“I think that’s everything on the list.”
“I’d like to add two more sets. These are for my viewing pleasure.” Josh winked at the assistant, and she wagged her finger at him, but her eyes twinkled.
“Your fiancée is a fortunate lady. What did you have in mind?”
“I’ll take a set of the pale pink you showed me earlier and something in that ruby-red color. Perfect.”
Ashley had warned him of the expense, but the total had him blinking twice. Still, he handed over the money Ashley had given him plus his credit card to cover the rest. He couldn’t wait to see her in this lingerie, and after their earlier kiss, he thought they might both desire the same outcome.
“Thank you,” he said to the sales assistant. “You helped to make this visit stress-free for me.” He glanced at his watch. “I promised to meet my fiancée in two hours, so I’d better hustle.”
Josh stopped by their hotel to drop his shopping with the luggage they’d left for later collection and continued to the hotel where the Labor caucus was meeting. The session was still in progress when he arrived, and he retreated to the coffee shop to wait for a text from Ashley.
His phone rang as the waitress delivered his coffee.
“Hey, Louie,” he said. “What’s up?”
“I left Ashley’s place to meet Mac for lunch, and when I got back, I found a dressmaker’s dummy on the front lawn, by the mailbox. It’s dressed in lingerie. A red G-string and a bra that’s more thought than substance.”
“Crap. Is there any note attached or in the mailbox?” Josh asked.
“Just a sec.”
Josh heard a series of taps.
“There’s a plain envelope.”
“Open it,” Josh ordered.
“A single sheet of paper. The note sayshome wrecker. That’s all.”
“Crap. This person who is hassling Ashley is escalating. Can you snap a photo of the dummy and the note and send them to me?”
“Should I call the cops?”
“So far, they’re telling us they can’t do much. We need cameras. Physical proof of mischief. I’ve emailed Frog. I’ll question Ashley and ask if she knows what the note means. She’s not a woman who’d flirt or have an affair. She’s genuine. Sincere. She works hard and doesn’t have time to play.”
“There has to be something to drive the notes,” Louie said.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll send the photos through now. Let me know if I can help with anything else.”
“Thanks, Louie. Appreciate it.”
Josh busied himself with research and poking into Ashley’s background. Then Summer emailed him a copy of an article showing a picture of an eighteen-year-old Ashley. Josh fired off another email to Frog, asking for further details, other than what he’d already mentioned. Could this be the source of the danger after all? He’d ask Ashley, but he hated tears, and this might be a touchy subject. Was the public aware of this and how deep was the story buried? He sent Summer another email asking his sister’s opinion.
It was another two hours before Ashley sent him a text. Josh packed up and strode to meet his fiancée, his heart heavy at the discussion they needed to have soon.
When he arrived at the conference room, Ashley stood chatting to a group of older men and women. Each shook her hand, and there was an electric vibe, an air of excitement filling the air.
“We scheduled the press announcement for one.” An officious lady tapped her pen on her clipboard. “Do not be late.”
“I won’t,” Ashley promised with her trademark smile. She lifted her head and spotted him, her smile widening. “Josh.”
“What’s going on?” Josh asked.
“Geoffrey resigned,” Ashley said. “I’m his replacement.”
