“I seriously doubt that,” she grumbled then glanced at her cell. “Max is here.”
“Okay. I’ll see you bright and early in the morning.”
“You’re still staying with me next week, right?” she asked as we walked out.
“Yes, sis.” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know why you’re working yourself into an ulcer. The only thing that will change is your last name, and you’ll have that man shackled to your side forever.”
She laughed. “I quite like the thought, though Max thinks it’s the other way around.”
I shook my head. It eased my heart to see her so happy.
As we stepped out of Moretti’s and onto the street, the dry noon heat enfolded me, burning my nose. Ugh. I grimaced, rubbing my palms down my navy capri pants.
“You sure we can’t drop you off at Jack’s office?” Ila asked, opening the Range Rover door.
I was having dinner with Jack later since it was my last night with him before we headed for Vegas in the morning. Then I would stay with Ila until the wedding. Jack had sighed and relented, knowing how close Ila and I were.
“Nah, I’m good. I’ll get Lyft and meet him there. Hey, Maximus.” I angled my head so I could see him and grinned.
Max shook his blond head. Yup, still hated the nickname I’d tagged him with. “Ray.”
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I said to Ila, shutting the door.
As Max eased the SUV into the congested traffic, I reached for my cell in my pocket.
“Ms. Logan.”
At the cool, modulated tone, I bit off a groan. There was always a chance that our paths would cross when lunching at these places with my sister, but I wasn’t one to avoid a confrontation. I mean, why else wouldsheseek me out?
Keeping my expression neutral, I faced the woman who tormented the man I loved, a cloud of expensive, spicy perfume surrounding me. “Mrs. Blackstone.”
The noon sun gleamed off her straight, silvery bobbed hair. Her angular features appeared as if molded in ice. “Join me.”
Whoa. Was the shark inviting little minnow me for a meal? Or tobethe meal?
“I just had lunch with my sister, but thanks for the offer.”
“Then keep me company until my guest arrives.”
Oh, boy, here we go again. Okay, a little more cordial, but still an order. Was she going to take direct jabs at me now?
Still, she was Jack’s grandmother. While Jack riled her, he was never rude or disrespectful—dammit, Jack. The things I did for him.
“All right.” I followed her tall, elegant figure, clad in a mint-green dress suit, back into the restaurant, making a mental note never to revisit this place. North Beach was far better. I liked it there. No sharks.
We approached a quieter place at the rear. She probably had this spot cordoned off for her royal visits…or for the slaying of her underlings.
She waved off the waiter when he approached. Ooo-kay then, no refreshments, a direct attack. She looked down her narrow nose at me even though we were both seated. “I’ll get down to what I want to say. Jack.”
I remained silent and waited. Like I was going to feed her anything to use against us.
She eyed me with a cool smile on those thin, pink-painted lips. Then she opened her small designer purse, withdrew a white envelope, and set it in front of me. “Half a million dollars. It’s yours, if you walk away.”
Cold anger stole through me. “Is this what you did to Grant Griffin? Bought off Alicia so he could marry your daughter?”
The smile vanished, and her features became molded in steel. “He could do far better thanher. She needed the money, being deep in debt. It works both ways, Ms. Logan.”
I didn’t believe her crap for a minute.
