04 - Shock and Awesome (40 page)

 
   
"I haven't really thought about it," I admitted, which was true. "I, er, like walks in the country and, um, nature." What else
was
there in the country? "Not bears or coyotes or opossums though."

 
   
"We don't have any of those." Justin paused and frowned. "I think. Lots of sheep. And cows. Oh yes, many cows. I'll show you a photo." He picked up his cell phone, pressed a few buttons and turned the screen to face me. I wasn't all that enthusiastic about seeing a photo of cows, but I was pretty amazed by the size of the house in the background of the lovely pastoral scene.

 
   
"Lovely cows," I squeaked. What else does one say about cows? Having never been asked to admire any before, I had no idea of the proper protocol for speaking about them. I only got through the section on greetings in the etiquette handbook, and that was complicated enough. "Is that your home?"

 
   
"Oh yes, that's our old house," said Justin.

 
   
"It looks very old." And by old, I meant enormous. Well, old too. It also looked very familiar. Perhaps I'd seen it in a magazine or on television. It was the type of quintessential country house that would be proudly featured.

 
   
"It is. Been in the family for years. All we need now is a new lady at my side when I take over." Justin gave me a knowing look. I looked at the house again.
Wowsers
. I could live there.

 
   
That dream, however, was dashed when I remembered it would involve living with Justin. He just didn't do it for me. I took a third look at the house and sighed. Damn it, he still didn't do it for me. The situation I was in should have been in the urban dictionary under the definition for “tragedy.”

 
   
Justin sipped the last of his champagne before retrieving the phone just as it rang. He spoke monosyllabically for less than a minute before hanging up. "Must dash," he said, rising. "Crisis with one of my investments needs my immediate attention. I would escort you to your car..."

 
   
"Don't worry about me," I assured him. "I need to, uh, dash too. Urgent appointments."

 
   
"Of course you do, darling." Justin reached for my hand and drew it to his lips, giving my knuckles a lingering kiss. "Until next time."

 
   
"Until then." I fluttered my lashes a little and Justin left, but not before giving the waiter another narrowed-eye look. Behind Justin's back, I smiled at the waiter and he left me alone to finish the last of the delicious, little cakes. As I gathered my things, dropping the cloning device into my purse and pulling on my jacket, the waiter approached. "Shall I clear, Madam?"

 
   
"Yes, please. And I'm sorry about my friend being a little touchy."

 
   
"Not at all, Madam."

 
   
"Thanks anyway." I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile as I navigated my way between the tables to the exit. Just as I crossed the lobby, I heard someone calling me in visible distress. Turning, I saw the waiter hurrying towards me. "Madam," he exhaled, waving a slip at me. His nose and cheeks were starting to pink, but not with anger like before. This time it looked more like... embarrassment.

 
   
"Yes?" I waited, wondering what on earth I left. My purse was in my hand and I'd already checked my cell phone and wallet were inside.

 
   
"The bill, Madam," the waiter said in a low voice.

 
   
"Pardon?"

 
   
"The bill has not been paid, Madam."

 
   
"There must be a mistake." I frowned. "My friend didn't pay?" The waiter colored a deeper pink, giving me my answer. The rat! Justin, not the waiter. How rude. "Of course, I forgot. Silly me. Let me give you my card," I said, rummaging in my purse for my wallet. Finding it, I took the slip and winced. Of all the bills to land me with! And just how much did teeny, weeny sandwiches and itty, bitty cakes cost? Thank God we didn't order full-sized ones! With a thudding, and not particularly full, stomach, I handed my card to the waiter and waited as he processed it. If Solomon didn't consider this a work expense, I couldn’t eat for the next month.

 
   
"All done, Madam," the waiter assured me, handing me the receipt. "Have a wonderful day."

 
   
Not likely, I decided, as I left, giving my ticket to the valet. Climbing into my car, all I could think about was what a jerk Justin was to stiff me with the bill and how I hoped the cloning device snagged some dirt on him for payback. Also, I was really hungry.

 
   
~

 
   
"You smell like fries," said Solomon when I pulled into the agency parking lot a half hour later and wound down the window. He waited for me by the elevator, just as I asked him to. He didn't give an indication how long he'd been standing there, so it could have been seconds, minutes, or hours.

 
   
"Whatever," I snipped, running my tongue over my teeth.

 
   
"I didn't say I didn't like it. You got any leftovers?" He stooped to look through the window, his eyes searching my car for telltale wrappers.

 
   
"Nope, sorry."

 
   
He sniffed. "I thought you went for afternoon tea?"

 
   
"I did. Have you seen how small those sandwiches are? I just ate a Big Mac and large fries. Speaking of which..." I pulled the bill from my purse. "Lord Justin stuck me with the bill. Again."

 
   
"Really? Jerk." Solomon looked at the bill. His nose wrinkled ever so slightly with distaste. I wouldn't like to be Justin when Solomon decided he wanted to have words about the bill. "I'll take care of it. Add the fries to your expenses too. You clone his phone?"

 
   
"Yep." I dropped the gadget into his outstretched palm. "Hope there's something juicy on it. I know I'm a heiress and all, right now, but seriously, where's this guy’s manners?"

 
   
"Don't worry about it. Lucas will find out the situation with Justin. You coming in?"

 
   
"No, sorry, I have to meet Ben. I'm kind of running late and I need to change."

 
   
"Have a shower too. Burgers are fine, but they aren't the best scent on you."

 
   
"Thanks a bundle. And you wanted some!"

 
   
Solomon gave me a look. It wasn't an “I want a burger look,” but he definitely wanted something tasty. Before I started to salivate at the thought of being his “objet de nibble,” I stuck my tongue out at him and hit the electric window. "Let me know what you find," I yelled as the window rolled shut. Then I hit the gas, leaving Solomon in the parking garage with the lingering scent of my burger and fries.

 
   
~

 
   
After the disastrous date with Justin, I was ready for a pleasant evening with Ben. Even better, I couldn’t wait until Lucas got back to me with some dirt on Justin. There was something wrong with the lord, but only a real intrusion of his personal life could uncover what. Unfortunately, I hated waiting.

 
   
"You look distracted, honey," said Ben, taking my hand as we left the restaurant. The night had fallen, leaving the sky inky black, and a silvery
half moon
hung over us. All we needed was a shooting star to highlight the evening. That, and maybe to clear Ben of any wrongdoing, and for me to become the person he thought I was. It was a shame we didn't meet in another life. I could have really liked Ben. I did really like Ben. Unfortunately, my world would eventually return to normal soon, and that would be that.

 
   
"I'm sorry, I am a little distracted," I admitted, wondering what I could add to that. Happily, Ben beat me to it.

 
   
"It must be the burglary. So, no one saw a thing?" he asked, for what was probably the third time. "You didn't even get a glimpse of this guy on security footage?"

 
   
I shook my head. "Nothing."

 
   
"Was anyone hurt?"

 
   
I paused. How could he have possibly known that? Wait, he didn't ask “How was the person who got hurt?” but “if anyone
was
hurt.” That was different.

 
   
"I don't think so," I said, adding, "Oh, I think someone in the street saw my door wide open and went to investigate. I don't really know what happened."

 
   
Ben nodded, as if it were likely that a friendly neighbor would check up on me. "And he didn't see the thief either?"

 
   
Again, I got the feeling that his questions were too much, too prying. "He?" I asked. "I don't remember saying the person who got hurt was a
he
."

 
   
"Didn't you? Maybe I just assumed. I guess I thought it was unlikely a woman would investigate. All the same..." He waited.

 
   
"No, I don't think so." I shrugged with what I hoped was a blasé look. "I don't know. I guess someone would have told me," I continued in the lie. Of course, Delgado was fine, albeit a few stitches and a day of rest, but I could hardly say that. I struggled again to remember if I identified the gender of my "friendly neighbor." I really didn't think so, but I couldn't be sure. It was possible Ben just assumed. He had as much chance of being right as wrong. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe I was just antsy because I expected someone to call any moment and confirm Justin was our guy.

 
   
"You look cold. Here, take my jacket," Ben offered as he slipped his jacket off and tucked it around my shoulders before I could protest. Not that I was planning to. I was a little chilly in the night breeze even though I swapped my pretty dress for navy-colored pants and a sheer pink blouse... I ditched the burger-and-fries scent for a spritz of Calvin Klein. As I pulled the jacket around me, something dropped from the pocket onto the floor and I stooped to pick it up, moments before Ben could, his fingers missing the packet by inches. I turned the thick paper over as I stood. Tickets. Train tickets. For tomorrow.

 
   
"Are you going somewhere?" I asked, frowning. He didn't mention a trip all evening.

 
   
"No. I’m returning those." Ben plucked them from my hands, folded the tickets in half and pushed them into the rear pocket of his jeans, before rubbing his hands over my upper arms. "Let me warm you," he said, looking down at me with his dreamy eyes.

 
   
The uncomfortable, niggling feeling I had about Ben increased the closer I got to him, even though I tried shrugging it off as simple nerves. By the time he leaned in to softly kiss me on the lips, I was a ball of insecurity. He planned to leave without telling me, and he wanted to know too much about the burglary, so could he be the thief? Was he the thief? Had he played me the whole time? Of course, there was the possibility that Lord Justin also played me, but there was something about Ben that just didn't sit right the more I thought about it.