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My eyes pause on the two paper insulated cups in his hand and, despite my sudden flush, I fight the urge to bowl everything over in my sight and chug whatever they contain.
Emily starts grouping the bags. ‘I gave my driver this week off as I thought I was going to be away, so it was lucky you arrived when you did, Brian. I don’t think the taxi driver was in any mood to play valet.’
‘Pleasure, ma’am.’ Brian shuffles around the retail mayhem and hands me the larger of the two cups in his hands. ‘For you.’
‘Thank you.’ I grab it as if I was offered a drink from the fountain of youth and take a long gulp. When the taste registers, I frown. ‘How did you know my usual order?’
‘Mr Moore had it ordered, ma’am.’
‘Mr Moore.’ I repeat the name slowly. ‘Thomas?’
‘Yes.’ Brian smiles. ‘And he told me to take you and Miss Mary wherever you need to go today.’
‘Well, at least that’s something.’ Emily frowns and picks up another bag. ‘I wasn’t at all pleased when Brian told me Thomas went to work today when he was already scheduled to take it off.’
‘Look, Alice, I’m a princess.’ Mary, who pulled the dress on over her pajamas, throws her arms out and twirls, the skirts of her princess dress flaring out.
Mike Hunt paws the air in front of him like he’s miming clawing at the glittery fabric.
Still feeling as if I’d been slapped upside the head by a two-by-four, I try to smile. ‘You look so pretty.’ And she does, the lavender striking against her dark hair.
‘And now your turn.’ Emily waves me upstairs.
‘I’m sorry?’ Thinking my brain needs more fuel to function I chug the latte uncaring of the burn that makes my eyes water.
‘To change, dear.’ The Moore matriarch raises one eyebrow, reminding me again of her eldest son, as she assesses my faded black leggings and oversized T-shirt. ‘You can’t go out looking like that.’
17
THOMAS
‘There is no way that you and Alice leaving together was a coincidence.’ Chase’s exasperated sigh creates a buzz of static through my office phone.
So much for screening Chase’s calls.
I’ve had his ringtone silenced since I left his wedding reception for the airport in Vegas. However, the temp filling in for George at the office today must not want to do anything out of her contractual ‘answer phones, take messages,’ seeing as she put his call through despite being told expressly not to.
Cradling the receiver between my ear and shoulder, I grab the mouse and open my email, scanning my inbox. ‘Coincidences happen all the time.’ Nothing from my lawyer. Or the private detective.
Chase snorts. ‘Bullshit.’
Shifting in my chair, I try and ease the ache in the muscles I strained this morning. It’s only a few hours into the working day, but still, ever since I ordered Brian to be of service to Alice and Mary, I’ve been on edge. It’s probably remnants of my earlier sugar rush.
‘Are you really not going to tell me?’ Chase’s voice takes on a hurt quality.
I can just imagine the toddler-like mutinous set of his jaw. ‘You sound more and more adolescent with each whine and complaint.’
‘I bet Liz knows,’ he mutters. ‘She was the only one not surprised when we all realized you two were gone. And then she left soon after before I could question her about it or ask her where she’s been.’
Considering the poor acting job Alice performed in the hotel suite for Liz the morning after our drunken nuptials, I can’t even refute his claims about Liz suspecting something. It’s a good thing I had the private eye look for her as well. Best to know where all my ducks are so I can keep them in their rows.
Chase continues. ‘And then you forgot Mike.’
‘Hmm.’ Forget? Left? Same thing really.
‘Good thing Mom decided to fly home before her singles cruise or I’d have to kill you.’
‘Tell Alice I said hi!’ Bell’s voice carries through the phone, as clear as my brother’s.
