Page 18 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

“Knock it off. No one is weeping, believe me.”

“Oh, I know some men who will be crying themselves to sleep tonight. Let’s see, there is—”

I pressed my finger to his lips, not wanting to hear any man’s name. Especially one man’s, who I knew Jai would mention, as he used to tease me often about that certain someone always leaving notes on his bill or asking me to come out so he could give his compliments to me. And when that man’s fiancée had broken up with him, it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Jai. It hadn’t gone unnoticed by anyone, since it was all over the national news. I still didn’t understand why she had given him up. Her vague excuse in interviews was that they had grown apart and didn’t see eye to eye. But I could tell she was lying. It was apparent that an underlying anger brewed within her. The question was, why was she so angry? And why was he so solemn? Maybe Dani had been wrong and it hadn’t been John Holland forcing him to marry her. I wondered if he really did love her.

Nope. Nope. Not thinking about him. I didn’t care who he loved or why he wasn’t the same man I used to run with—so full of life and laughter. I definitely didn’t give a second thought to Grandma’s conjecture that he was pining for me. Okay, that was a lie. I would think of it way more often than I should. Just like I would be wondering if Tristan was with that new woman.

My eyes began to water, so I fanned my face.

Jai patted my head. “Don’t cry.” Then he sighed. “Maybe I should save my news.”

I groaned loudly. “Just tell me. My day can’t get any worse.”

He grimaced, not giving me any warm, fuzzy feelings. “Remember when I told you a few weeks ago that some suits were walking around the place with Carter and Giselle, all hush-hush-like?”

“Yes.” I swallowed hard. I’d asked Carter and Giselle about it, and they had said they were old family friends who wanted a tour of the place. I could tell they were lying, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

“They were back today and holed up in this office for over an hour with Carter and Giselle.”

I felt queasy, and not because I had consumed ten thousand calories of chocolate today. “Any idea who they are?”

Jai shook his head. “All I know is Carter and Giselle were acting way too nice to everyone today.”

I rubbed my hands over my face. “This can’t be good.”

“Don’t worry, boss lady, we have your back.”

I appreciated that. The problem was, I’d been stabbed in the back so many times before, I wasn’t sure there was anything else left to protect.

Chapter Four

I held up Oscar and nuzzled his nose. Yep, I was smitten . . . with another male. I know, I know—I was helpless. But he’d stolen my heart the second I’d laid eyes on him at the shelter yesterday. He was a three-month-old Russian Blue, abandoned by his owner. He had beautiful thick gray fur and imploring green eyes. There was just something about him that had called to me. It was as if he’d said, “Hey, you’re my person.” I don’t know what it was, but I’d felt it in my soul. Whatever it was, I was hooked.

“Be a good boy while I’m gone.” I snuggled him.

I hated to leave him. Seriously, he was adorable. Even more, I hated that I had to go to my birthday party. I’d thought thirty was going to be my year. Wrong. How lame was it to show up to my own party alone? It was going to be so awkward telling everyone why Tristan wasn’t there. I’d begged Dani and Ariana to cancel it, but they wouldn’t hear of it. I mean, we could just do a small family party for Gemma. Except that meant less of a buffer between him and me. The only silver lining of having a big bash meant I could avoid him. If only he weren’t the most doting and adorable uncle ever. There was no way he was missing Gemma’s birthday.

It was fine. I was fine. No, I wasn’t. But I would be . . . eventually.

I snuggled Oscar one more time. “Wish me luck.” I set him down, and he looked up at me as if I’d betrayed him. “I know the feeling, little guy. Don’t worry, I’ll never let any females come around you. Not that it matters, since you’re neutered.”

I was beginning to think that should be a requirement for all males of any species, especially the human variety.

I headed to my bathroom to do one last hair check. Not sure why. I was contemplating turning into a slob like Ariana had done. Except I knew my sisters and Grandma would have some kind of intervention on my behalf, and I couldn’t risk them trying to get me on one of those makeover shows. So, for the time being, I wore the form-fitting, long-sleeved black mini dress and thigh-high boots I had bought for the yahoo across the pond. It was my birthday present to myself. It was a shame I had already sent the yahoo a picture of me in it last week, and he’d seemed very pleased with it. He was a liar and a louse. He had to have been already thinking about breaking up with me by then.

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