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“Do you really wanna catch a cold right now?” I asked wryly.
“I’m several feet from it,” she told me pointedly. “I have nothing to fear from a bit of fresh air.”
“And this poor plant?” I asked, looking down at the magnolia I’d bought her for Christmas. It had only been a couple of months, but it seemed to be thriving, which it wouldn’t do if it were left near the open window.
She scowled at me. “Then move the thing and quit giving me trouble.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, shifting the plant to the other side of the table below the window so it wouldn’t have to endure the cold air.
“And for some reason, my pain medicine is too high,” she told me pointedly.
I took a look at the machine and shrugged. “It’s no different than it was when I came in.”
“Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been turning it up at night.”
“I haven’t the slightest clue what you mean.”
“You’re not nearly pretty enough to play at being stupid.”
I laughed, winking at her. “You’d be surprised at how much I can get away with having a face like mine.”
Her eyes narrowed, but I was spared whatever she was going to say when Shane appeared at the door, looking amused. “Can’t I leave the two of you alone without risking a catfight?”
Sophia snorted, picking her tablet back up. “It’s a shame that finally taking on some responsibility around here hasn’t cured you of the notion that you’re amusing.”
“I’m fairly amusing,” Shane said with a wink.
“No, you’re not,” both Sophia and I said with varying levels of exasperation.
We glanced at each other, her with an expression of indignation, and I was pretty sure my surprise was evident on my face. Best of all, Shane looked downright disturbed as he glanced between the two of us.
“You two have been spending far too much time with each other,” he said with slight unease in his voice.
Sophia harrumphed. “If he’s picking up my habits and views, then perhaps there’s hope for him yet.”
“Hear that?” I asked Shane, wagging my brow. “There’s hope for me.”
Shane shot me a questioning look. “I wouldn’t take that as high praise just yet.”
I thought I understood what his unspoken question was and shook my head. “You think too much, Shane.”
“Would that were one of his failings,” Sophia added without looking up from her device. “Now, if you two are done mooning, I need to speak to my son about a certain deal closing.”
Shane’s sharp glance toward her turned quickly into a groan. “God, must we? I was hoping we could have a nice conversation.”
“And what conversation would that be?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps you could tell me other ways I could improve my apparently deficient self. Perhaps you could tell me ways I could be doing your job better. Perhaps you could chide me about my womanizing ways and utter lack of focus.”
“Your deficiencies are beyond my control at this point,” Sophia said, her eyes flicking toward me and then toward him before returning to the tablet. “And you haven’t womanized for months. I’ve been deathly ill, not blind and deaf.”
Shane glanced at me, eyes widening. I could practically hear the plea he was trying to broadcast, and I snorted, shaking my head. I had promised to be there for him, but that offer did not extend to saving him from his mother. The two of them had been contending with one another for years, and I had no intention of breaking that pattern.
“You two enjoy yourselves,” I said, ignoring the scowl Shane shot my way as I passed.
“Quit glaring at the man and sit down, Shane,” Sophia told him sternly.
“Yes, ma’am,” he grumbled, taking his seat.
