Page 43 of Moonshine and Magnolias
Rob made some non-committal noise that he left up to Hal’s interpretation.
“If we don’t find Louis’s lost treasure soon, we’ll have to break into the third floor. Like during that Pansy Hamilton thing.” Hal grinned. “Unless you can get up there sooner.”
Rob grunted again. There would be no more searching, not unless Wendy condoned it.
“You’re awfully silent,” his brother said.
“The tour is today.” Rob picked a green tie and laid it on the bed to put on after breakfast. “I have to get ready.”
“Hey, who used your face as a punching bag?” Hal circled his lip with a finger. “You walk into a mantle?”
“No, a book jumped off a library shelf and attacked me.” His mouth had stungwhen water hit it in the shower, but the mirror had been too steamed for him to see anything. “You should have seen it. Pages flying everywhere. I’m going to tell Wendy the real reason we’re here. Binding laying in pieces. It was brutal. And now I’m going to get something to eat.” He was halfway to the door before his brother processed what he had said.
“Oh, hell no. Hold on there.” Hal leapt across the beds and blocked Rob’s exit. “You can’t tell her. I don’t care if you’re suffering from balls bluer than Elvis’s suede shoes, but it won’t get you into her bed and it won’t get the job done.”
“We’ve searched almost every inch of this house and haven’t found a hint of any lost treasure, Hal. For all we know, it was uncovered fifty years ago.”
“There was the hidden whiskey!”
“Not really a benefit for an IRS man during Prohibition.”
“Maybe we’d be able to break the curse if you paid attention to something other than some uptight chick with a great ass.”
Rob’s muscles tightened as anger threaded through his blood with the only outlet being his fist against Hal’s face.
His brother held up his hands in supplication that he may have crossed a line. “You are not telling Wendy Marsh about why we’re here. This is our family business, not hers.”
“Damn it, Hal. Think for yourself for once. You’ve spent more time tracking down whatever this treasure is than you have on your own life. This is crazy. It needs to stop.”
“You wouldn’t be saying this if you hadn’t been shown some feminine attention. I’m not going to let this happen.”
“You can’t stop me.”
Hal’s eyes narrowed. “I can sure as hell try.”
***
Wendy hung up the office phone and leaned back in the antique chair, drumming her fingers on the papers that lay neatly in front of her. The conversationwith the Steward Hotel HR manager had left her nerves eating the lining of her stomach. Her diminished headache had returned, complete with a parade full of marching bands and loudspeakers. She slid her notepad parallel to the edge of the desk and placed her pencil in its center, then rested her head in her hands.
Beth from human resources had said she’d track down Wendy’s contract and the hotel rules for leaves of absences for the death of a family member and call her back when she had information to share. Her voice had been cautious and flat, but Wendy held out hope she’d have some recourse if Tina punished her because of the Indiana project. Good thing Fountenoy Hall didn’t have an HR department or she’d have to report herself for what she did with Rob.
She opened up the to-do list on her phone and entered notes for starting a policy manual.
Brandi dashed into the office clutching a manila folder, her blond hair flying behind her. “I’m sorry!”
Alarm spread through Wendy’s body, but she forced herself to be still. Her cousin had been known to overdramatize things. “What happened?”
“The morning meeting? I missed it again.”
“And you’re telling me this well after lunch.” Wendy bit the inside of her cheek before she could confess her own sin. “If mornings don’t work, we can change the time. It’s just nice to catch up with each other and keep communication open.”
“I know. I’ll do better.” Brandi produced a piece of paper. “Ta da!”
It was a printed version of the spreadsheet for next week’s retirement party with the menu approved and notes filled in. “Great job, Brandi.”
Her cousin threw herself in the guest chair. “I can see why they do only one or two events a month. It’s exhausting.” She leaned forward. “But fun. Maybe once we get into the swing of things we can try doing a few more. Hire some part-time staff or something. Aunt Eulalee said they’re already booking through next summer since the time is so limited. The only reason the retirement party got a day is because someone cancelled.”
“Hmmm, maybe.” If Wendy continued on her current path, she’d be gone by then. That was one of the reasons she wanted to talk about her leave time with Beth. In case she wanted to stay longer. “Jordan and I are going to do some work at Cuppa Joe’s. Want to come with us?”
