“Of course we hadfun.”
“Aren’t you ready to have two weeks’ worth of fun in Mexico?!? Now get your ass home, grab your passport, and get the hell on a plane! We both know you’re going to miss thisone.”
She passed the last Spanish moss-covered oaks on the road and the bright floodlights surrounding Luis’s mansion came into view, highlighting a row of luxury cars and limos. Tomi let out a whistle. “Looks like I wasn’t invited to theparty.”
She could practically see Carrie’s ears standing to attention. “Party? At themansion?”
Tomi slowed to a crawl and took the curve, waving at two security guards posted at the bottom of the grand staircase. “Must be some kind of fundraiser for hischarity.”
Luis never hosted parties or balls or anything like that at home. He liked to keep his personal life very private, something she knew from experience since she’d been asked to sign about fifty thousand pages of nondisclosureagreements.
“Perfect. You still got that little black dress from Melissa’s weddingreception?”
“No.”
“Yes, you do. You never throw anything away. Now’s your chance, Tomi. You’re probably not going to find another flight until tomorrow morning, anyway, and I’ll bet that place is bleeding rich, handsomebachelors.”
The security guard didn’t wave back. He lifted his wrist to his mouth and said something she had no chance of hearing, but from the stonewall expression on his face, she knew she’d never be welcome at thegathering.
“Last call for flight 277 toCozumel.”
And there was the perfect opportunity to shut up her best friend before she started in again on Tomi’s woeful lack of male companionship. “Carrie, get your butt on that plane before you miss ittoo.”
“Fine, but you and I are not through with thisconversation.”
“Great. Can’twait.”
“You bet your ass youcan’t.”
Tomi chuckled, unable to hold on to her frustration any longer. “See you inMexico.”
“I’ll have a margarita waiting. Text me when you get your flightchanged.”
“Later, girl.” Tomi hung up and dropped her cell in her lap as she drove around the mansion to her little bungalow out back. It resembled a two-story Italian villa to her, but to a high roller like Luis, it was just the nanny’shouse.
She parked her Acura out front, grabbed her purse, and climbed out to the sound of a hauntingly beautiful classical song coming from themansion.
At least someone was having a good timetonight.
Her feet growing heavier with each step, she unlocked her front door and went inside her dark house. She’d turned off every light, even the lamps, before leaving this afternoon since she hadn’t intended on coming back for two weeks. Tiger, her cat, immediately let out a long purr and wound between her feet, forcing her to drop her purse by the door and scoop him into her arms. “Missme?”
He’d be the only one besides Rafael, who was now on his own flight to California to spend time with his grandmother. Dang, she was gonna miss that little bugger. Tomi squeezed Tiger in her arms, burying her face in his soft fur. The groundskeeper had agreed to feed him for her while she was gone onvacation.
The cat, who’d reached his limit for attention, wriggled out of her grip, and sauntered into the kitchen, his black tail held high in the air. Why couldn’t she just be like her cat and not actually want to be around otherpeople?
Maybe it would help her stop thinking about Cole every otherday…
Ugh, I really ampathetic.
She grabbed her phone and crossed her living room to the couch, falling back onto the soft cushions. Through the windows, she could see the lights from the mansion spilling out onto the manicured lawns in the backyard. A large circular fountain shot water in graceful arcs, surrounded by sweet-smelling gardenia-lined walkways. Luis highly valued beauty and order, a fact that was evidenced in every aspect of hishome.
Tomi unlocked her phone and dialed the airline, drifting off into daydreams about Mexico as she waited on hold for an hour. By the time she got off the phone, she’d lost hours and patience. The airline could only book her at 4:30 a.m., which meant she’d have barely any time to sleep before she needed to head back to theairport.
Even more deflated, Tomi grabbed a bottle of water from her refrigerator, clicked off her living room lights, and crossed to the entryway to put her passport in her purse. Thirty seconds later, she stood staring, open-mouthed, at the place her passport had been. Cowie stared back ather.
“Rafael!” Tomi yanked the stuffed cow off the table, already knowing her passport would be gone. She’d sworn to come home right after vacation, but he’d seemed terrified by theprospect.
He’d swiped her passport and left Cowieinstead.
