I nodded. “1-2-3-4. I can remember that.”
“Van, I’d like to call Vicki. I want to hear from her what happened yesterday at the house.”
“Use the land line or if you want to wait, I’ll either bring the new phone as soon as I can or I’ll send it with one of the men.”
I reached for his hand. “Will you be safe?”
“Don’t worry about me, Julia. Only the good die young. I’ll live forever.”
“You’re a good man.”
His lips came together as we walked back into the house, closing the glass French doors behind us.
I watched as he donned his suit coat, one lying on a chair, and put it over his shirt. Next was his long gray wool coat. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“Who’s your boss?” Before he could answer, I remembered something. “Wait, I didn’t get my three questions last night.”
Van’s smile quirked. “That was part of your punishment for not doing as I said.”
“That’s not fair. I took the other punishment.”
“Yes, you did. Judging by how wet you were, you didn’t hate it. I’m not sure it was a deterrent.”
Warmth crawled up my chest, neck, and cheeks as I listened for Margaret. Lowering my tone, I admitted, “I didn’t hate it. And I’ve already been thinking how to provoke it again.” I reached for his hand. “Just tell me birth order.”
“I was third.”
I took a step back. “Third. Is Olivia older than you and Phillip?”
“By minutes. We were born via C-section.”
“Wait, what? All three of you? You’re a triplet?”
Van nodded. “Obviously, Olivia isn’t identical in any way.”
“A triplet,” I said again, processing the information. “Third?”
“Why is that significant?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I guess I thought you’d be first. You know, the overachiever.”
“No, Julia, the deck was stacked against me since before birth. However, I haven’t let any of that stand in my way.”
I reached for the banister, ready to go back upstairs. “I still have two more questions.”
Van came close, giving me a kiss. “Make a list. We can work out a bartering system.”
“Bartering?”
His smile grew. “Maybe like strip poker. For each answer, you remove an article of clothing.”
“I suppose I should dress in layers.” Looking up at his handsome features, I grinned. “I love you no matter what you’ve done or overcome, Donovan Sherman. Hurry back. I know I’m safe. I just like having you near.”
Van
The moment I stepped into my office, Connie was at the door.
“Mr. Sherman.”