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She toys with the silver locket around her neck that’s probably worth no more than a couple hundred bucks. “Who do you think took them?”
“I don’t know.”
“Could it be Ava’s mother? I don’t trust her.”
“Yeah, she’s skanky, but she has an alibi.” I don’t go into details.
She smacks her lips. “Who else could it possibly be?”
I tell her about all the people who have been in and out of our house over the past month. “And there was also our housekeeper, Rosita, who, out of the blue, split on us about a week before you began working here. She texted Ava that she had to go to El Salvador…some kind of medical emergency with her mother. Then texted that her mother needed an operation, and we haven’t heard from her since.”
Marley’s violet eyes light up like neon. She fists a hand and bangs it lightly on the counter as if celebrating a small victory or breakthrough. “Ned, I bet it was her. I’d put my money on it. She desperately needed the money to fly home and pay for her mother’s surgery. No one knows your house or habits better than her. Or had more access. I bet she pawned or sold the jewelry to pay for her expenses.”
A lightbulb goes off in my head. It all clicks. “Dammit. I think you’re right. It makes total sense since she told Ava she’ll be in El Salvador indefinitely.”
A sudden wave of remorse falls over me and my heart sinks to my stomach. While Ava’s Harry Winston rings are replaceable and will likely be covered by my insurance, I’ll never see my grandfather’s watch again. All the money in the world can’t bring it back. It’s the one thing from my father’s side that’s meant a lot to me.
I blow out a loud, frustrated breath and fling my head back. As it lolls back, I hear something snap, and let out a groan. My hand instantly flies to the back of my neck, my face contorting in agony.
“Ned, what’s wrong?” Nurse Marley sounds alarmed, her voice full of concern.
“I think I just pulled a muscle in my neck.” Lifting my head halfway, I wince again.
Marley jumps off her stool. “Let me work on it.” She moves behind me, and after deftly loosening my tie, I feel her fingers make contact with my skin. She begins to knead the sore area, the tips digging deep into my muscle cords.
Closing my weary eyes, I let out a long, contented sigh. It feels so good. Her fingers are magic. She’s magic.
“My God, Ned, your neck is so tight.” She moves her magic hands to my shoulders, then to my upper back. “Everything’s knotted up. You’re harboring so much stress.”
My head folds forward. She’s right. I am. The Japanese deal. The robbery. Ailing Ava. My newborn baby. My mother-in-law.
And my secret. That I’m falling for Nurse Marley Manners.
Her fingers dig deeper into my muscles. The harder she presses, the harder I fall.
“How did you learn to do this?” I breathe out, visualizing particles of stress sparking from my body.
She doesn’t stop her machinations. “I told you, I’m a caregiver. My job requires a holistic, integrated approach, caring for both baby and parents…both mother and father.” She squeezes my shoulders, releasing more stress. “And I’m also a licensed massage therapist. Maybe one day, I’ll give you a full-body massage.”
At the thought of lying naked on a table with her hands all over me, I can’t stop my arousal.
“What’s going on in here?”
At the sudden unexpected voice, Marley’s fingers jump off of me and I jerk my head up.
Shit. It’s my mother-in-law, dressed in the same light-blue nightgown she wore this morning. My pulse quickens. What has she seen?
Marley spares me from answering her.
“Oh, hello, Rena.” Unlike me, she’s cool, calm, and collected. I want to strangle the erection killer.
“Well?” Rena folds her arms across her concave chest.
Marley replies. “I was just giving Mr. Sinclair a much-needed massage. It’s what I do as part of my job.”
Rena pinches her lips. Her eyes narrow. “I see.”
“And what exactly are you doing here?” I ask, not masking my hatred.
