Page 30 of Moonshine and Magnolias
“Hard not to be when you live where you get your paycheck.”
“What’s that like?”
“You should know. You’re working twenty-four/seven, even if you aren’t physically doing anything.” She repeated the leaning act he had just pulled to retrieve her phone. Her breast grazed his arm.
He swallowed against the thickness in his throat and counted the blades on the ceiling fan. “So who’s Sebastien? And why does he travel with bodyguards?”
“He’s a celebrity.”
Rob wasn’t sure he believed her flat delivery. “Anyone I’ve heard of?”
“If you have to ask, then no.”
“Not much of a celebrity, then.”
Ms. Eulalee came into the parlor. Rob rose to his feet and they exchanged greetings. He wouldn’t be writing any of his ideas with Wendy there, but adding the other woman made it impossible.
“I’m going through the paces of the tour soon.” He met and held her earnest green gaze. “Want to come with me?” Away from eyes and ears of her curiousrelatives that were doing a horrible job of pretending not to listen.
Her fingers ran through the hair gathered in her ponytail. “I’ve got to turn rooms over for some new guests. How about we schedule a run through when I finish with the after-dinner hour?”
He’d have her to himself, walking the moonlit paths of her land. His fingers itched to take her hand, to stroke her smooth skin, to confess his sins.
“Wait, no, not tonight.” Her mouth gave a small quirk as his fantasy scene dissolved. “Sebastien is trying to convince me to ignore my responsibilities and go out, which means I have to cram my night into my day. And he’d never let me hear the end of it if I didn’t try.” She gave him an assessing look. “If we do go, do you and your brother want to join us? I don’t know what he has planned, but Sebastien knows how to have a good time.”
Damn it all. “I would, but my boss is real strict. I might get fired if I mess up the tour tomorrow.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Probably.”
He kept a casual tone, but his mind worked to put together the pieces of her schedule. “I’ll do the run through with my brother. I can trust him to tell me at the exact point a bunch of teens will get bored. Another time.” It was more statement of fact than a question.
Her eyes lowered over his body as she nodded.
Rob moved off to find his brother, taking the stairs two at a time. His stomach rolled at the meaning of her and her cousin being busy. It was a means to an end, and put him one step closer to being free of the burden his family had placed upon him.
“Hey, welcome back.” Hal sat at the desk in their room, tapping on his computer. “I found some great information here. There’s a news article about rival moonshiners destroying stills and setting fires.”
Rob picked up his tablet from the nightstand and drilled Hal with a look. “Come help me with the tour.”
His brother followed without a word into the lobby and across the hardwoodfloors, rushing past Ms. Eulalee chatting with Mac in the parlor. The sun brightened the thick air, shining down on the live oaks and magnolia trees that lined the drive. Rob positioned them in front of the Hall and recited the welcome speech, complete with exaggerated pointing and commenting on their surroundings. Then he led his brother to the grassy field between the house and the orchard. The windows of the house were all closed and Hal scanned the area. No one was around.
“What’s going on?” he asked. “I was almost on to something.”
“I think Wendy and her friend will be going out tonight.” Rob relayed the conversation, ignoring the heaviness of his conscience. If his uncle’s greatest treasure and the Curse of the Angels Eyes were real, it would all be worth it. And he believed that like he believed Benedict Arnold was framed. “Act like I’ve said something boring.”
“I don’t even have to pretend.” Hal gave an overwide yawn, tapping his mouth with his hand.
Rob sighed and made some fake adjustments. They walked through the orchard as he pointed out various aspects of the fruit. The sweet scent reminded him of the woman he planned to betray.
Fenwick Clayton’s oak tree loomed in front of them, its massive height attesting to its years of existence. The leaves created a canopy of shade from the strong sun.
“Many generations of Claytons have sat in the cradle of these branches to contemplate life and their future,” Rob intoned. “You should try it.”
Hal did as he was instructed. “I don’t feel any more enlightened.” He ran his hand over the rough bark. “I’ll watch the old ladies tonight and you keep your eye on the women and their friend. Once everyone is gone or in bed we’ll be able to go through the office.”
“Sounds like a plan. The welcome packet says staff is available until ten, and I’ve noticed they all clear the downstairs at that time.”
Hal slapped him on the back and gave him a thumbs up. “The tour is going tobe great.”
