Page 44 of Valentines In The Presidential Suite

She smiled and led Blue inside.

Simon bent down to give the dog a pat on the head. “Good boy.” He straightened. “I’ve got coffee ready, if you’re interested. Or bottled water, if you prefer.”

“I’d love a bottle of water,” Morgan said.

She helped retrieve the water and carried his cup of coffee into the living room.

“Have a seat,” said Simon, settling in a reclining chair that he obviously had chosen as his favorite spot.

“I’m here to ask you to join me and my friends for Thanksgiving. I’m sure this facility will have a lovely dinner here for the residents, but I hope you’ll consider joining my friends and me. Would that be a problem for Constance?”

Simon waved a hand in dismissal. “Constance usually joins friends in Palm Beach for Thanksgiving. She invites me, knowing I won’t come because I don’t care about being with them. But I’d love to have Thanksgiving with you. That’ll make it really special. Can Jake join us? I’d like to ask him.”

“Of course, the more, the merrier. Ashley and I prepare the meal together, but it’s hosted at Ashley’s house because she has the space. Her family, Mark’s mother, his aunt, Brad, and I will make up the group for you to join. Jake, too, if you can get him to come.”

“Sounds like an easy group,” said Simon.

“I’m sure you’ll like everyone. The two older women will be especially delighted to have you there.”

Simon chuckled. “No matchmaking for me.”

“No, of course not. But I think you’ll enjoy meeting them. They’re very interesting,” Morgan said. “They do a lot of traveling together.”

“That sounds delightful,” said Simon. “Thank you, my dear, for thinking of me.”

“Of course. I also wanted to make sure that you don’t have any other shoes that might be slippery for walking.”

Simon grinned. “I already had someone here check for that. But thanks.”

“It’s a thought that’s been bothering me,” Morgan admitted.

“I may be old, but I’m not going to be foolish about things like slippery shoes. I’m embarrassed I didn’t check them before putting them on,” Simon said.

Morgan got to her feet. “I have to get back to my Sunday chores, but I couldn’t wait to ask you for Thanksgiving. I’ll see you on Saturday, but feel free to call me if you need anything before then.”

Simon followed her and Blue to the door. “Thanks for stopping by. I’m very excited about the invitation. I’ll extend the invitation to Jake, though he probably won’t come, aware I won’t be alone.”

“No problem,” said Morgan. “The holiday should be fun for everyone.”

She left him, feeling pleased with herself. Two of her favorite people would be joining them for the holiday.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The week began with a number of unexpected cases for Brad. He relied on Morgan to help him with details, including making reservations for him at a hotel in southern New Jersey so he could participate in an investigation of a case of child abuse that began in New York.

“Will you check on the dogs for the two days I’ll be gone?” Brad asked her.

“Of course. Make sure I have the keys to your house, and I’ll take care of them in the morning and feed them at night.”

“If you’d find it easier, you could move into my house for those two days,” Brad said. “Blue could stay with my dogs.”

“That would make it a lot more convenient for me.”

“Okay. Done.” Brad handed her the keys to his house. “I’m taking off after lunch, so you can move in at any time.”

Rosalie stopped Morgan in the hallway. “What’s this I hear about you moving into Brad’s house?”

“Oh, I’m just taking care of his dogs for him while he’s gone. Nothing more than that,” Morgan said, wishing the time would come when she could tell Rosalie the truth about how she felt. However, that wasn’t how she and Brad wanted any romantic news about them to be made public.