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Annalisa smiled “Yes”

“And that gentleman is your husband?”

Paul was reading so on his iPhone “Paul,” she said He looked up briefly “This is Billy Litchfield”

Paul gave Billy a curt smile and went back to his iPhone He was never interested in strangers, and as usual, Annalisa tried to cover it up by being excessively friendly

“Are you a friend of Connie’s?” she asked

“I’m a friend of both Brewers now But yes, in answer to your question, Connie and I go way back”

There was a pause Annalisa suddenly didn’t knohat to say, but Billy Litchfield smiled at her “Have you been to the house before?” he asked

She shook her head

“You’re in for a treat It’s ned by Peter Cook Peter can be over the top, but the Brewers’ house is one of the best examples of his work”

“I see”

“You knoho Peter Cook is, don’t you?” he asked

“Actually, I don’t I’m a lawyer, and—”

“Ah,” Billy said, as if this explained everything “Peter Cook is an architect Some people say he ruined the East End with his McMansions, but eventually, they’ve all come round to him Everyone uses him—he won’t do a house for under ten ines “I love thisforward conspiratorially “Taking off for greener pastures Even if it is just for the weekend” He looked her over “Do you live in New York?”

“We just moved”

“Upper East Side?” Billy asked