Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67711 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
I wanted reassurance that I wasn’t crazy to take Jay to meet my grandparents. If Eudora thought I was, she wouldn’t hesitate to tell me.
“I didn’t think we’d be seeing you tonight you,” Eudora said when she let me in.
I assumed Ben had filled her in on some of what was going on. “You know how much I hate to miss these gatherings.”
“I do, but I also know how much you like to avoid discussing your personal life.”
I sniffed. “There’s no reason to discuss my personal life. This is a knitting circle. We’re here to further our craft in each other’s company.”
“Such beautiful bullshit from your mouth. You will be staying afterwards, and you will be telling me everything.”
“Not quite everything.”
“So, you finally managed to seduce the gorgeous man?”
That seemed much too calm a word for what had happened between me and Jay. “Something like that.”
Ben smiled and called hello when I entered the room Eudora referred to as the parlor. I took a seat next to him and hoped he would be discreet enough not to discuss the situation with Jay while everyone else was there.
“Miles tells me you’ve had a rough day,” he said.
“That is quite an understatement. In fact, it was so rough I’m going to be taking some time off.”
Ben frowned. “He didn’t tell me that.”
“I’ll give you more details later, when I’m more certain about my plans.”
Ben nodded, and we began talking with everyone. We all shared what we were working on and projects we had in mind for later this year. Several of the members were already working on holiday gifts. I’d started a hat, telling myself it wasn’t for Jay, but knowing it was.
The conversation turned to books, then to food and new restaurants. It seemed like hardly any time had passed before the meeting was over, and most of the other members were rising to depart. I’d managed to finish the hat and even added a small J to the inside. I wasn’t sure when I’d give it to him, though, but I knew it would not be tonight.
Robert, an elderly gentleman who’d been friends with Eudora for ages, narrowed his eyes at me. “Something’s different about you today. You’re not usually this quiet.”
“It’s been a long week.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think that’s all of it.”
I glanced at Eudora, wondering if she had been spilling my secrets, but she shook her head.
“I’m just tired. How about you? How’s your week been?”
“The same as usual, golf, drinks, more golf, more knitting, people hounding me to attend their fundraisers.” He glanced at Eudora, and she grinned.
I cupped my hand over my mouth, pretending to speak in secret. “I wouldn’t say no to her if I were you.”
He smiled. “No, I know better than that.”
“Don’t play coy,” Eudora said. “You know you want to come.”
“Of course, dear.”
Eudora walked Robert to the door while Ben and I remained in the parlor. I poured myself a glass of port from the sideboard and offered one to Ben, but he declined. “Need to stay sober to interrogate me?”
He just smiled.
“Did Miles give you questions to ask me?”
“He tried, but I have questions of my own.”
“And you’re going to tell him everything you learn?”
Ben shrugged. “Let’s see how this goes. I might just sway it your way.”
Eudora returned then. She accepted a glass of port from me, and we all sat back down. “Spill it,” she ordered.
“Yes,” Ben said. “Tell us exactly how have things developed with Mr. Rollins?”
I frowned at Ben. “You looked him up, didn’t you?”
“I did, and the man is hot as hell.”
Eudora snorted. “That often means they are the worst sort.”
“What about Miles?” No one, gay or straight, could deny that Miles was hot as hell.
“Miles is an exception.”
I laughed. “To most things.”
“Miles, Carter, and Worth really don’t approve of Jay, and I understand why they’re so worried. They’ve seen me after I’ve been dumped before.”
“It’s not pretty,” Eudora said. “Not when you’ve let yourself really get involved.”
“I told myself I wasn’t going to pursue Jay, but we got thrown together with this lawsuit, and….”
“Miles said Jasper was trying to manipulate you, to pretend he liked you so you would go easy on him in court.”
“I think he was, but things have changed now that we’re in danger. Did Miles tell you he didn’t bother to let me know exactly how dangerous this case was, or that this wasn’t about Montgomery Enterprises but about protecting people from a criminal organization?”
Eudora’s eyes widened. “What?”
Ben’s lack of surprise confirmed my suspicion. “You knew?”
“I knew Miles was worrying over something, and I managed to get the basics out of him.”
I bet Ben had let Miles know how unacceptable that was, and he’d probably had to do a lot of groveling. Ben must have thoroughly enjoyed that.
“We’re going to stay at my grandparents’ estate.”