Chapter Nine
“This suite of rooms is yours for as long as you want it,” Jarrod said.
The suite was big enough to swallow her entire apartment times three. Somehow Jarrod had found out her decorating style and he’d had the rooms splashed out in bright reds and yellows with retro 1960s style artwork.
“And our room is right down the hallway,” he added, gesturing at an enormous set of oak double doors. It was a long, long hallway, but then everything about this place was oversized.
And he’d called it “our room”. She gave an unladylike snort, and he broke into a grin.
“What?” she demanded suspiciously.
“I’m glad you’re here. I’ve always loved your laugh. I missed it.”
“Don’t you dare make fun of me!” She glared at him.
“I’m not.” He looked puzzled. “You have a big, enthusiastic laugh. It’s contagious.”
“Oh,” she said, slightly mollified. “Everyone else makes fun of my laugh.”
“Everyone else is stupid.”
“Sometimes I think that.” She sighed. “So, if you want to go ahead and admit that you’re doing this just to get at your uncle, we could just get a cab to take me back home and call it a day.”
“I also love your sense of humor. Okay, so tonight we’re having dinner with the household staff. Pack tradition. You look adorable when you cross your eyes and stick your tongue out, by the way – that’s a good look for you. Oh, and the middle finger is a nice touch.”
“I seriously hate you right now.”
“I know.” Jarrod grinned. “That makes you even sexier. Hate sex is the best.”
“Then our sex is going to be the best in the history of the universe,” Mary snapped without thinking. “Wait. I mean…” Heat flooded her cheeks as Jarrod threw back his head and laughed.
“Finally, we’re getting somewhere!”
She tried to slap him, but he just captured her hand in his, kissed it, and released it. The brief brush of his lips on her hand made her whimper.
“Fuck. You,” she growled at him.
“Definitely. You know where our room is. By the way, I’ve got a deal for you. It’s an offer you can’t refuse.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to hear this one,” she said.
“Agree to have dinner with me tomorrow night at 6 p.m., and I’ll make sure that Angela’s interested in Craig.”
“That’s dangerously close to moonrise,” she said suspiciously. Moonrise started about fifty minutes later every day, cycling through the entire day throughout the year. From what she’d heard, she’d need to be at least a couple hundred feet away from him to be safe.
“Sure is.” He smiled.” How fast can you run?”
She considered it. She would love for Angela to date someone decent for once.
“Pretty fast, if it’s to get away from you,” she said huffily. “Fine, I’ll do it. If you can get Angela to date Craig.”
“Deal. And now—”
They were interrupted by the shrill ringing of her phone. She winced. It was Hilda’s ring.
“I hope you’re happy!” Hilda yelled at her when she answered. “You ruined everything for me! Did you know Regina’s disappeared and nobody can find her? I should have known better than to trust you to do even the simplest thing!”
Mary tried to interrupt as Hilda ranted, feeling her stomach churning with dismay.
