Page 6 of Saving Veronica
“I did. Haven’t had a chance to look it over yet. What’s all that noise? Are you okay? You sound rushed.”
“I am. Oh, I’m in the executive elevator with a hostage.” The woman looked at Finn, winked, and laughed. “I’m changing into my real work clothes.”
“Why?”
“I don’t have time to explain, but Hector called.”
“Oh god, is anything wrong?”
“Yes, Paige disappeared. He thinks she headed up the hill. I’m on my way home to go find her.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“Probably until next Friday. Might as well try to convince Paige’s family to come live with us.” She stood in the middle of the elevator wearing nothing but that sexy lacy bra, a thong, and a pair of bright white socks pulled up to her knees. While talking on the phone, she reached down to pull out a pair of jeans from the pack. She lost her footing and fell back into Finn. The man used one hand to steady her. He left it on her hip caressing her smooth skin.
“Sorry,” Ronnie said over her shoulder, as he reached out to touch the colorful tattoo that went from her shoulder to her hip but she slapped his hand away. He grinned and held up his free hand.
“Please, continue.”
Ronnie grinned and bent over before him and quickly donned the jeans. She then pulled out a tee-shirt, a Henley, and a flannel shirt. She pulled her long brown hair back and quickly put it up into a ponytail, before layering each shirt over her beautiful body.
“Who are you talking to?” Came a voice from the phone.
“I told you,” Ronnie giggled. “I’m holding some suit hostage.” She laughed and blew the man a kiss. “What’s my favorite dessert?” she asked the phone, as she winked at the man.
“Chocolate-covered brownies, with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and nuts.”
“Mmm. This guy is all that and with a cherry on top. I could peel his suit off him and lick him like an ice cream cone, but I don’t have time, and besides, he’s a suit.” She curled her lip and sighed. “Such perfection ruined. Anyway, I thought I’d call and let you know I’ll be gone for a week. I don’t know how long it’s going to take me, but since we’ve had a large amount of rain so far this year, I should check things out. But I definitely have to be back before Friday. I have to stop in to see Grady and my advisors out at school.”
“Okay, thanks for letting me know and be careful. I mean it. You don’t know what you’re going to run into up there.”
“I know. I sure wish I had Kip with me, he would have looked out for me.”
The woman on the other end of the phone snorted. “Yeah, okay, but since he’s dead, he wouldn’t be too much help to you now. I’ll tell Gerald that you’ll be gone. Is Hector going with you?”
“Not that I know of, probably not.” She looked around as she stuffed her office wear in the backpack and stood. As she shrugged into a bright-red down vest, she looked at the man. “Okay, you can turn the elevator back on. I’m ready.”
“Who are you talking to?” the voice from the phone asked.
“I told you, I held a man hostage in the elevator while I changed. Saved me an extra stop. I’ll call you when I return.”
“Okay, but be careful. And nice try about taking some suit hostage.” The woman laughed.
“Say hello,” Ronnie said, as she took the phone and held it up to the man.
“Hello.”
“Oh my god! Veronica Parker! What have you done?”
“Hey, I gotta go. Told Hector I’d be there in thirty minutes. Oh, before I hang up, what time do you want me at your place on Saturday for the BBQ.”
“Who told you about that?” The voice on the phone was shocked as she asked.
“You just did.” Ronnie laughed. “I’ll see you by ten on Saturday. I sure hope it’s a big BBQ, it would be great if it was. Love you. Talk to you in a week.” She laughed at the sputtering woman on the phone as she then turned to the man, asking with a wide smile.
“How’s my time?”
He grinned as he looked at his watch. “Four minutes, forty-eight seconds.”
