“Speaking of Lila, who is this woman?” Millie asked.
Her aunt checked her cell phone. “She’s a person who needed a place to stay. Where’s Scott, anyway?”
“He’s waiting in the vehicle with Roscoe.”
Her great-aunt clapped her hands. “A dog’s the first step in planting roots, you know.”
Millie leaned over and kissed her great-aunt’s papery cheek, happy to see the sparkle back in her eyes. “So they say. I have to go, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Let’s talk about Scott.”
Heat climbed up Millie’s face. “Aunt Mae,” she protested.
“That man has some very fine shoulders.”
“Yes. He really does.” Plus he was smart and apparently dangerous, as well as having chiseled features and rock-hard abs. “We’re too different, Aunt Mae. He’s not just a lawyer but one of the best, and I’m sure he has all sorts of ambitions and wants a wife who hosts garden parties or something.”
“Garden parties?” Her great-aunt snorted. “Seriously? If he’s smart, as you say, he wants a brilliant and charming woman who could make a house blow up by rigging a toaster with a mousetrap.”
Millie winced. “That was an accident, and I didn’t blow up the house. I merely started a fire in the kitchen.”
“A big fire,” Mae retorted.
“Sorry about that.” Millie fought the giggle that wanted to get loose.
Aunt Mae smiled again. “Life should be full of adventure, and that man is smart enough to know it. I saw the way you looked at him.”
If her great-aunt had any idea of what she’d actually done with him, she’d be relentless. “I love your romantic heart.”
“I want great-grandnieces or even nephews.”
“What about you and the chief?”
Mae blinked. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Uh huh.”
Valerie walked in just then. “Here you go, Mae. Sorry it took so long.” She handed over a paper bag.
Mae stood. “Thanks, Valerie.”
Val nodded. “You also have to manage stress better, Mae. We all need you around here.”
Millie ought to help out more at home. She thought about how she could rearrange her schedule as Verna emerged from the bathroom, looking refreshed with pink lipstick. “Hey, I’m glad you’re still here,” Millie said. “I have a couple more questions.”
“I want to help,” Verna said, her eyes a mellow green.
“Have you thought any more about when you saw me leave with Clay?” Millie kept getting a headache any time she tried to force memories into the black hole of that night.
Verna placed a hand on her protruding belly. “Not really. Why?”
“It just doesn’t make any sense. I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself.” Millie gulped. “Was I talking to Clay when you saw us?”
Verna frowned as if trying to remember. “I didn’t really see your face. I just saw you get in his truck and scoot over. Then he got in after you.” She shook her head. “You didn’t seem like you didn’t want to go, but no, I didn’t see you talking. Oh man, Millie, I wish I’d stopped you or run after you or something, but I just figured you knew what you were doing.”
“I know.” Millie reached out and touched her arm. “I’m not mad at you. I’m just trying to remember. How did Clay seem?”
“He seemed fine. He shut the door and drove away. You don’t think he was the one who drugged you, do you?” Verna asked, her voice hushed.
