Page 50 of This Time Around
Skye smiled. “Okay. Have you been to Marrakesh?”
“In Morocco?”
“No, I mean the restaurant. It’s this slightly cheesy little place over on Northwest 21st where you sit on the floor and eat with your hands. There’s a belly dancer on weekends, and the staff dresses in traditional Moroccan attire. Like I said, kinda cheesy, but I love the place.”
“Sold!” Wade grinned. “That sounds perfect.”
Allie stood up and set Wade’s envelope on top of the maple dresser. She pulled the bedsheet off and folded it neatly before setting it on the empty barstool. Then she straightened the peacock-green dress. She’d worn it here, not wanting to mess up her hair by pulling it on afterward. Jack was picking her up from the B&B in about ten minutes.
“Whoa, Albatross!” Wade had finally glanced away from Skye and was looking at her. “Nice dress!”
“Thank you.”
“That color’s great on you.”
“Totally,” Skye agreed. “I told her she looks like Jennifer Garner.” She shifted closer to Wade, seemingly drawn to him. “Did you just call her Albatross?”
“Allie Ross the Albatross,” Wade repeated, smiling fondly at her. “The bird who’d rather fly alone.”
Skye gave Allie a sympathetic smile and shrugged. “Nothing wrong with that. It’s good to be a strong, independent woman.”
“Amen, sister.”
“Are you two going to hug now?” Wade asked. “Because I’d really like to see that. Especially if there’s a boob grab involved.”
“You’re ridiculous,” Allie said, slugging him in the shoulder. She picked up the envelope again and moved through the door. “Thanks again, Skye. Really, you did an amazing job. You’re sure I can’t pay you?”
“No way. You’re doing me a favor here. I needed the practice.”
“Thanks again.”
“You look gorgeous. Kinda glowy or something.”
“Glowy,” Wade repeated, looking her up and down with a critical eye. “You haven’t been snogging the guy already, have you?”
Allie rolled her eyes, which was mostly a move to avoid eye contact with Wade. She knew he could see right through her. She held up the envelope as she made her way out the door. “I have a few minutes before Jack gets here, so I’m going to go look through this.”
“Call if you have questions about it,” Wade said.
“I will. Thanks again. Both of you!”
“You’re welcome,” Skye called.
Allie headed down the hall and into the kitchen, a familiar space that reminded her of dainty teacups and her grandmother’s shortbread cookies. She felt a pang of sadness and took a few deep breaths to get it under control.
She set Wade’s envelope on the counter, hesitating a little. She’d been deliberately vague when she’d asked him to dig up some info on inheritance laws and Oregon statutes on found property. He was her best friend, but it seemed unwise to just blurt out the fact that she’d stumbled upon a million dollars in cash. Given his connection to her parents’ case, would he be required to report it? Allie wasn’t sure, so she figured better safe than sorry.
She pried open the clasp securing the envelope, careful not to wreck her new manicure. A thick stack of papers was inside, and Allie pulled it out and stared at the first page.
Lost, Unclaimed, or Abandoned Property Laws, ORS §98.005 . . .
“Hello? Allie, are you here?”
The paperwork fell from her hands as Jack’s voice rang out from the foyer. Crap.
He called out again, his voice getting closer now.
“I’m in here!” Allie shouted as she dropped to her knees and began grabbing pages. They were hopelessly out of order, a blur of words like forfeiture and encumbered property and theft by deception. She stuffed them into a pile, not sure why she felt so guilty, but knowing Jack was going to walk into the room at any moment.
