Page 17 of The Naughty One
Hmm. Gaius began to see a whole campaign of terror he could unleash on the couple—especially if he could find Dacre Mortimer and lead him to his ex-wife. He smiled when he thought of watching Dacre confronting his ex-wife, of Blue finding out what had happened. Blue would defend Romy, of course, and maybe Dacre would get rid of Blue, once and forall.
Gaius got excited now.Yes, yes, this was perfect. If he could manipulate Mortimer into killing Blue, then he, Gaius, could sweep in and ‘save’ the day. Poor Romy would be devastated —unless of course, she too was dead. Gaius shrugged. Either way, he wouldwin.
He picked up the phone and called his detective, thanking him for finding out all the information he had already collected, then paused. “I’d like you to do something else for me, and I’m willing to pay you double if you can doit.”
“I’m intrigued. Goahead.”
Gaius smiled. “Find out where Dacre Mortimer is, and ask him to meet with you. I have a very interesting proposition forhim.”
Chapter7
On Thanksgiving morning,Magda took one look at her fiancé’s somber face and sighed. “Uh-oh. What did she donow?”
It had almost become a joke between them; Hilary Eames’ attempts to draw out her divorce from Stuart were creative, Magda had to give her that. But Stuart was being worn down by it, his usually merry green eyes losing their sparkle. Magda stood on her tiptoes to kiss him; she was a tall woman herself, but Stuart was a big man, broad-shouldered and long-limbed.
He wrapped his arms around her now. “I can’t make head or tail of it, Mags. She’s dropping her objections to thedivorce.”
For a moment, Magda was so shocked, she couldn’t speak. After months and months of vicious back-and-forth between Hilary and Stuart, Hilary was dropping her claim for seventy-five percent of Stuart’s wealth? How? And more importantly, why? Magda had only met Hilary on two occasions, but it was enough to get a measure of the woman. She liked power, and she loved money. Hilary Eames would not drop her claim to Stuart’sbillions.
“What the hell?” Magda studied Stuart, who lookedlost.
“I just don’t know… but I don’t trustit.”
Magda shook her head. “No. Did you call Gaius, ask him if he knewanything?”
“I did, and he doesn’t. He’s as bemused as I am. He said he would call her and report back later atdinner.”
Magda blew out her cheeks. “So … she’s signing the divorcepapers?”
Stuart smiled now. “She is … which means, my beautiful Magda, we can get married. And soon. I was thinking …Christmas?”
“It’ll be finalized thatsoon?”
Stuart gave a wry grin. “Sometimes, being richhelps.”
“Moneybags.” But she kissed him, laughing softly. “I love you, Stuart. If you didn’t have a penny, I would still love you to the moon andback.”
“Mushy.” But he kissed her tenderly, tangling his fingers in her short, steel gray hair. “God, woman, you arebeautiful.”
She smiled up at him. “Well, you’re old. Your eyesight is fading and … ouch, ouch, no, stop that,” she shrieked as he tickledher.
Juno wandered in, hopping up onto the counter and watched them. “Is this some kind of Cocoonforeplay?”
Magda shot her youngest daughter a withering look. “We’re not that old. Maybe I don’t mind so much that you’re moving out afterall…”
Juno smirked and blew her mom a kiss. “You loooooveme…”
Stuart laughed at their antics. “Hey, kiddo,” he said to Juno, “I’m trying to persuade your mother to marry me at Christmas. Help me out, wouldyou?”
Juno’s eyes went wide. “Vampira’s signed the divorcepapers?”
“Yup.”
Juno did a seated dance of victory, hands raised high in the air. “Yeah, baby! Then, hell yes, Ma, snag this dude before I steal him away from you. Can Iofficiate?”
Magda and Stuart looked at each other. “Can you get ordained beforeChristmas?”
Juno looked smug. “Already am. I was waiting for you to announce your wedding day then I was going to surprise you. What do yousay?”
