Page 109 of Somebody's Watching Me
He parked and shifted to look at her. “The only reason Haven still stands is because of Simone and the twins. If it were up to me, I would’ve bulldozed it to the ground years ago.”
“I just had a vision of you driving a bulldozer with Simone standing in front of it.”
“She would do it,” he said, opening his door. “Are you ready to get out?”
They would have to call Liam, and he hopefully wouldn’t bring Izzy with him. She might be warming to the woman, but not enough to let her see her like this.
As she got her phone out to message him, the car door at her feet opened.
“Oh, my, but don’t you look fabulous.”
“Hillary!”
“I texted for reinforcements.” Her father got out and came around to open the door at her head. “If anyone can get us out of this mess, Hillary can.”
Her father’s former assistant was a miracle worker. Having been with him since the beginning, Hillary knew how to manage a Fairweather better than anyone.
“Come on, Brandon. Help a lady out,” Hillary said to her husband. “Ben, you push, and we’ll pull, but everyone be careful of those sheer panels.”
Under Hillary’s direction, Jamison found herself standing unscathed seconds later. “Whew.”
Hillary surveyed her. “You look absolutely amazing.”
“As do you.”
Tall, slim, and dressed in a white suit, Hillary tucked a strand of perfectly styled blonde hair behind a diamond studded ear. “I’m pretending to be an angel.”
Her father grunted. “If you fall in those heels, you’ll break a hip.”
“Always a killjoy, Ben,” Hillary shot back, taking Jamison’s hand. “By the way, the owner of Anderson Foods grocery chain is in attendance tonight. I’ve already done recon, and left my barely adequate replacement with him, but Anderson Foods would be an excellent wholesaler when you expand on the restaurant section.”
“You’re amazing,” Jamison whispered out the side of her mouth.
“She is amazing, but she seems to have forgotten she no longer works for me,” her father reminded Hillary. “And I need to stay with Jamison until we find Liam.”
Hillary scoffed. “I have Liam waiting at the end of the hedge.” She gestured to the lone figure standing in the shadows of the building a few yards away. “Now go, I want to gossip with my favorite girl.”
Her father rolled his eyes and walked ahead with Brandon, stopping for a moment to speak to Liam before disappearing around the corner.
“I think your father would rather set himself on fire than listen when someone suggests he do something.”
Jamison loved Hillary. The woman reminded her so much of Simone. No nonsense, and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
But never in a million, billion years would she dare make the comparison out loud to either woman. From what she gathered, Simone didn’t care for Hillary, and the feeling seemed to be mutual. There was a story there, but she’d never been brave enough to ask.
Jamison teetered on her heels as they continued down the stone path. “I thought you weren’t moving in until next week.”
Based in Texas for most of her career with Fairweather, Hillary and Brandon had finally given up life in Houston to become boring Florida retirees. However, according to Hillary, the extravagant Firewater home they now lived in made up for their “old people” status.
“When I heard about all the nonsense going on, I couldn’t stay away.”
“They won’t tell me anything,” Jamison complained. “Liam won’t tell me anything.”
“He’s punishing you, just like you’re punishing him with that dress.”
“I want him back, Hillary.”
Smiling at Liam ahead, Hillary shrugged. “Why wouldn’t you? He’s gorgeous, smart, and his father is still handsome, so you know he’ll age well.”
