“Well,” Ethan said. “That was different.”
“If by ‘different’ you mean ‘utterly infuriating,’ then yes, it certainly was.”
“Can Amandine manage the mansion on her own?”
“No. It’s too big. I have two full-time staff just for the garden.”
“Probably not a great idea to let her do all that housework.”
“It’s not, and she knows it,” Gavin said. “I’m sure this is a ploy to get me to see her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Craig said Amandine wanted to talk face-to-face at the lawyer’s office, but I made it clear that wasn’t going to happen.”
Ethan frowned. “So you’re not going to go?”
“Of course I’m going to go. Can you stick around for an early dinner before you fly out?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll be back soon.” Gavin would man up and see the woman who’d done everything in her power to be free of him.
* * *
Thomas parked in front of the mansion, and Gavin stared out the windows. There had to be someone in the garden. Or how about the pool in the back?
“See anybody?” Gavin asked.
Thomas’s brow wrinkled in the rearview mirror. “No. The key card still works though.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He tapped a knuckle on his mouth. “Tell me something. Would you drive me around if I didn’t pay you?”
Thomas shrugged. “Probably not. My wife would kill me.”
“Exactly.” Gavin hopped out and jogged up a few steps to the main entrance. Maybe he should have a lift installed. Amandine was still slim, but it wouldn’t be easy to climb stairs once the baby in her belly grew bigger.
He opened the door. The foyer was unlit, but natural light from outside poured in through the giant windows. He stood in there, waiting for Luna—or someone—to come and say hello.
After a few minutes, it dawned on him that nobody was coming out to greet him. He rubbed the back of his neck.
He went to the living room, reading room, study and kitchen. The house was eerily quiet.
He’d hand-selected the staff after thorough background checks, including past employment history and criminal records. Amandine had known them for over three years and talked about them like they were family. Could she really have fired everyone? It seemed completely out of character.
She probably was under a lot of stress because of you.
Hell. He couldn’t do it right even from a distance.
Finally he reached the master bedroom suite.
An old sheet lay crumpled and twisted on the king-size bed they used to share. Amandine must’ve napped in the afternoon; he remembered how tired she was these days.
Gavin sat in an armchair. He tapped a finger on the armrest and gazed at his reflection in the window. Luna would’ve never let a bed remain unmade for more than an hour, if that. She also laid out fresh sheets every morning. Clearly, she and the rest of the staff really were gone.
Where was Amandine? Somebody needed to talk some sense into her. Since Brooke had no interest in the job, it was up to him.
He dialed her number and almost jumped when something rang from the nightstand.