Page 27 of Tempt Me

I thought a sour expression flitted across his face, but it was gone before I was sure I’d seen it. “I was. I’m still her number one. Our code has my fingerprints all over it.”

I shot him a grateful smile. “I’m sure she appreciates your help. And so do I.”

Without a word, he left and shut the door. What did he care about thanks from someone who was only here because I hadn’t let Jamila push me out?

I’d prove to him and Jamila, too, that I could help. While they managed the code, I’d manage their reputation. Then they’d have to recognize me.

As chaotic asJamilow had been that day, home was worse.

Charles stood inside the front door, arms crossed, a mulish expression on his face. “We’re not leaving without them.”

My mother jammed her fists on her hips. An errant lock of hair escaped her bun and floated next to her face. Her cheeks and chest were red. “I’m more likely to have a heart attack from being late to the airport than from missing an ACE inhibitor or two. It’s not like they don’t have them in Paris.”

He shook his head. “We’re not going to Paris without your pills.”

“Are any of these the right ones?” Sam appeared behind Mother. She’d come down the stairs as silently as a cat and held out a fistful of orange bottles.

“No, I looked through those already,” Mother said. “I must have run out.”

I peered at her flushed face. “When was the last time you took one?”

“This morning? I don’t remember.” She flapped a hand. “We need to leave for the airport. Our flight is in three hours.”

“Then we’ll pick up your prescription at the pharmacy on the way to the airport,” Charles said.

While they argued about whether the pharmacy was or was not on the way, I motioned to my sister to show me the pill bottles. One of them was pain meds from her heart surgery; I pocketed the expired pills to toss out later. One was a hormone replacement, but one was her ACE inhibitor for hypertension. I plucked it out of Sam’s hand and checked it. At least a dozen pills remained.

“Here it is, Charles.” I handed it to him. “Stop being a grumpy bear and go to the airport.”

He kissed my cheek. “What would we do without you, Natty Bumppo?”

I didn’t hate that nickname nearly as much as what Jackson called me. “Have fun on your trip. Mother, dial back the diva, okay?” I hugged her.

“I’m not a diva,” she muttered. “Thank you for saving the day.”

“Go on.” I opened the front door.

Charles lifted her Gucci carry-on and hugged Sam. “Have fun, girls.”

“Fun?” Sam lifted an eyebrow. “I’m here to work.”

That was my big sister. Serious and dull. I couldn’t remember her ever playing with me when we were kids. She’d always been too busy messing around with computers with Jackson.

“Then do good work, darling.” Mother awkwardly patted her shoulder. “And don’t let Bilbo chew the Aubusson.”

“He’s here?” I scanned the room for the little demon.

No one heard me in the bustle of Charles guiding my mother out the door. It closed behind them, leaving us in silence for a moment, before it opened again, my mother’s torso poking through the opening to grab her handbag off the table by the door. “Goodbye, girls. See you in two and a half weeks!”

I let my gaze rest on my sister.

Since she’d started her company, she’d upgraded her wardrobe marginally. It was still all black, but now instead of army surplus pants, she wore a pair of soft-looking work pants she’d probably bought from an online ad. Her shapeless cardigan was gone, replaced with a sweater that was only one size too big for her petite frame. The sleeves covered all but her unpolished fingertips.

There was a jingle, and her little dog appeared at the top of the stairs, something furry and pink in his mouth.

My stomach turned to ice. “Is that a chew toy?”

“No, I only brought his brown horse. What’s that, Bilbo Baggins? Bring it here.”

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