“Yes, Mrs.Justice.Of course.”
Casey hung up the phone then swiveled her chair until she was gazing out the office windows.Outside, sunshine beamed down on Ruban Crossing, sweltering the inhabitants with a humidity that left everyone limp and weary.A flock of seagulls swooped past her vision, then disappeared around the corner of the building.On their way to the river—on their way to someplace cool.
She told herself what she’d done was for the best, and that no matter what her investigator found out about Ryder, she would love him just the same.But in the following weeks since they’d first made love, she sensed he was holding something back and it made her nervous.What if the revelation of his secrets brought an end to their relationship?She closed her eyes and said a small, quiet prayer.That just couldn’t happen.She couldn’t give him up.Not when he’d become the most important thing in her life.
The intercom buzzed.She turned back to her desk.
“Yes?”
“Libertine Delacroix on line two for you.”
Casey picked up the phone.“Libby, it’s been a long time!”“Yes, darlin’, way too long,” Libertine said.“I would have called about this sooner, but I thought that with Delaney goin’ ‘an dyin’ on us like he did, and then you gettin’ married and all, well—I just thought I’d give everythin’ time to settle.”
Casey grinned.Libertine Delacroix’s southern drawl was too thick to be believed, especially when Casey knew for certain that Libertine had been born and raised in Utah.The only thing south about her upbringing had been the window over her bed.However, after marrying Winston Delacroix and moving to their family home outside of Jackson, Mississippi, Libertine’s speech had become as rich as southern fried chicken.
“How is that darlin’ husband of yours, anyway?”Libertine asked.
An image of Ryder’s face above hers as he slid into her body flashed through Casey’s mind.She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, suddenly weak with longing.
“Why, he’s just fine.Thank you for asking,” Casey said.
“Good.I’m havin’ a little party Saturday night.I want you two to come.You’ll be the guests of honor, of course.”
Casey opened her eyes and sat up straight.Libertine had never had alittleparty in her life.
“That sounds wonderful,” she said.“But what do you mean by little?”
“Oh, no more than forty or fifty.It’ll be fun!Come in costume of course, and be prepared to be showered with belated wedding gifts as well.”
Casey rolled her eyes.Good grief.A sit-down, costume party, wedding shower dinner?Only Libertine would attempt to pull off such a stunt.
“Thank you, Libby, Ryder and I will be looking forward to it.”
Libertine giggled.“I do declare.I hear he’s just the handsomest thing.Leave it up to you to pull the coup of the decade.I wouldn’t have had the nerve, you know—goin’ down in the Delta like that and callin’ Delaney’s bluff.Oh well, see you Saturday night, sugar.Eightish—costumes—prepare to have fun!”
Casey winced as Libertine disconnected.Lord have mercy!Costumes.She hadn’t been able to get him in a chauffeur’s uniform.What was he going to say about this?
* * *
A dragonfly darted past Casey’s nose as she leaned on the fender of the Lincoln, watching while Ryder poured oil into the engine.Still in her work clothes, she was careful not to get grime on her suit.It was an original and one of her favorites.
Ryder didn’t seem to have the same set of worries.He was minus a shirt, minus his hat, and as of moments ago when she’d unloaded the news about Libertine’s call, minus his good humor.
“So, you’re going to put me on parade.I was wondering when this might happen.”
Casey winced.“That’s not fair.I’m not the one hosting this party, therefore I am not the one putting you anywhere.Libertine Delacroix is famous for her parties.She was also one of my mother’s closest friends—at least.that’s what Tilly says.”
Ryder tossed the empty oil can into the trash and wiped his hands.“Step back,” he ordered, and slammed the hood shut with a resounding thump.
Casey followed him into the garage.“Her food is always fabulous.She has the best chef in the county, you know.”
“Can’t be better than Tilly’s,” he said shortly.
“They’re giving us a belated wedding shower.I didn’t know how to say no.”
Ryder turned, and there was a light in his eyes she recognized all too well.“Oh, I don’t know about that.You pretty much said a big loud no to the terms of your grandfather’s will.”
She glared.“That’s different.”
