Page 30 of Up All Night
He zips up."What about it?"
"You were sexy as hell."
"Helping a little girl?What about you?You were checking her over like there was an army of flesh-eating ants crawling on her."
I bite my lip."That was crazy, too."
"Yeah.It's been a while since I've been around little ones.I guess it's in my blood."
I look at him, but I don't say anything.
I'm lost for words.
"You've got nothing to worry about, Izzy."I tell her, and then I shut my mouth quick, forgetting that I don't want either of the girls to know that I know Stone, or any of the Lawson family.Not now, anyway.It's too much right now.Not until I sort out a few things.
Bowie agrees."Yes, the Lawson family, all of them are good people."
Izzy looks at her contemplatively.
I add to that thought."And if they aren't, now is the time to find out, and what better way."
Chapter 8
Stone
4 Weeks Ago
I'mcarefulnottointerrupt Lucy's conversation, even though her assistant told me to go straight in to see her.As I tap on the door, she gestures for me to come in.The nodding and agreeing and smiling tells me that she may be on the cusp of a sale, which works for me.Lucy is usually in a good mood, Even though she is stoic at best, but when she closes a deal, that's the best time to hit her with some of the more challenging questions.And I have one in mind today.
"Stone.I didn't expect to see you today."She says on a pleasant exhale as she ends the call."To what do I owe this pleasure?"
I avert away for a moment."It sounds like you just made yourself a nice weekend with a sale."
She slits one eye and smiles."Don't curse me now, Stone.What can I do for you?"
Damn.She doesn't take the bait.It's always difficult buttering this woman up."What ever happened to that friend of yours?That old beau of yours that showed up here a few weeks ago in a Tilley hat.What happened with him?"
She cranes her neck back and tries to analyze my expression."He wasn't an old beau, and since when are we prying into each other's personal lives, Stone?This is new."
"I've known you for well over a decade, Luce.Yet we know nothing about each other."
"You're a billionaire hotel mogul, Stone.I'm sure that you didn't come all the way here to talk to me about past loves gone wrong.What's on your mind?"
"I was in town, anyway.You know that."
She nods once for emphasis.Her tone is tentative."Yes.And we're still waiting on the land to obtain clearance.Until then, there isn't much to do."Sensibly, she changes the subject."Your offer fell through on that house my colleague is handling.I heard that the owner lowered the price.Does that sweeten the pot for you?"She guesses.
"I'm not sure yet."
"Should I have Lark show you more properties?"
"You know that what she's representing is way over my budget."I play coy, not wanting her to smell a rat.Lark made me promise that I would never tell Lucy about our affair.
"What's your ceiling offer?"
I tell her.She lifts a brow."That's not far off.What is it about this house that you like?"
The fact that Lark is selling it and it gets the shithead off her back, that's what.But I can't tell her that, and I can't just buy it for that purpose, either.Not without getting into trouble with Lark, at least.The house has many pluses, but I risk having Lark feel that it's a pity purchase, and I don't want to do that to her.I name off the things that I like about the house, leaving out the obvious flaw."You could put in a conditional offer."Lucy suggests.
