“Oh, beautiful, you need to listen. I was…am mad. While we’ve been off the radar, things have gotten thoroughly fucked.”
I was a fan of thoroughly fucked, but I was quite certain he had another definition in mind. “What happened? What does that mean?”
“It means our reprieve is over. We need to jump back into life with both feet.”
“Vicki’s coming tonight,” I blurted out. “I didn’t see her text until just now.” I lifted my shoulders and grinned. “So, with this jumping in with both feet, do we have time to sign a marriage license?”
A smile curled his lips. “We can find time.”
Julia
Van entered the bathroom of our suite, his emerald stare glistening under the lighting. Leaning his shoulder against the doorjamb with his arms crossed over his wide chest, he scanned me up and down. With each passing second, the golden flecks shimmered as his sly grin grew.
“Don’t make fun of me,” I said, combing my long hair, tying it behind my neck, and staring back in the mirror. “I’m nervous.”
“You’re gorgeous and maybe a bit underdressed for company.” He smirked. “I like what you’re wearing.”
Since my shower, my clothes were sparse. Currently, I was wearing a fresh bra and pair of panties. “I have a few outfits on the bed.”
Van came behind me and wrapped his arms around my frame. His chin landed on the top of my head as we both stared at our reflection. “I came to tell you that Lena called. She’s checking into a hotel in town and will be here in time for dinner.”
“I asked Margaret to clean one of the rooms for her.”
A smile spread across Van’s face. “You don’t want her to stay here.”
I craned my neck to the side and grinned. “I still thought it would be best to offer.”
Turning so I was facing him, I maintained our eye contact. “Tell me about her.”
“What do you want to know?”
I wanted to know everything. Instead of saying that, I narrowed my question. “How did she become someone you trust with Sherman and Madison?”
Van exhaled. “Neither Lena nor I were ready for the world of high finance when we met.”
“And you met…?”
“Through Madison.”
“Okay, you were both young. You said that friend of yours helped you…Lennox Demetri. You said his father helped him. Did Lena have a parent…wait, didn’t you say that Madison lost her parents? That would mean that Lena did too.” Before he could reply, I recalled something else. “Oh, this is where Logan came in.”
Van nodded. “Lena had just broken up with Logan when I met the Montgomerys. He’d left them destitute, and she blamed herself.”
Tugging Van toward the bedroom, I shook my head. “I don’t want to think that Logan would do that, but I believe you.” I picked up a blue sweater dress I’d brought from Chicago. “What do you think?”
“I don’t think it will fit me.”
I pursed my lips.
Van came forward and kissed my hair. “Be comfortable, Julia. This is your home, not Lena’s.”
Comfortable.
I picked up a pair of wool slacks.
“Has she dated?”
Van sat on the edge of the bed as I slipped on the slacks.