Darkly (Follow Me 4)

To Kay Brown, “of course” apparently means “not until I ask you myriad questions.” I’ll throw her a bone.

“We only met about a week ago,” I say.

“And your date at the gala?”

“We didn’t arrive together. Ms. Manning and I saw each other at the gala and talked a bit.”

Skye’s audible gulp doesn’t escape my notice. Is she upset at my response?

Kay turns to Skye. “Your lunch date, Ms. Manning, is with Mr. Black?”

“No, it’s—”

“Yes, it is,” I say, taking advantage of the situation to get Skye out of there. “Are you ready, Skye?”

She clears her throat. “Yeah, I’m ready. I need to lock up.”

“Of course.” Kay walks out the door and then turns and looks over her shoulder. “I’ll be in touch. With both of you.” And then she’s gone.

“Thanks for the save,” Skye says. “I thought she was here to see Addie.”

“I figured she’d bother you this morning after she called my office and mentioned you by name.”

“You came here to warn me?”

“In part.”

“In part?”

“Yeah. I thought you might be up for an early lunch.”

“Sorry. I’m meeting Tessa in an hour.”

I narrow my eyes and burn her with my gaze. “Cancel.” The word comes out on a low growl.

She grasps the edge of the desk. “I can’t. Tess and I always have lunch on Mondays.”

Her phone buzzes. “Excuse me for a minute,” she says to me. “Hey, Tess.”

Pause.

“Oh?” Skye’s eyes widen.

Pause.

She clears her throat. “He said he’d replace it.”

Pause.

“Hold on a minute.” She mutes the phone and turns to me. “She got the dress.”

“Good.”

“She says it’s perfect. Did you get it repaired?”

“It was beyond repair, as you know.”

“Then how did you…?”