The weird tone in his voice made my stomach do a tiny somersault. Suspicion crept into my gut and I shifted forward abit more. “Why do you keep talking about Will if you know that I’mJesse’sfiancé?”
He hesitated. “I suppose it’s just that I’ve known Will for longer. I’ve been driving him for years. He’s loyal, you see? He and I got along well on the first trip he took with me and he’s been hiring me ever since.”
I took a moment to process that. “That’s interesting. The Will you’re talking about sounds an awful lot like the Jesse I know.”
Arnold cleared his throat politely. “Well, they are twins, after all. It makes sense that there would be some overlap.”
“Of course.” Except the way Jesse had told it, it hadn’t sounded like there were many similarities between him and his twin at all. “I’m simply curious. There are so many Westwoods to get to know.”
He finally chuckled again. “There sure are. They’re a great family, though. You’re lucky to be becoming a part of it.”
I inclined my chin in a nod, my gaze flicking back to the window. Chicago passed us by, but in the back of my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Arnold had kept talking about Will and about how much the Will he knew sounded like my Jesse.
Eventually, I leaned forward again. “Arnold?”
“Yes, Miss?”
“Will you tell me more about Will?” I asked, determined to learn everything there was to know because right now it felt like I was missing something. I just wasn’t sure yet precisely what it was.
Three hours later, however, that was the furthest thing from my mind. I’d learned that Jesse, Will, Charlotte, Arnold,andhis wife had all been right.
If there was a heaven, I was now convinced it was a day spa. After Arnold had dropped me off right in front of the entrance, I’d given the kind woman at reception my name and she’d ledme to the most beautiful dressing room I’d ever seen, leaving me to change into a robe softer than any textile I’d previously encountered.
I’d had a massage, during which the therapist had found muscles in my back I hadn’t known existed. Then she’d negotiated their release like a highly trained diplomat. The facial had made me briefly consider never leaving the building again, and I’d nearly cried while reclining on a heated chair, sipping cucumber water under a blanket.
When it was finally over, I felt like a whole new person. Someone so relaxed that I might willingly forgive several of humanity’s worst offenses.
Arnold was leaning against the side of the car when I came out, and he grinned when he saw me. “Did you enjoy the spa, Miss Roderick?”
“Very much,” I said honestly. “In fact, I’ve decided that I would like to live there permanently.”
He chuckled and pushed away from the car to open the door for me. “If they’re taking applications, I’d like to put my name on the list as well.”
“We should ask.” I smiled as I slid into the seat. “Perhaps we could start a movement.”
Arnold nodded enthusiastically, shutting the door once I was in and walking around the car to the driver’s seat. Once we were on the road again, he glanced at me in the mirror. “Where would you like to go next?”
“Next?” I asked. “Well, I don’t know. I’m not sure.”
“Mr. Westwood gave me strict instructions to take you wherever you want.”
“Jesse?”
Arnold nodded politely. “Sure.”
I frowned at the back of his head. It hadn’t sounded like he’d believed that for even a second, but before I could interrogate him further, he glanced back at me. “So, where to?”
As I thought about it, I realized I truly had absolutely no idea. Shopping sounded exhausting. Visiting tourist attractions sounded worse, but then I remembered something important.
“I need a kettle,” I said. “Could you take me someplace where I could find a real kettle and some good tea?”
Arnold blinked a few times. “A real kettle and good tea?”
“Yes. I would truly appreciate if we could find those things today.”
Finally, he nodded like he got this kind of request all the time, even though he’d sounded stupefied a moment ago. “I know just the place.”
After several hours of Arnold driving me around the city to various locations, I returned to the townhouse armed with my purchases. I hadn’t bought much, but I’d been focused on quality over quantity.
