Page 139 of Heartless
“I—”
“Shit.Sherry said you were in a car accident.Why aren’t you resting at home?”
Because if I’d stayed home any longer, I’d been afraid I’d never want to come out of the apartment.
While he sat back down, I said, “It was a carincident.”I pointed at my face.“And except for the third cheekbone, I’m fine.I’m going to Puccini’s, and I’m taking lunch orders.”
His bushy brows twitched, and I couldn’t help but giggle.“I’ll have the veal schnitzel sandwich with fries and salad and the black forest cake.And a Fresca.I’m cutting off on sugar.”
I was still smiling when I sauntered out of our office.“I’ll be back in twenty minutes.”
****
“Would you like a coffeewhile you’re waiting?”the manager slash owner of the trattoria said from behind the counter.
I slid my wallet in my purse.“Can I have a latte, please?”
After I’d gotten my drink, I slid in the booth of the small table designated for pickups, which was slightly separated from the rest of the restaurant by a half a wall.Then I texted Jake.
Sienna:Picking up lunch at Puccini.How’s your day going?
His reply came a minute later.
Jake:Better when I see you.
I grinned at my phone.Jake called me his butterfly, but he sure had a way of creating an army of them in my belly.
“Is that Jake Rhodes?”
The woman’s voice startled me, and I gaped at Rowena Wheelan.Kimberly was also there, as well as a woman I’d never seen before, but who was examining me.My cheekbone was still discolored, but I knew this wasn’t why they inspected me.
Seriously?What now?
A male voice cut through the room.“Sienna, you good?”
The three women spun toward the door where Ruiz had appeared.
“I’m okay, thank you,” I replied.
After a quick scan over the women, he jerked his chin at me and strode away while their attention returned to me.Taking advantage of their stunned silence at the realization of who Ruiz was, I started.
“Rowena, I want nothing to do with—”
“We’re here to talk to you about Jake Rhodes,” Kimberly declared.
Those people had to stop.“I’m not interested in—”
“God.Youdohave his eyes,” the third woman whispered.
I took a calming breath.“And you are?”
She readjusted her purse on her shoulder.“I’m Cecily Morrison, now Inglewood.I was Nigel’s second wife.”
I’d had enough of Nigel and his people.“Why are you here?Seriously.Why?Nigel only approached me because he needs pieces of me.”I looked at Rowena.“I guess when you told me that you didn’t care about him, you were not truthful.”
Rowena Wheelan’s face flushed but that didn’t stop her from gliding in the booth across from me.“Sienna, we just want to talk.”
“Like Nigel did last week when he tried to kidnap me?”Pointing at my cheek, I leaned in.“How do you think I got this?”
