Catastrophe Queen

“It’s good to see you, too, Mother,” I said dryly. My hand smoothed over the spot on my shirt she was staring at. “How are you?”

“As bored and as intolerant of fools as ever.”

“That explains why Dad isn’t here.” I bent and kissed her cheek.

Her lips curved to one side. “Don’t let him hear you say that. He’s at the cabin for a few days to make sure he’s got everything ready for hunting season.”

“Hunting season doesn’t start for another month.”

“So I keep telling him, and so he keeps ignoring.” She rolled her eyes and slipped her glasses on top of her head. “How is work?”

“Work is fine,” I said slowly. “Keeping busy, thanks to your long stream of clients you keep sending my way.”

She waved a hand, her perfect manicure flashing through the air. “People always need houses, darling. You just happen to be very good at making people buy the ones they don’t think they need, but actually do.”

“I don’t know. I’m not entirely sure Cynthia Carlton needs another house in the mountains.”

“Robert’s company had a breakthrough, and the value soared practically overnight. Doubled his wealth,” she mused. “And I’m sure they’ll sell the old one when she’s found a new one she likes.”

“Just like a pair of shoes.”

“Exactly. She’s frivolous. Goodness knows what she’d ever do if they lost all their money.” She shook her head. “Anyway, how is your new assistant? I had coffee with Anna yesterday, and she said Casey liked her a lot. And do sit down, Cameron—you’re making the place look untidy.”

I swallowed back a sigh and took a seat in one of the cream leather chairs. “She’s doing really well, actually. I was shocked at how competent she was given that I almost ran her over a few days ago.”

Mom choked on her coffee, almost spilling the hot liquid over her white pants. “You did what?”

“Well, it wasn’t me. Harold Bridgerton wanted to view a house and insisted on driving, and from what I understand, she stepped out into the road, and his driver slammed on the breaks.” I shrugged a shoulder and leaned back. “Total accident.”

“I don’t think having someone you almost ran over working for you is a good idea.”

“It’s fine, Mom. She doesn’t recognize me, and if she does, she hasn’t said anything. Besides, she’s good at what she does. She even handles Cynthia with ease.” I rested my foot on my knee. “It’s magical.”

Mom sniffed. “She hasn’t met her in person yet. You’ll see if she’s cut out for the job then.”

Dear God, the woman was hard to please.

I shook my head. “Was there a reason you called me today?”

“There’s always a reason, Cameron. Why else would anyone pick up the phone?”

“To talk?”

“And that is the reason,” she replied wryly. “But yes, there is a reason behind my call. Your grandfather wants to downsize, and he wants you to find him a new house.”

“Why can’t he call me himself?”

“You know what he’s like. Ever since he discovered that Chess website, that’s all he does.”

Ah. The Magnus Carlsen site where he can play people online. Yup. It was somewhat of an addiction.

“Anyway,” Mom said. “He’s getting a little old now, so he can only really have one floor. No stairs, a low-maintenance yard, and I’d like him to be a little closer to us so I can check on him more often.”

“Not a lot, then.”

“Don’t sass me, Cameron.”

I sighed. “Mom, why don’t you find him a place, and I’ll sort it out from there?”

“Because you’re the realtor, and I’m retired.” She sniffed, eyeing me. “Do you not want to help your grandfather?”

Dear God, the woman could get a murder confession out of the weapon if she really wanted to. “I didn’t say that. I just thought that since you knew better than I did what he should have…”

She raised one plucked eyebrow, the same shade of dark brown as her hair.

I knew that look.

That was the ‘Shut the Fuck Up, Cameron,’ look.

“Never mind,” I said, gripping the arms of the chair. “I’ll have Mallory search our listings tomorrow. I’m pretty sure one of the girls downstairs has a few properties in her books that will fit what Grandad needs.”

Mom nodded. “Stay for dinner.”

“I…”

She raised her eyebrow again.

I sighed inside. Yep. I should have known better than to try to leave. “Sure,” I said. “What’s for dinner?”

***

Mallory clicked her tongue as she looked at the computer screen. “Stupid thing. Stupid piece of—”

“Everything okay?” I asked, eying her from the door to my office.

She turned to me, her dark-blue eyes wide. “Oh, um, yeah.” Her cheeks flushed the way they did whenever I caught her unawares.

It was weirdly adorable.

“Computer giving you trouble?” I sipped my coffee, keeping my eyes trained on her.

She tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear, ducking her head and glancing at the screen. “A little. It keeps freezing, and I have a client asking about properties that I need to respond to.”