Elizabeth C. Main - Jane Serrano 02 - No Rest for the Wicked by Elizabeth C. Main

Whenever she and her husband could find a babysitter for their four lively children, they also did some adventure travel of their own.
    Cheryl finished her transaction , pulled off the wire, and checked an entry in her tattered looseleaf binder with competent hands that didn’t appear to waste time on manicures. “ Hi, Jane. Glad to see you again so soon. How’s the new grandson? ”
    “ Just as cute as the other one, and a lot more cuddly at this stage. How do you keep track? ” I waved my hand at the general mess.
    Cheryl laughed and removed her reading glasses, letting them fall by their cord to her chest in a practiced move she likely repeated all day long. “ You get used to it. Besides, compared to keeping up with our brood, this is simple. ”
    “ I barely managed my three. ”
    “ Y ou did all right. You must have had something to do with all those awards they collected at school banquets over the years. And apparently you haven’t lost a step since they were small. So … too bad Nick got waylaid. ” Cheryl’s eyes were bright. “ You apparently left him with the impression I can do anything with a computer. ”
    “ You’ve certainly proved that over the years. Some of the deals you’ve found me? I was bragging on you just last week when Nick was looking at fly fishing books for Belize , but I didn’t know he’d been to see you . ”
    “ That’s what he told me this morning. A pparently , he didn’t get a chance to talk to you . This really is a surprise then? ”
    “ You could definitely say that. So, how about letting me in on it? ”
    “ Glad to. He was trying to plan a weekend trip that would appeal to you, but the whole idea seems to have flustered him. Kept rubbing the back of his neck, saying it was time for a haircut. A long time since Tim got that flustered planning something for me. ” Cheryl watched me the way a cat watches a mouse. “ Anyway, sounded like it was important to pick something you’d like, but he wanted me to tell him what I thought. Said he didn’t understand women. ”
    “ I can hardly wait to hear what you suggested. ” I tried for humor to disguise the sudden thumping of my heart. “ If Nick’s involved, fishing probably came up. ”
    “ Well, it involved water anyway. Knowing you , I said a weekend at the beach. Nice dinner somewhere, and maybe a play. Was I close? ”
    “ What did he say to that? ”
    Cheryl burst out laughing. “ Nothing about fishing, I assure you. His face looked just about as red as yours is right now. He said, ‘Well, if you think she’d like it.’ I gave him some brochures and he said he’d talk to you, but — ”
    “ Something unexpected came up. ”
    “ That’s what he said . Anyway, what do you think? Want to see the brochures? ” Cheryl handed me a rubber-banded stack and lowered her voice. “ Look, I don’t mean to embarrass you, but—to be blunt—he was asking about two rooms, so I don’t think you have to worry. I mean, if that’s what you’re wondering. ”
    “ I’ve got to go. ” I scrambled to my feet.
    Cheryl stood, too. “ Hope I didn’t overstep, but I thought you might want to know. ”
    “ Of course. Thanks. I’ll look at these. ”
    I smiled and waved the brochures to back up my words, nodded blindly to the young woman at the front desk, and pushed my way out the door. Though the sunshine outside was warm, it still felt cooler than my face. I took a couple of brisk steps away from the plate glass windows before sagging against the building. Putting hands to my overheated cheeks in an agony of embarrassment, I waited for my breathing to steady. Through my embarrassment came a warm glow of excitement, tinged with amusement. I’d known he had a determined streak, but imagining practical, down-to-earth Nick trying to plan a romantic weekend told me that he was even more determined than I’d realized. Our relationship was about to take a turn one way or the other. He’d just upped the ante