind her. “Mr. Darcy would like to talk to you.”
Beth nodded, taking the phone from his hand. “Hello?”
“Are you sure you’re ok? Are you sure you don’t want me there?” His voice was tight and on edge, but he still remained calm.
“Yes, I’m fine. She wasn’t here – the flowers were just delivered,” Beth replied softly. “Are you outside?”
“I am.” He sighed. “But, I’m not coming in unless you want me to.”
“I’m really ok – and I have work to do.” She bit her lip, knowing it was killing him to be sitting out there – so close, yet so far away from her.
“Was there a note?”
Beth let out a shaky sigh and picked up the card from her desk. “Yeah, I ahh…” She broke off as she saw Colin heading for the door to her office, his face drawn tight – whether it was from the stress of the Contest situation or having to see her after she’d told him she was back with Darcy, Beth couldn’t be sure. “Colin’s about to walk in and I know we are in damage control mode so I’ll send you a photo of it.”
“Ok,” Darcy replied gruffly. “I’m going to head back over to the station now and show it to them.”
“Ok.” She wasn’t sure what else it would possibly do – they already had given her the restraining her and the note wasn’t explicitly threatening. “I’ll see you later. You’ll pick me up here when I’m done?”
“Of course.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
Beth hung up the phone, handing it back to John as Colin walked in the room. He raised his eyebrows at her and then back at John, wondering who the very large, strange man was in her office.
“Colin, this is John. He’s a ahh… friend of Darcy’s,” she explained weakly.
Eyebrows still raised at her, Beth watched Colin turn towards the other man, not buying the whole ‘friend’ bit.
“Nice to meet you.” Col extended his hand and the men shook in greeting.
John turned back to her. “Arnie and I will be out in the hall if you need us, Miss Bennet.” With a nod to both her and Colin, he left them alone.
Col looked back at her, his arched brow returning, wordlessly asking what the deal was.
“They’re going to be with me for the next few days. I hope that’s ok,” she said meekly.
“Is everything ok?” His expression changing from intrigue to concern. “Does this have to do with the woman who screwed with our permits?”
