Page 89 of Tempt

“Yes. We went to the same school for a while and since Theo and I were so close I sort of took on the ‘fun big sister’ role. Poor girl needed it. She’s always been as smart as Theo, but so much more adrift. She needs an anchor to hold her steady and I tried to be that for a while.”

I smiled to myself, thinking of her with Higgins. He was most definitely her anchor now.

“What about Darcy Higgins?”

Margaret’s face went blank. “I don’t know whether to love or hate that man.”

I laughed. “That’s a universal problem with him.” And something I’d kind of fallen in love with.

“He is a good and loyal man with a propensity for trouble. I knew the moment Nicki fell in love with him. Unfortunately it was right when she started to spiral out of control. She went down fast and hard. One minute she was a moody, spoiled teenager, and the next she was in with the wrong crowd and already completely addicted to her white powder.”

She sat quietly for a few minutes, picking at her nails. “I think it’s a little bit of ‘there but the grace of God go I’ syndrome. I look at those two and see myself. If my parents had been just a little more dysfunctional. If I’d just been a bit more lost. We could easily swap places.” She looked up. “Being their friend is not easy, but I do love them dearly.”

“So do I.”

We locked eyes, a solidarity growing between us. “So, I didn’t just call you in here to gossip.”

I sat a little straighter, mentally shifting gears away from the personal and back to the professional. “What do you need?”

She picked up her phone and scrolled. “I need you to stop by the renovation. The site manager had some questions he wanted to run by you.” She looked up from her phone where she was checking the email with the information. “He’d like to meet just after lunch if that works for you. Do you need his contact information?”

I shook my head. “No, I’ve been in contact with Sam.” Which was why this request seemed just a bitoff. “After lunch is perfect.”

“Excellent.” She stood up to show me to the door. “And please let me know if you hear anything. One way or another.”

I gave her a quick nod before ducking out the door and heading for Seth. I had a strong suspicion that I wasn’t being summoned to the work site by Jimmy.

Seth perked up the moment he saw me coming. “Is something wrong?” He was a little younger than Joe and had one of those perpetually upright locks of hair just above his brow.

“I have a meeting at the work site after lunch.”

He nodded slowly. “Yes, I’ve already arranged to have Joe meet us downstairs with the car.”

That was the answer I was expecting.

If it were a simple site visit then Seth wouldn’t know about my meeting.Ijust learned about my meeting.

Which meant this was all arranged by Theo.

And with that little bit of knowledge, my heart took off. For better or worse, I was seeing him in just a few hours.

Chapter 32

The building was oddly quiet when I arrived. It appeared the crews were all given the afternoon off and instead of a building buzzing with tools and the shouts of construction workers, the inside felt silent and empty.

Joe walked just ahead of me, Seth just behind. I’d never been so closely guarded in my entire life. They walked cautiously close, as if they expected trouble at any second, which made me wonder why I was there.

They led me to the new building behind the renovation, and down the stairs into the sublevel. I felt cold inside and out, and not just because it was November. The air held a static charge of potential. Whether it was good potential or bad, I wasn’t sure.

“Just inside here, Miss Riley.” Joe held open the door, the look in his eyes giving me a shot of confidence.

Martin, who was standing just inside the door, gave me a nod as he exited the room, leaving me alone with the man I loved. The room was dimly lit by a work lamp that cast long shadows on the concrete floors and walls. Theo stood along the opposite wall, his coat wrapped tight around him and a haunted look to his dark eyes.

“Hi,” I said as the door closed behind me.

“Thank you for coming.” His voice was rough and thin, like he hadn’t slept since I saw him last.

“I don’t think I had a choice.”

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