“Markus,” she said with a big smile that belied the fact thatshe’d just kicked her ex out the front door, “what are you doing here?”
He glanced toward the front door where Phil had just left. “He seems… nice.”
“I know, right?”
“Does he stop by all the time?”
“I asked for his help because of work this week, and he’s taken it as an invitation to come back whenever. Working outside the house has added some… complications I didn’t foresee.”
“Gabby!” Granny came around the corner, her eyes only for Markus. “You didn’t tell me you were havinga manover.”
Markus held out his hand. “I’m Markus,” he said. “Sorry to interrupt your evening.” When Gabby gasped, he said. “My real name is fine, especially with your granny.”
“Oh, I was just about to tuck in for the night.” Granny smiled and yelled, “BURT!” at top volume. “It’s time for bed.”
Burt startled and let out a loud snort. “What?”
“We’re going to bed.”
Markus hid a laugh.
After Burt managed to haul himself out of the La-Z-Boy—it took a couple of tries—he headed to the kitchen despite Granny’s efforts to steer him to the bedroom. He gave Markus a man-to-man look. “You here for Gabby?”
Markus nodded.
Burt took a pill and said, “Take your vitamins. These girls are redheads, if you know what I mean.”
Granny fluffed her glossy head of freshly dyed curls. On closer inspection, it might even be a wig. But being a redhead was more about identity than genetics. What wasn’t these days?
“Markus and I work together,” Gabby said, stressing the word “work.”
Granny nodded. “Uh-huh. I’m so proud of you, Gabs. A new job.” She stage-whispered, “Andtwomen!” Just in case Gabby hadn’t heard her, she held up two fingers.
Markus cleared his throat. “Um. She’s doing a great job at work,” he said in a diplomatic tone of voice.
“She got it from her grandma.”
Gabby topped off her wine and slid a glass across the counter toward Markus.
“Burt, get to the bedroom. Let’s leave these two to…” She winked dramatically. “Have fun, kids. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Gabby covered her face and groaned. It was all too much.
As Granny tottered off, she said, “I need to catch up onNovaya Bitva Ekstrasensov.”
Markus came to attention at the sound of Russian. “I watch that too!” Markus said, “What do you think of Natalya?”
Granny gave him a sly look. “Ty govorish’ po-russki?”
“Ne ochen’ khorosho,” he answered smoothly.
Granny harrumphed and looked between the two of them.
“What did you two say?” Gabby asked.
“Not much. She just asked if I could speak Russian.” He looked at her more closely. “You didn’t tell me your grandmother was Russian. Do you speak?”
Gabby shrugged. “I wish I had learned something. This is probably the most time I’ve ever spent with her.”
