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"Why, Caroline Reynolds, I do believe you plan on seducing this lee

"Si more than a little attention

"Oh, hush We’ll see If, and this is a big fat if, ladies If I ever allow anything to happen between Sionna be on , and no hot tubbing"

"I don’t know, Caroline No drinking? I think it’d be criria," Miria," Ithe Spanish sunset Hmmm…

Text between Siirl ears

a big floppy hat on the beach?

Pardon iant beach hats? Do you have one?

As it happens, yes Is this a concern of yours?

Concern, no Just trying to get a visual of you

on the beach in Spain…

How’s that working out for you?

Pretty spiffy

Spiffy? Did you just say spiffy?

I typed it actually You got soainst spiffy?

This explains the old records…

HEY!

I enjoy the old records You know this…

I do know this…

Are we really going to Spain together?

Yep

Are you ho up on me?

Perhaps…where are you, Si back in a few days

Can I see you when I get back?

We’ll see…

I’ll play records for you

Spiffy

"So, since things are all co…since I have a ju next, and you et busy for the holiday season, that, well,to ask o to Spain with Si very hard to hide her s roo her own decisions You know I think it’s a good time to take vacation, so why should I tell you whether you should go aith Si aith Siht, right, it’s just two young people off to enjoy a little Spanish culture How could I forget?" Jillian drawled, insinuation all over her face, as well as a little satisfaction She was enjoyingI would never hear the end of it, but past caring

"Of course you can But can I just say one thing?" she asked, eyebrows raised

"Like I could stop you," I grumbled

"You couldn’t, actually All I ask is that you have a good time, play hard, but take care of hi on a seriousness I rarely saw

"Take care of hi it i

"Caroline, this trip will change things You must know that And I love you both I don’t want either of you to get hurt, no matter what transpires while you’re there," she said softly I started to

"Jillian, I don’t know quite what’s going on between Si to happen in Spain But I can tell you, I’et the sense he is too," I added

"Oh, my dear, he’s definitely excited Just…Oh, never mind You’re both adults Go crazy on each other in Spain"

"First you tell rumbled

She reached across the desk to pat ed the mood in the room entirely "Now then, fill me in on where we stand with James Brown What’s left to be done?"

I smiled and flipped my planner open to the end of the week, when I would be finished with All Things Ja into my couch comfortably with Mr Clive and Barefoot Contessa when I heard so in the hallway Clive and I looked at each other, and he juate I knew Simon wasn’t due home for another day or so based on his texts--and the fact that Ithe days--so I followed Clive to my old post: The Peephole

As I peered out into the hallway, there was a flash of strawberry-blond hair at Si to stare? What was that package she had? The woed to knocked once, then twice, and then before I knew it, she whirled about and looked directly atatatas she appraised , and rapped soundly onintoher know there was, in fact, so!" Then I proceeded to walk in place as though I was headed for the door Clive looked on with interest, tossing his head and assuring reat noise of clicking the locks, and then opened the door

We appraised each other instantly, in the way that women do She was tall and beautiful in a cold, patrician way She wore a black suit, severely cut and buttoned up to the collar Her strawberry blond hair isted and pinned back, although one solitary piece hadin her face She pushed it back behind her ear Her cherry red lips pursed as she finished looking me over and offered a thin smile

"Caroline, yes?" she asked, a solidly British accent piercing the air as clearly as her attitude I already knew I didn’t care for this woman

"Yes, can I help you?" I suddenly felt underdressed in ht froiant socks I shiftedI probably looked like I had to pee I also realized at the same time that this wohtened up iame face on This all took place in less than five seconds, a lifeti Out The Other Woman

"I need to drop this off for Simon, and he mentioned that if he wasn’t at home to leave it at the flat across from his, that Caroline would take care of it for hio, I suppose," she finished, thrusting a cardboard box atmy eyes off of hers for a moment

"What does he think I a it on the table just inside the door and turning back to the woman

"May I tell him who dropped this off, or will he know?" I asked She was still looking reat puzzle