AVERY
Elliott stares at me, his hand stopping before the coffee cup makes it to his mouth.
“What?” I shrug.
He puts his cup down. “Sorry, it’s just, for a minute there I thought you said that you met a woman and intend to marry her tonight. Hell, I even hallucinated you asking me to be your best man.”
“You aren’t hallucinating.” I down my espresso, just the amount of bitter and delicious for me. “I expect you on time and well dressed. I want you to make a good impression. Marigold deserves the best.”
“You’re serious?” He runs a hand through his hair. “Is this like a prank or something? Is it April Fool’s Day? Wait, it’s not April.”
“I assure you this is the real deal.”
“B-but …” He looks up as if he might find the word he’s searching for floating over his head. “You can’t marry a woman you just met.”
“I can, and I will.”
“Who is she? Do you even know anything about her?”
I’ve never seen Elliott flabbergasted. Not like this. Sure, I’ve seen him sweating our escape or momentarily stumped by a good lock or too many security guards–but the look on his face right now? It’s brand new, and highly fucking amusing.
“I know she belongs to me.”
“She’s not a vase, Avery.”
“She’s much more than that,” I agree.
“How’d you meet her?”
“She was trying to steal my golden orchid.” I smile at the memory.
“She’s an operator?” His eyes widen.
“Not at all. She was sent by Richard Hoover, an avid collector. I suspect she may have lifted some items from him, got caught, and then he proposed she come steal my orchid to keep him from going to the police. She hasn’t told me all of it yet, but I think it’s a good guess.”
His eyebrows are at his hairline. “Let me get this straight.” He coughs into his hand. “A thief came to steal one of your prize possessions, and instead of ending her, you’ve decided to marry her?”
“Precisely so.”
He gawks at me, completely unable to connect the dots as I’ve laid them out.
“The wedding is at seven sharp. I expect you to be there by six so we can prepare.”
He leans forward. “You and me. We’ve been all over the world. Met more women than I can remember, stolen from a lot of them, worked with others. You’ve never once looked twice at a single one of them. But now, out of nowhere, you’re engaged to a petty thief?”
“She’s not a petty thief. She cleans houses.”
He scoffs. “What?”
I knew I’d have to do some explaining with Elliott, but I didn’t realize how fucking hilarious he would be. He really can’t compute.
“She used to clean houses. Marigold also volunteers at a local animal shelter. That’s where she is right now.” I check my watch. “Her shift is over in an hour. I’ll meet her there and escort her back home.”
“Does her family know about all this?”
I shrug. “She hasn’t mentioned her mother, so I suspect she’s either dead or not around.”
“What about her father?”