“Thanks.”
While Roxanna changed, Mae spoke through the curtain. “I kinda wish I could go, now.”
“You’re not coming?”
“Ian and I are trick-or-treating earlier with Honor, her sister, and her twin nieces, but then Ian and I have a tradition of sorting through all his candy and watching a scary movie. I can’t break that.”
“It sounds like fun.” Though it made her feel a bit lonely. Mae had her son. Honor had Asher. She was still alone.
“I wouldn’t miss it, but I’d still love to see you at the party. If your loyal and true love is there, he won’t be able to take his eyes off you. Add in the mystery of your mask and it could be a romantic evening.”
He wouldn’t be there, and yet she couldn’t deny her pulse sped up at the thought of seeing Loyal again.
Until her stomach knotted.
She ignored the guilt—or tried to.
She’d had to feed him that lie, even if it went against the very fiber of her being. She couldn’t waste her life any longer pining for someone who didn’t like or respect her and her work. Since she couldn’t avoid him completely, she needed to make sure he didn’t think he had one over on her because she was head over heels in love with him.
Head over heels?
Oh no. She was attracted to him, and she could admit—to herself—she wanted to run her hands all over his firm, sexy muscles, but love?
No.
Which was precisely why she had to find someone else to lust after, so she could move on.
Late Saturday morning, Roxanna finally pulled the missing check from her file cabinet with a shout of triumph for Darcy in the front.
“You found it?”
“Yes.” She carried it out to the register. “Take a look at the name. Does it ring a bell? I can’t find any paperwork to go with it. Did Tessa say anything about booking a weekend seminar?”
Darcy’s twin blond pigtails to go with her cheerleader costume swayed back and forth as she shook her head. “Not that I can remember, but doesn’t mean she didn’t.”
Three months pregnant Tessa forgetting to add a weekend to the calendar was the only logical explanation. “Let’s check with her when she gets here,” Roxanna said as her phone buzzed in her skirt pocket.
She pulled it out to answer as she set the check on the counter. Her pulse skipped when the caller identified himself from the police department and let her know her apartment had been cleared for her to sort through her belongings—or what was left of them.
“I would suggest you bring a couple of boxes to put things in, and be sure to wear old clothes. You’re going to get very dirty.”
Old clothes. It was a good tip, if not for the fact all she had was new clothes because everything else she owned had been burned in the fire. But, of course, the officer was only trying to
be helpful.
“Thank you for letting me know.” She stared at the screen after she hung up, a little surge of hope lighting in her chest even as she tried to caution herself there was probably nothing left.
“Everything okay?” Darcy asked with concern.
“Yeah…that was the police. I can go into my apartment.”
“Oh, good. You should go now. I’ll be fine here until Tessa comes in.”
“Are you sure? It gets really busy with the trick-or-treaters in the afternoon.”
“One hundred percent sure. Tessa and I can handle it. Go.”
“All right. Thanks.” She turned to leave, then turned back. “About the check.”