Page 23 (1/1)

"Yeah, that would tend to keep you busy," I agreed "And you’re right, it would be hard to explain But have you told her you’re busy at work? She should understand that erbreadback into place with his index finger "I’ood idea at this ti very lost, and she was the h, I have business I must attend to, and her association with me could put her at risk from my enemies I cannot expect her to wait for uns in the et you some help if you needed it"

Hope flickered in his eyes "I could use your assistance with soical iht"

"I’ve scheduled awith the new head of what should be my company He doesn’t knoho I aht be useful to have a ical immune present to helpused"

"I guess I could do that When’s theis Thursday afternoon I thought perhaps you could pose as my wife or lady friend"

"Undercover work sounds like fun, and I get off early that day Maybe I could be the daughter of a Texas oilman with money of my own to invest"

The blank expression on his face reminded me that he’d never seen an episode of Dallas He nodded politely and said, "Whatever you think is best Theis at two in the afternoon Shall I call for you here?"

"Yeah, that’ll be fine"

"I appreciate your assistance And I thank you for the tea" He put on his coat and hat and left, and I finally had the apart about Gemma’s relationship issues re out all of my romantic holiday fantasies now that I finally had someone to share them with, I couldn’t help but feel nervous I was about to meet Owen’s foster parents, and I knew they’d see this as a big event I had to find gifts

If ever there was one, this sounded like a tihtstand to retrieve Ethelinda’s locket from the jewelry box I kept in the back of the drawer I hesitated, though, as I sat on odmother I was almost always a hit with the parents of men I dated, even if the men weren’t so crazy about me In fact, back hoirlfriend, which was one of the reasons I’d had so few dates in high school (three overprotective big brothers were ah I needed a fairy god

I put the locket back into htstand drawer and closed it A firework then went off right outside the bedroomThatfaced a narrow air shaft--so narroas sure if the people across the air shaft needed to borrow a cup of sugar, we could easily pass it over It was unlikely that anyone was shooting off fireworks in that confined space I went to the , raised the blinds, opened the , and leanedon

Five

I juht outside ically," she said "Your young le chink in the here?" I asked "I didn’t summon you There’s no need for you to come inside"

"You don’t have to su your case, and it seems to me that you’re in need of advice"

"No, not really, thanks I’ve got it under control"

"Have you eaten?"

"Huh?"

"Tsk, tsk, what kind of response is that, Kathleen? It’s better to say, ‘Pardon,’ or ‘Excusehave to do with anything?" I clarified

"It’s better to discuss these things over food, don’t you think?"

No, I didn’t think Eating odmother who seemed a bit ditzy I could never be sure she’d reic from the rest of the world Never mind the fact that I didn’t need her there "That’s not necessary," I insisted