ormally carefree, happy-go-lucky cousin had withdrawn into himself as he’d watched the scandal retold over and over as they’d had coffee this morning.
“Poor Jason.” Amber swept her hair out of her eyes.
“Poor Jason can inadvertently lead King Bobby here to you if he makes the right connections. That’s what worries me,” Mike said.
She shook her head, dismissing the notion. “You didn’t meet the King. He’s not that swift.”
“He isn’t that stupid or he wouldn’t have tracked you as far as L.A. Be smart,” Mike warned her.
“Okay, but I don’t think it’s me you need to worry about. I’m sure Thomas is already fending off the press this morning.”
Mike nodded. “But Thomas can handle himself. At least he can when he isn’t dumbstruck by a woman,” he muttered. “I never thought I’d say this, but it’s a damn good thing Edward disconnected his telephone line.”
Amber nodded. “I know. Nobody can call and bother him. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him,” she promised.
He couldn’t stop the smile that pulled at his mouth. “I’ve seen you in action. I’m not worried about my father while you’re around to protect him.” Mike grinned, recalling Amber’s fierce expression when she’d forbidden his uncle Thomas from going near Clara Deveaux.
Her eyes lit up. “I think that’s one of the nicest things you’ve ever said to me.”
“Well, you earned it.” Before he could get all emotional, Mike cleared his throat. “Now, remind me of the rules we set up for once I’m gone.”
Amber folded her arms across her chest. “I’ll be fine. I know not to talk to strangers,” she said wryly, meaning the press, if they somehow showed up here.
“Okay, then.” Mike glanced at his watch. “I need to go, so humor me and recite the rules.”
She rolled her eyes. “Lay low. Don’t go outside unless it’s absolutely necessary. If it becomes necessary, don’t go out without looking out the windows first and make sure nobody’s lurking or watching the house,” she said, mimicking the instructions he’d given her more than once last night.
“Good. And if the press does show up?”
“Call the local police and then call you. You’ll make sure the cops take me seriously.” She exhaled a frustrated breath at being treated like a child.
“I’m a cop. That’s my job.” He leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on her pouting lips before rising. “Be safe,” he told her.
She smiled. “You, too.”
He inclined his head. “I’ll call you,” he said and with a wave, he walked out the bedroom door.
AMBER REMAINED in bed long after Mike left with Jason.
I’m a cop. That’s my job, he’d said. The problem was, she wanted to be more to him than another person in need of protection. More than some poor woman he was helping so he could get her out of his life that much more quickly.
And despite how protective he was being now, she just couldn’t be sure his actions weren’t motivated by anything more than simply wanting to look after her. After all, she hadn’t missed the way he closed down whenever he remembered her Las Vegas past.
No matter how much she helped him or his family, she was beginning to doubt whether anything would be enough to overcome his feelings about her being a con and a cheat.
The rest of the day passed slowly, leaving Amber depressed, bored and feeling both useless and angry at herself for indulging in self-pity. She was a woman accustomed to being strong and working. A phone call to Paul earlier hadn’t helped her mood, either. He’d been forced to hire a part-time college student to replace Amber, something she understood, considering she’d left him in the lurch when she’d run from Vegas and King Bobby. And if that guilt wasn’t enough, Paul had reassured her that he’d been visiting her father daily in her place. She owed her friend more than she could ever repay.
She slept fitfully and when Monday morning dawned, the sky was as gray as Amber’s mood. She’d already cleaned and straightened as much of Edward’s house as he’d allow. Now she made herself busy wiping down the counters in the kitchen from the mess she’d created while making sandwiches for lunch. Amber stared out the window toward the lake, a place she’d come to love for its peace and serenity, elusive concepts where Edward Corwin was concerned.
Clara had shown up early this morning, refusing to leave at Edward’s demand. Instead, she’d followed him from chore to chore, telling him about her life over the past years. She’d left her only other employee tending the shop she loved, and she wanted Edward to help her look for new space for Crescent Moon. She said she planned to keep returning until Edward agreed.
“Good luck,” Amber said aloud.
But she admired Clara’s persistence in going after the man she wanted.
Unlike Amber, who was herself in limbo, unable to move forward the way she dreamed, or even live in the present with Mike. Until King Bobby’s threat was neutralized or one of Amber’s contacts called back with information on Marshall, she was stuck here.
Now a little stir-crazy, she was even tempted to help Clara find store space herself. According to the older woman, the press had invaded Stewart in search of Jason Corwin, disgraced Olympic hopeful, or looking for quotes from people in his family and his past. With so many strangers in town, she figured nobody would give her a second look.