Page 14 of Sinful Promise
“I was born and raised in New York.” It’s the truth, but not at all the reason I went there. “I had some family stuff to take care of. Is there something specific you wanted, Mayor? Or—”
“In fact, there is. It’s Janine’s birthday this Saturday, and my daughters are flying in for a little party. They’re bringing their husbands, and my granddaughter, too.”
“It’s your wife’s birthday?” I meet Aubree’s stare, and glower when she makes gaga eyes. “Well, be sure to send her my regards.”
“I’d like for you to deliver them personally, Doctor. This Saturday at six.”
“This Sat—No.” My soul rejects the very notion of doing anythingpersonalwith the mayor. “I can’t. But I’m certain you and your girls will have a lovely time.”
“Dinner,” he bites out.It seems that his patience of the last few months has officially run out.“Six o’clock. No gift necessary, though if you feel absolutely inclined, Janine has adored your briefcase ever since she first saw it.”
“My… my briefcase?” I pull away from my desk and look to the offending bag on the floor. “She wants it?”
“She admires it,” he chuckles. “Perhaps you could select something similar for her. Only if you want to, of course. A gift given out of obligation is no gift at all. So we can expect you Saturday?”
“No, I—”
“Six,” he repeats coldly. “My daughters have asked about you, Doctor. Jen especially. I’d rather the two of you catch up over dinner, instead of me relaying the same ‘Chief Mayet is too busy to take my calls’ message I’ve given her for a month straight.”
“But, Mayor—”
“I look forward to visiting with you and Detective Malone.”
“Detective Malone too?” I squeak. “You want me to drag—er, I mean…invitehim as well?”
“As he’s your husband,” Lawrence drawls, “I assumed theplus onewas implied. I’d like to spend time with you both outside of work, Doctor. I’ll send over my address so you have it for reference.”
“Uh…”
I’ve been bested. Wrangled. Ordered. Commanded. And outside of this bubble encompassing me andDaddy Mayor, my cellphone trills—but Aubree dives for my drawer before I can.
“Yes?” he presses, refusing to let me slip away. “Great. I’ll let Janine know you’re coming.”
“This is Doctor Emeri,” Aubree chatters. “Chief Mayet is on another call right now.” Her eyes harden in a heartbeat. “On it. We’ll report.”
“I’ll speak with you later,” Mayor Lawrence finishes for us. “Janine will be thrilled to know you’re coming. She’s been eager to formally meet you.”
“O…okay.” Sighing, I pull the phone away from my ear.
“Let’s go.” Aubree shoves her chair closer to my desk and snatches the corded phone from my hand. Slamming it down on the receiver and spinning away, she charges toward the door. “Unattended death. Looks like a hit-and-run. They require an M.E.”
“And the driver couldn’t hit and run justoneminute sooner? One!” I shove out of my seat and snatch my cell. “One minute, Aubree! Victim would still be dead, but I wouldn’t have to go to this freakin’ dinner with Lawrence.”
“You’re going to dinner with Daddy Mayor?” Wide-eyed and ogling, she pulls the door open and darts toward the elevator to take us down. “Did he invite me too? Because I kinda wanna see—”
“No.” I step into the elevator and slap the button for the underground garage as the doors slide shut. “You’re not invited, because you didn’t get me off that call in time to avoid dinner with the freakin’ mayor.”
“Bummer.” Rocking back on her sneakered heels, she digs her hands into her jean pockets and grins. “But since we’re in the Neutral Cube of Truth-Telling and Fantasy-Living, I think this is a good time to tell you…” She meets my eyes in the silver reflection of the doors, “I’d consider tossing Tim overboard for a night with Daddy Mayor.”
“There’s something seriously wrong with you. Like, intellectually.”
The instant the doors slide open to reveal the dark garage, and the cold, musky air hits my skin, I start out and head toward our crappy sedan.
I don’t own a car, considering I live on the same street as my place of employment, in a city whose traffic is almost as bad as New York’s. So that means, when I need to drive, I’m relegated to the clunky, city-provided vehicle, and when I inhale too deeply, I breathe old burritos for days.
Opening the unlocked door, I slide in on the driver’s side and accept the keys when Aubree plops them in my palm.
I knew she would grab them for me; I had full faith.
