Down and Dead in Even: (A Quick-Read) (Down and Dead, Inc.) by Vicki Hinze

Author:Vicki Hinze [Hinze, Vicki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Magnolia Leaf Press
Published: 2014-06-11T00:00:00+00:00

FOUR

DRESSED IN CHRISTINE’S vibrant red dress rather than in her preferred muted tones, Caroline appeared in front of Magnolia Hills promptly at ten o’clock and waited for Nell beside a pristine white 1929 Duisenberg parked in the upscale restaurant’s expansive entrance. The goons had followed her, of course, but stood a respectable distance away, near a large bank of glass doors.

Nell arrived and amazingly, the elegant hostess escorted them right in and to a discreet table likely reserved for notable regulars. They took their seats.

“I’ll let Jackson know you’re here,” the hostess said, and then wended through the scattered white-clothed tables toward the kitchen.

Caroline placed her bag on the wooden floor at her feet, glancing appreciatively at the plantation-styled dining room. Three huge, live magnolias stood in its center. “Nell, before Jackson arrives, I need to tell you something.”

She settled in and then folded her hands atop the table and waited for Caroline to speak.

A man wearing crisp black-and-white served them water. “Your waiter will be with you in a moment.” He passed them menus.

“Thank you,” Caroline said to his retreating back.

“What is it?” Nell asked. “No more trouble with Martin, I hope.”

“No, Alex has a friend keeping tabs on him. I expect a text in a few minutes telling me he’s followed me here.” He stayed in Dallas, proving he believed she and her sister would be getting together for Christmas—which was exactly why they were not. Nothing else explained him choosing to show up now. The divorce had been final for nearly a month. “This is about me and Jackson. I’m going to talk to him as myself.”

Nell frowned. “Is that wise?”

“Don’t you trust him?” The smell of lemon wafted to her. And caramel.

“With my life,” Nell said, “or we wouldn’t be sitting here. But I’m not sure—”

“I am.” Caroline interrupted, then dropped her voice. “I can’t do what I’m thinking of doing here as my sister. That’s just not fair or right.” She splayed her linen napkin in her lap. “The divorce is final. I’ve done the work on myself. It’s time, and she needs her life back.”

“I get it. Death is final.” Nell nodded. “Okay. Okay, it makes sense.”

“Good.” Caroline had expected more objections from Nell and that she hadn’t gotten them showed that Nell too thought it was time for Caroline to take back the reins to her life.

A man Caroline’s age, wearing black slacks and a chef’s white jacket, joined them. “Hi, Nell.” He bent down and brushed his lips to her cheek.

Gorgeous guy. Blond, square but not stubborn jaw, and bright eyes, full of life. Instinctively, she sensed he wasn’t the kind of man you dared to cross and survived unscathed. “Hello,” Caroline said.

“Jackson Grant,” he said, offering his hand. “You must be . . . Nell’s friend.”

“Caroline,” she said, a bit surprised Nell hadn’t told him a name. She shouldn’t have been. Nell had given her space to get to the right place herself, but she’d prepared the way so that Caroline could.

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