“It’s right down this hallway,” Sophia said. “You won’t even believe it.”
Lucy hoped that Jason and his partner didn’t notice she was gone, but the opportunity to sneak out and see the new Family Room—and get away from all the attention of the party—was irresistible.
She noticed the plaque next to the door before Sophia switched the light on: The Chloe Blais Memorial Family Room. Sophia’s last name was Blais. Oh, Sophia, Lucy thought, and her heart sank. Some people worked at Second Chances because they knew it was a good cause, but some of them volunteered because of their own experiences. Usually the story had a happy ending. Usually.
Sophia said, “Isn’t it beautiful?” She’d turned on the light. The room was fantastic. The new paint was warm and welcoming, and the ugly florescent bulbs had been replaced with beautiful ceiling lights that looked like flowers. There were green chairs and couches that looked like someone could just sink into them. It was like a morning in the garden.
“It is,” Lucy said. “It’s so happy!”
“That’s what I said,” Sophia said. “It had to be happy.” It was funny seeing Sophia dressed up; Lucy was used to seeing her in jeans and flowered sweatshirts. Now she was in a purple dress and had a little sparkly fascinator in her gray hair. “We’ve heard a lot of good things about it. The families really like it.”
“I’m so glad,” she said.
“I knew you’d love it.” Sophia squeezed her arm. “Oh, it’s so nice to see you again. We never see you when school’s in!”
“It’s hard to find the time,” she said. “And this summer’s been really crazy.”
“Amy said you came into some kind of inheritance?”
“Our great-uncle died. We didn’t even really know him, but I guess we were the only family he had left. We’re hoping we can help out here a little more now. I…I think I want to keep working, but I think O’s going to quit so she can focus on school full-time.” Who knew what Frieda would do?
Maybe she’d start her own farm. Maybe not with any sheep, though. Frieda seemed to be done with sheep.
“Well, I guess I’m glad for you,” she said. “I’m glad you’re taking your time to figure it out.”
“Thanks,” Lucy said. There was a noise; someone coming down the stairs? It sounded like they were running. Sophia’s hand tightened on Lucy’s arm. They looked at each other. Upstairs would mean someone at the event, but you always wondered…would it be an angry husband? Someone with a gun? Sophia switched the light off. They both stood as still as they could in the dark, hoping it was a coincidence, hoping it was a friend.
“Lucy?” Jason’s voice called down the hallway. “Are you all right? It’s Jason Murphy, we met earlier?”
At least he didn’t call himself my bodyguard, she thought to herself. “What are you doing here?” she said, not bothering to hide the irritation in her voice.
“I…saw a light on,” he said carefully. “Wanted to make sure everything was all right.”
“Sophia just wanted to show me the family room,” she said. “It’s fine.” She wasn’t a child. This was ridiculous.
Sophia, oblivious to her annoyance, turned the light on. “This is the new room we’ve put in for family visits,” she said. “The Opera House said we could use it—we wanted to keep it away from the shelter, and it’s nice and quiet when there aren’t any performances coming. It’s close to the courthouse, but there isn’t the same high level of security. Come in, take a look.”
“Um, sure,” he said. He walked toward the door.
“So how do you know Lucy?”
“Um, I’m working with the family, about the…um, the inheritance.”
That was probably as good as she’d get from him. It’d be easier to be mad at him if he wasn’t so thoughtful. And handsome. The body under that suit looked like it was amazing.
“Well, this is one of the things the donations have been working toward,” Sophia said, unflappable as always. “Every dollar really does count.”
“It’s really beautiful,” he said. “Soothing, warm….”
“That’s exactly what we intend,” she said. “A place where you can talk with a lawyer, or a counselor, and have some privacy. It’s important to have somewhere that’s not at a home or apartment, where people can feel safe and talk comfortably. The Toy Loft donated the wooden toys, they’ll hold up and we don’t have to worry about germs.”
“That’s really smart,” he said. He actually seemed impressed with the room. “And you’re right, it’s good to have it somewhere neutral.”
“People will figure it out eventually,” she said, a little sadly. “They always do, but…it’ll still be a good place. And people don’t come in and out without grabbing someone else’s attention.”
He nodded. “It’s good thinking. Very nice to meet you, I didn’t catch your name?”
“Sophia,” she said, extending her hand. “Sophia Blais. I work on the crisis line when I’m not gladhanding at these soirees. I’ve known Lucy a long time.”
“Her dad said she’d volunteered for a long time,” he said, making eye contact as he shook hands. Maybe he wasn’t all bad. But Lucy still couldn’t believe he’d just run off after her, like she was a lost kitten and he was some kind of caretaker. She was a grown woman. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.
“Well,” Sophia said. “Let’s head back up. At some point they’re going to be passing around the canapes, and I want one of those scallops wrapped in bacon.”
“Sure,” Jason said. “After you ladies.”
They rode up the elevator, Jason making small talk with Sophia, who was clearly charmed by this tall, blue-eyed stranger. Lucy was left to sulk in the corner. She couldn’t make too many objections without revealing that Dad thought they were in danger, and she didn’t want Sophia to worry. At least it was only up two floors.
“Well, it was very nice to meet you, Mr. Anderson,” Sophia said, pressing his hand again. “I have to go check with Selene on the program.” She walked back into the ballroom, quickly, Lucy thought.
Was she leaving the two of them alone?
Oh, God, did she think they were on a date?
“I can’t believe you followed me down there,” she hissed at him.
“My job is to protect you,” he said, keeping his own voice low. There was an intensity to her that was going straight between her legs. “You disappeared. Anything could have happened?”
“How did you even find me?”
“I saw the light,” he said, “like I told you.”
“Look,” she said. “I don’t want to be followed around, all right?”
“I wouldn’t have had to follow you if you hadn’t disappeared.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t you—”
She stepped back. “I don’t anything. Dad hired you. Not me. And I’m—we’re—fine. We just went along with this to make him feel better. Just…eat some snacks. Have a bacon-wrapped scallop.”
“Look,” he said, looking back and forth between the party and the exit, “I understand you must feel weirded out by all this. But you have to let me do my job. That’s what I’m paid to do. Our reputations ride on this, every time we’re out, and Ian’s just started doing work in the East Coast. If you don’t want to be nice to me, that’s fine. But please—Ian’s not just my partner, he’s my best friend. I have to do right by him.”
It was a good speech, Lucy had to give him that. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll play nice.”
“I would appreciate it,” he said. “Very much.”
“I still don’t think we need any protection,” she muttered.
“I’ve heard that loud and clear,” he said.
“I’m sure you could take care of Ophelia,” she said. “In fact, I’m sure she’d be delighted.”
To her surprise, he snorted. “I’m sure she would. She offered to get me a plate earlier.”
That girl was shameless. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
All Lucy could do was shake her head. She could smell his cologne now. It was a nice smell. Spicy. It made her think of sitting by the fire, drinking coffee.
“She’s…kind of young for me, I think.”
“She’s only three years younger than I am.”
“Physically, maybe,” he said. “Your father said you teach?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ll start my third year in the fall.”
“You like kids?”
“Teenagers,” she said. “They’re old enough to know what they want. Even when it’s a bad idea, at least they know, you know? Little kids…they’re just all over the place.” She waved her hands around. “I mean, they’re fine, but I’ll stick to high school.”
“I worked a job with four kids once,” he said. “All of them under ten. Never again. I like kids but—not that many I don’t know at once.”
“What were you doing?” She couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to manage security for four little kids.
“Not dissimilar from the work these people do, actually,” he said, looking a little self-conscious. “The guy was a cop. Got…kind of awkward, but we got her out of the state, everyone safe.”
Why did she feel like he was hiding something?
“That’s good,” she said.
“Look,” he said. “I know we didn’t exactly meet in perfect circumstances, but you seem…you seem like someone I’d like to get to know better. Maybe when this is over and your dad’s feeling better, we could grab a drink or something?”
What, me? “You’re asking me out?”
“Your father said you didn’t have anyone special—”
“No,” she said. “It’s just…a lot of things have happened. The inheritance, this whole thing with the animals—I mean, I don’t think it’s anything serious, but it does feel kind of weird. I don’t know if dating anybody right now is such a good idea.”
“I get that,” he said. “And I don’t want to make you feel—”
“It’s flattering,” she said. “But like I said, there’s a lot going on right now.”
“Yeah,” he said. He seemed…genuinely disappointed. Had he really meant it? Lucy had figured he’d just thought she would be the mostly likely to bite, and he might get some free meals out of it. But maybe he really did think she was all right. He didn’t seem too impressed with Ophelia. She hadn’t exactly shown her best face tonight, at least around him.
He grinned at her, almost shyly. “We’d better check ‘em out.”
***