people get married if they don’t even
like each other?” Sara slid open the door to Einstein’s room on her
way to Dagger’s desk. She eyed the stacks of money.
Dagger scooped up the money and banded the
stacks. “Sometimes people don’t show their true selves until after
they are married.”
“I think the lucky one is Mrs. Hardaway. Stu
Hardaway is a self-righteous, sexist pig.”
Dagger smiled. “Don’t hold back, Sara.”
“I don’t think I could stand living ten
minutes under the same roof with him. Especially those cigars.” She
shivered at the mention of the foul-smelling tobacco.
He handed her the bundles of cash. “Want to
do the honors and put these in the safe?”
“How much did we milk him for?” Sara asked as
she retreated to the vault.
“Thirty thousand.” Dagger smiled. Six months
before she would never have asked such a question. He had created a
monster. And Simon was right—he wouldn’t have it any other way.
CHAPTER 12
“PARTY TIME, PARTY TIME,” Einstein shrieked
as he flew from the tree to the birdbath. He pulled on a chain,
spraying himself with a shower of water. Turning around several
times, he flapped his wings and chattered incessantly.
“We won’t be long, Einstein. I promise.” Sara
filled two of Einstein’s food dishes with fresh vegetables. She
hung a braided rope filled with Brazil nuts from one of the tree
limbs and placed several interlocking toys on the floor. “That
should keep you busy while we’re gone.”
Dagger peered into the aviary and whistled,
admiring the aqua-colored, chiffon-tiered dress Sara wore. The
color matched her eyes. “Absolutely gorgeous.”
Einstein let out a shrill whistle. “GORGEOUS,
AWWWKK.” He flew to the tree and shook the water from his feathers.
Sara laughed and ran from the room, scolding Einstein for spraying
her dress.
Dagger slid the grated door shut and turned
the key in the padlock. “Behave yourself while we’re gone.”
“HELLO, HELLO, AWK. DAGGER INVESTIGATIONS.
YOU LOSE IT, WE’LL FIND IT. AWK.”
“Sorry, buddy. You won’t be able to answer
the phone from in there.” Dagger shook the door to make sure the
lock held. He slipped a black sportscoat on over his black dress
pants and black shirt. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of Nick
having his sights set on Sara. He felt like her protector. Sara’s
grandmother had been Sara’s confidante, her sounding board,
teacher. Since Ada’s death, Dagger was the only person Sara
trusted.
Dagger gave Sara a puzzled look.
Sara asked, “What?”
“I just wondered…have you ever dated?”
Sara dropped her gaze, fumbled with her
purse. “I think I left my comb upstairs.”
As he watched her climb the stairs, Dagger
whispered, “Oh my god.”
“Just remember,” Dagger warned Sara as they
entered the main dining room. “If he tries anything, you kick the
shit out of him.”
“Dagger, please!” Sara felt her face
flush.
“And don’t forget why we’re here.”
The main dining room was in a different wing
from the ballroom where they had mingled Friday night. The table,
covered with a festive cloth, was set for nine people, a bit more
intimate than the previous star-studded event. The table could
easily seat twice as many, but tonight the staff had provided
additional space between each seating. Sara was sure there must be
something in an etiquette book that dictated how to host a party
for fewer than eighteen people.
Fragrant, colorful floral arrangements graced
the table. Sara had no idea why each place setting needed so much
silverware. Friday night there had been a buffet and her napkin had
contained only the customary knife and fork. This was entirely
different. She had half-expected a barbecue with hamburgers and hot
dogs, not china in a rose pattern that matched the wallpaper, or
polished silver and crystal wineglasses.
Today there were no security people, no
valet, no metal detectors. And another thing Sara readily
noticed—it
like each other?” Sara slid open the door to Einstein’s room on her
way to Dagger’s desk. She eyed the stacks of money.
Dagger scooped up the money and banded the
stacks. “Sometimes people don’t show their true selves until after
they are married.”
“I think the lucky one is Mrs. Hardaway. Stu
Hardaway is a self-righteous, sexist pig.”
Dagger smiled. “Don’t hold back, Sara.”
“I don’t think I could stand living ten
minutes under the same roof with him. Especially those cigars.” She
shivered at the mention of the foul-smelling tobacco.
He handed her the bundles of cash. “Want to
do the honors and put these in the safe?”
“How much did we milk him for?” Sara asked as
she retreated to the vault.
“Thirty thousand.” Dagger smiled. Six months
before she would never have asked such a question. He had created a
monster. And Simon was right—he wouldn’t have it any other way.
CHAPTER 12
“PARTY TIME, PARTY TIME,” Einstein shrieked
as he flew from the tree to the birdbath. He pulled on a chain,
spraying himself with a shower of water. Turning around several
times, he flapped his wings and chattered incessantly.
“We won’t be long, Einstein. I promise.” Sara
filled two of Einstein’s food dishes with fresh vegetables. She
hung a braided rope filled with Brazil nuts from one of the tree
limbs and placed several interlocking toys on the floor. “That
should keep you busy while we’re gone.”
Dagger peered into the aviary and whistled,
admiring the aqua-colored, chiffon-tiered dress Sara wore. The
color matched her eyes. “Absolutely gorgeous.”
Einstein let out a shrill whistle. “GORGEOUS,
AWWWKK.” He flew to the tree and shook the water from his feathers.
Sara laughed and ran from the room, scolding Einstein for spraying
her dress.
Dagger slid the grated door shut and turned
the key in the padlock. “Behave yourself while we’re gone.”
“HELLO, HELLO, AWK. DAGGER INVESTIGATIONS.
YOU LOSE IT, WE’LL FIND IT. AWK.”
“Sorry, buddy. You won’t be able to answer
the phone from in there.” Dagger shook the door to make sure the
lock held. He slipped a black sportscoat on over his black dress
pants and black shirt. He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of Nick
having his sights set on Sara. He felt like her protector. Sara’s
grandmother had been Sara’s confidante, her sounding board,
teacher. Since Ada’s death, Dagger was the only person Sara
trusted.
Dagger gave Sara a puzzled look.
Sara asked, “What?”
“I just wondered…have you ever dated?”
Sara dropped her gaze, fumbled with her
purse. “I think I left my comb upstairs.”
As he watched her climb the stairs, Dagger
whispered, “Oh my god.”
“Just remember,” Dagger warned Sara as they
entered the main dining room. “If he tries anything, you kick the
shit out of him.”
“Dagger, please!” Sara felt her face
flush.
“And don’t forget why we’re here.”
The main dining room was in a different wing
from the ballroom where they had mingled Friday night. The table,
covered with a festive cloth, was set for nine people, a bit more
intimate than the previous star-studded event. The table could
easily seat twice as many, but tonight the staff had provided
additional space between each seating. Sara was sure there must be
something in an etiquette book that dictated how to host a party
for fewer than eighteen people.
Fragrant, colorful floral arrangements graced
the table. Sara had no idea why each place setting needed so much
silverware. Friday night there had been a buffet and her napkin had
contained only the customary knife and fork. This was entirely
different. She had half-expected a barbecue with hamburgers and hot
dogs, not china in a rose pattern that matched the wallpaper, or
polished silver and crystal wineglasses.
Today there were no security people, no
valet, no metal detectors. And another thing Sara readily
noticed—it
Similar Books
