Page 34 of Moonshine and Magnolias
“We got you,mon caneton.” Sebastien ran his hand over Wendy’s back as if to underscore the words.
“Always have,” Jordan added. “Even when you don’t want it.”
Wetness still covered her cheeks and she poked her friend in the shoulder to hide her discomfort, then took a deep, calming breath and stepped back. “I’m going to wash up. And Brandi is going to ready your room.”
“I am?” Brandi asked.
“Do I need to show you the schedule?”
“No. Please no.” She backed away and held up her hands. “Anything but that!” She bolted down the hall to the office.
Wendy left Jordan and Sebastien to their reunion and went into the restroom off the lobby to blot away the remains of her cryfest. Something had cracked within her. It was different, though. Not as embarrassing as it should have been. The grief that had been burrowing in her chest had made itself known, but she had bent, not shattered. Like being at Fountenoy Hall was a gift, not a banishment from her life.
By the time she got back to the lobby, Jordan and Sebastien had moved outside to her rental car. Wendy gave a loud gasp when Sebastien lifted a small carryon and slammed a hand against her heart. “Manual labor? Say it isn’t so!”
He curled the luggage like it was a dumbbell. “How do you think I got these babies? Working out at a gym?”
“Yes.” Both women answered without hesitation.
“And you’d be right.” He lowered the bag and stretched his arms overhead. “Maybe I should call my men to do this.”
Jordan held up a hand. “We got this, Prince Charming. Just step aside.”
Wendy helped herself to some of the luggage while Sebastien and Jordan divvied up the rest. She led the trio to the renovated stables and pushed through the white doors into the common room. A TV was mounted on the wall across fromthe large windows that let in the afternoon light.
Jordan stood in the center and took a deep breath. “There’s that hay smell I remember.”
“There hasn’t been hay in here for years,” Brandi said, coming into the area from the side. “That must be phantom hay.” She handed Jordan a set of keys. “You’re in your old digs.”
Jordan dropped her luggage and sprinted down the hallway. By the time the other three caught up to her, she was splayed on the bed, her shoes on the floor, eyes closed. “This is just how I remember it. Soft and fluffy and cozy and I’m going to take a nap now.” She cracked open one eye. “Wake me in enough time so I can dress for dinner.”
“Aren’t you dressed now?” Sebastien asked.
She waved her arm. “Away with you, peasant boy.”
“Hang on.” Sebastien turned to Wendy and her cousin. “I had Massimo and Loïc find a couple of bars somewhere in this county. So there’s no excuse not to go. All of us.”
Wendy had tried, but her schedule hadn’t sorted itself out. Going out would take a big chunk of time out of the work she did at night for Stewards, even with the possibility of Tina reassigning her project and Greghelpingher with the opening. Plus she still hadn’t tracked down the source of extra income. And if she was out, she wouldn’t see Rob in the library.
In her current state of mind, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“Well?” Sebastien asked.
“As long as Eulalee can cover for us, I’m there,” Brandi said. Jordan gave a thumbs up without opening her eyes.
“Stop picturing your calendar, Wendy,” Sebastien said. His voice was soft. “Take some time. The world won’t come crashing down if you don’t go to bed at exactly ten o’clock.”
“Eleven.” She caught his look and shook her head. “I just have too much to do and not enough time to do it.”
He crossed his arms and frowned down at her. “Don’t you know it’s treason to argue with a member of the royal family?”
“The royal family of a teeny tiny principality halfway across the world that relies solely on friendly neighbor benefactors instead of a standing army? I’ll take my chances.”
“You better come, Wendy,” Jordan implored. “You know what he’s like when he gets all high blooded. Don’t leave us alone with him.”
The knots of tension unfolded in Wendy’s stomach as she regarded her friends. Sebastien with his playful blue eyes that made his face always seem like he was smiling and that messy fringe of red hair. Jordan and her sleek style, her own gaze imploring her with such sincerity that it was no wonder her clients trusted her with everything. How could she even think of missing a night with them? She sighed.
Sebastien gave a fist pump. “Fantastic! We’ll have Massimo bring the limo at eight.”
