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“Right,” I said with as much sarcasm as I could put on the word. Then I realized my feelings didn’t at all fit with how I’d treated him last night. “Look, I have to get ready for work. Talk later?”
“Sure, run away from the hard conversation.”
“I really gotta go. Catch ya later.”
“Chicken. Bawk, bawk, bawk.”
I hung up before she made me even later.
Then I did the one thing that would shut her up. I texted her Josh’s contact information.
* * *
At the endof the day, I trudged up the steps and in through the door of Casa di Rossi. It had been a long day with a trip down to the Redondo Beach store to go over the planned renovations.
A glass of wine called my name, and then it would be an early night to bed. Last night I hadn’t slept well at all between fretting over the note Lara had found and wondering what to do about Josh wanting a dinner date.
He was tempting as hell, but all wrong at the same time. The man had been sent to destroy everything my family had built, hadn’t he? Fraternizing with the enemy—that’s what that was called.
When I walked into the kitchen, Lara pointed to the far wall. “For you.”
A smile overcame me as I noticed the magnificent vase of flowers on the counter. It was a beautiful mix of colors, and as I reached it and breathed in, the scent was fantastic as well.
Lara leaned against the counter. “From the new F-H, I’m guessing, and before you ask, no, I didn’t read it.”
I opened the card.
Looking forward
to our dinner.
If you show up
I’ll be a winner.
-JB
Lara had scooted up behind me to peek. “Aw, that’s so sweet,” she cooed sarcastically.
“Mind your own business,” I snapped, closing the card.
“Too bad he didn’t send you red roses.”
I didn’t respond to her goading. No, it wasn’t red roses. It was a more appropriate assortment of pink roses, lavender carnations, two sizes of poms, and a purple flower I didn’t know the name of. The flowers were a perfect end to a long day, even if they were from the Rationalizer.
I popped a frozen dinner in the microwave, then poured and quickly finished a large glass of wine.
Eventually Lara tired of hassling me about Josh and went upstairs. I intended to follow after dinner.
I shooed Echo out the back door to do his business and picked up my phone.
ME: Thanks for the flowers
His response was immediate.
JOSH: I was hoping you would like them.
ME: They are beautiful
