Page 54 of Head Over Heels

"That doesn't answer the question," Renna teases.

"Yes, it was nice. It's not going to happen again, though."I won't be responsible for hurting her."As for coming over later, I think I'd rather read it alone, to be honest."

"Tilly's probably coming over after dinner," Renna says. "You could come, too."

"Or you could see what yourfiancéeis doing," Mel teases. "You could eat her for dinner."

I shake my head. "After last night, I'm not even sure if I could eat dinner over there again. Not at the table, anyway."

Renna snorts. "You couldn't even wait for the bedroom?"

"It wasn't supposed to happen. It shouldn't have."

"Why not?" she asks. "You're not seeing Ruby anymore, are you?"

Mel leans into Renna, putting a warning hand on her thigh.She used to do that to me."Leave it, Serenity."

I wonder if I'll ever find a woman that I'm as comfortable with as I am with Mel. Years of being the one-and-only to someone. Tilly and Renna have it, too. I know they were 'orgasm partners' as Florence would say, but it's obvious their relationship isn't romantic. They're physical, like Mel and I are, but there's something different in the way that Renna and Mel look at each other that I've never experienced. It's the same way that Florence has started looking at me the last few times we've been together.

"Besides the letter," Mel says, pulling me out of my thoughts, "what else was in the bank box?"

"An inventory list of appraisals for all the things he owned worth more than ten grand. That doesn't include a gold coin that is probably worth at least twenty million." I sigh deeply. "Let's just say that I have no idea what I will ever do with that much money, assuming I get all this straightened out."

"Why wouldn't you get it all straightened out?" Renna leans her elbow on the table, chin resting in her hand.

"The first coin guy that looked at everything told me it's uncirculated and stolen property. He advised me to hide the piece and have another expert look at my collection. If he represents me, he has to report it to the Auction House Legal Department. If it becomes known before the estate is settled, the whole estate could be locked up in the courts for years."

"How can he be sure it's stolen?" Mel asks. "Even if it was, wouldn't a thief of that caliber create a fake document trail?"

"You'd think," I chuckle. "Because it was never circulated, it belongs to the government. I'll be happy to return it to them, but if I try to deal with that before the estate is settled, the Vanderveens could try to make a play. They're the ones who'd get everything if I don't come up with the judgment."

I see the wheels turning in Mel's head. "Did you ever find out more about the court case behind the judgment?"

"No," I admit. "Between seeing Florence twice a week, class Thursday nights, and trying to figure out how to come up with a quarter million dollars, it's not really a priority."

"Could you fight it in court?" Renna asks.

I shake my head. "I asked the lawyer about that. Most likely outcome is that I'd have to pay the value adjusted for inflation. It would be about triple then."

Renna winces. "Maybe Tilly would look into it for you," she muses, more to herself than to me. "She has more time on her hands. She and Minnie seem to be going their separate ways." For a few months, it looked like Mel's sister was interested in Tilly.

"Well, even without the coins, you should be able to come up with the money," Mel points out. "If the Auction House works with you with some of the art and the sculptures. If not, maybe you could ask your new girlfriend," she teases.

My phone buzzes on the table, and I glance down at it. Speak of the devil. "Hello?"

"Hey," Florence says softly. "What are you doing this afternoon?" She swallows audibly. "I don't want to leave things the way we left them this morning."

I close my eyes in frustration. "I'm at lunch with Mel. I'm going over there tonight after dinner."

"Can I have you for dinner?" she asks.

Renna makes a choking sound, trying not to laugh.

"I've got to deal with the penthouse stuff. I'll see you Friday after work, okay?"

"Can't I see you on Tuesday?"

"I'll see you Friday, Florence."

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