A Date on Cloud Nine

by Jenna McKnight

  “Nuh-uh, you’ve been giving away millions, I don’t buy that.”

  After a deep sigh, she chose her words with care. “Remember me telling you about John and Elizabeth?”

  He groaned. “Not angels again.”

  “Well, I’m not sure if they’re angels, exactly. But anyway, they gave me this bracelet, and when I even think of giving money to anyone who doesn’t need it—from a charity standpoint, mind you—it zaps me.”

  He stared at her until someone honked, then he eased forward again. “You’re telling me that you think it’s coming from the bracelet?” And she was still wearing it? “Maybe it’s not angels, you ever think of that? Maybe it’s something totally explainable like, say, a static charger?”

  “Mm, I wish.”

  “Then all you have to do is take it off.”

  She tried to hide another jolt, but he could tell from the tiny squeak that escaped her lips that she’d just gotten another shock.

  “There, see, no mention of money, and you got zapped again, didn’t you? I rest my case.”

  “Elizabeth warned me not to take it off.”

  “Right. I can see I’m going to have to test it to prove my point.”

  She snickered.

  “What? Afraid to let me put a meter on it and prove there’s no current in that thing?”

  “Not if, when I think about giving money away and your meter registers a charge, you admit I’m right.”

  “We’ll do it as soon as we get home.”

  They were about five minutes away. This was too easy; he should’ve asked for her to see a doctor and the next pan of fudge to himself.

  “What’s with the streetlights?” she asked on the final block, a dead-end street.

  “The neighbors don’t like them on all night, so they just come on when a car drives by.”

  She twisted around and looked out the back. “They turn off right away?”

  “As long as it’s one of us. If it’s a stranger’s car, they stay on about ten minutes.”

  “You have every neighbor’s car programmed?”

  “It’s just a little—Hey, who drives a Jaguar?”

  Lilly grimaced as Jake pulled into his driveway. “Oh my gosh, I forgot. I told Andrew he could pick me up at five. Guess he’s been here longer than ten minutes, huh?”

  If he nodded at all, it was tersely, because after Friday night, Jake wasn’t feeling too tolerant about Andrew’s intentions. No way that guy thought of himself as Lilly’s brother-in-law. A bottle of champagne to celebrate an intrafamily sale? Get real.

  “Donna’s attorney drew up a contract on the house. I’m supposed to go over there and sign off.”

  “I would’ve driven you.”

  “Be glad for the break. Have some wine, some dinner, wind down. I’ll be back later. You want me to pick up a movie?”

  “No need, I can get any movie anyone’s broadcasting.” Then when they were both standing in the cold, he caught her attention across the roof of the taxi. “You sure you want to go with him? I mean, you were pretty mad this morning.”

  “I know.” She fairly danced with glee. “He’s going to be so pissed off next time he talks to my broker.”

  “So should you be going with him?”

  “Relax, he’s my brother-in-law, not some psychopath. Look,” she said with obvious reluctance. “I have to go now. Donna’s expecting me.”

  The streetlight stayed on as Andrew pulled the low-slung, dark Jag into the drive to pick her up. Inside, Lilly held her hand up in a resigned wave, then she was gone.

  Jake had been coming home alone to this house for months. It had never felt so lonely as it did now without Lilly.

  “Lilly dear, it’s so good to see you.”

  Donna was only slightly taller than Lilly, but seemed more so due to the unnaturally erect way she carried herself. Lucky for her, she looked good in black, because that’s all she’d worn since shortly after Brady’s death.

  She hugged Lilly on the wide threshold of the Marquette mansion, then ushered her into the broad, marble-floored foyer. Two years ago, Lilly had raided her own atrium and given Donna and Frank the huge potted palms that now graced the entry and stretched up to the second floor.

  “Sorry we’re late,” Andrew said.

  “I never count on anyone being on time during rush hour.” Donna was always gracious. “Here, I’ll take your coats. Oh, Lilly dear, are you losing weight? You’re so thin. Now I’m not criticizing, dear, I’m just concerned, you know that, don’t you? You really should move in here with Frank and me. We’d love to have you, and Antoine always complains that his talents are wasted cooking for just the two of us.”

  Her chef prepared meals to die for. In spite of that, Donna maintained a lovely figure, highlighted tonight in a silk pantsuit and pearls. This was a woman who spared no expense in keeping herself up. When she’d thought she detected the beginnings of a dowager’s hump—Lilly rolled her eyes just remembering the crisis—she quickly hired a personal trainer who came in three times a week. Now she wasn’t only ramrod straight, she was strong, too.

  “Why, he’d have the weight back on you in no time.”

  “That’s sweet of you,” Lilly demurred, “especially since I’ve gained five pounds recently.” Between the fudge and brownies and fast food, she was lucky it was only five.

  She liked Donna, she really did. She’d visit more often if her mother-in-law would quit her constant harping about how it “wasn’t safe for an attractive, single woman to spend every night alone in that big old house.”

  Get over it.

  “Well, you’d never guess you put on so much as an ounce, would you, Andrew?”

  “Lilly looks just fine to me, Mother. Wonderful, in fact.”

  “Yes, she does. Maybe red has a slimming effect on some people. Come in by the fire, you two, and warm up. I have drinks waiting.”

  Donna passed their coats to the maid, then led the way to the study, where she handed Lilly a glass of white wine and had one herself. Andrew poured his usual Scotch, neat.

  Lilly relaxed in the chair closest to the hearth and wondered why she hadn’t been spoiling herself with fires lately. Since she’d met John and Elizabeth, chocolate tasted richer, wine was like nectar, Jake’s touch promised all the passion she could ever hope for, and all together, that made her wonder how much better a darkened room with a crackling fire could be than before. Would it somehow seem warmer, more romantic? Ooh, yeah, she had to get Jake in front of a fire some night.

  Donna perched on the chair across from her, while Andrew seemed comfortable on his feet.

  “So Lilly, dear, tell me what you’ve been doing to keep yourself busy lately. I’ve had so many calls about your philanthropic activity. Lord knows, Brady had a kind heart, but he never would have done what you’re doing. Whatever made you decide to start taking all these charities under your wing?”

  Speaking of wing…

  Lilly was pretty sure Donna would have her committed if her explanation contained any part of a trip to heaven and a bargain with angels, so she shuddered dramatically and said, “I made a promise that if I lived through that explosion, I’d help others. But that’s not the only reason. I really feel that I’ve had so much in my life, it’s the right thing to do, sharing, you know, with people who need it.” Better head Donna off at the pass, so she threw in, “I’m very careful about not donating to questionable organizations.”

  “I see. I’d like you to consider investing in the business.” Meaning Marquette pockets.

  “Andrew mentioned something about that. I’m considering it.” At her mother-in-law’s steely look, Lilly softened the blow with another lie. “It’s a very generous offer. I’m not saying I won’t eventually.”

  “I see.”

  Better change the subject. “Is Frank here?”

  “No, dear, something came up at the office, and he won’t be able to join us. Andrew tells me that Jake fellow invited you to move in with him, now that I’
ve agreed to buy the house?”

  Lilly didn’t like the way Donna said “that Jake fellow,” as if his and Brady’s fifteen-year friendship meant nothing; but since she wasn’t here for an argument, she let it slide and pulled her pen from her purse.

  “Speaking of which, how about we get the formalities out of the way so we can enjoy the evening?”

  Donna smiled broadly. “I think that’s a splendid idea.” She slipped on a pair of half glasses and started to sign the contract lying on the small table by her chair, until Drew leaned over her shoulder.

  “I’m sure that should be notarized, Mother.”

  Not to mention read by me, Lilly thought.

  “Oh you know, you’re absolutely right.” Donna patted her motionless hair and gave the matter some thought. “Frank sent his secretary by to pick something up a little while ago. She’s a notary, and I believe she’s still up in my office. We’ll just run these up there and have her do it. Come along, Lilly.”

  Reluctant to leave the fire, Lilly opened her mouth to demur, but then Andrew shot her a Let’s not upset Mother because we both have to have dinner with her yet look. In complete agreement, she set her glass on the delicate side table and followed in Donna’s wake.

  “Thank you,” Andrew whispered, falling in step beside her.

  Lilly tripped over nothing and leaned on him, surprised to find herself woozy.

  “I’ll make an excuse right after dinner,” he said, “so you won’t get trapped here all evening.”

  “We’d better eat soon. I think the wine’s going to my head.”

  “You all right? Lilly?”

  She thought Donna said, “Uh-oh, I must have given her too much,” but she’d only had half a glass, maybe less.

  Andrew seemed concerned, though. “What?”

  “She looks awful. Quick, put her in there before the secretary sees her.”

  “I’ll be okay, really—Hey!”

  At the top of the stairs, Andrew grabbed Lilly by the arm and shoved her through the first open door. It slammed behind her. And locked.

  Startled, it took Lilly a moment to realize Andrew wasn’t teasing, wasn’t standing on the other side of the door cracking a joke, wasn’t opening the door and explaining that he’d thrown her in here for her own good because of something weird and totally unexpected, like the ceiling in the hallway was caving in and he didn’t want her to get crushed.

  “Drew?” No reply. “Andrew! This isn’t funny!”

  She rattled the knob and shook the door, and when that accomplished nothing, she kicked it. Unfortunately, with all the heightened senses she had since coming back, pain wasn’t excluded, and her toes throbbed so badly that it was hard to stay on her feet.

  “Donna!”

  “Hush, I’m afraid I’m going to need a little more of your time, dear. Drew, go show the secretary the back way out, will you?”

  “Let me out of here!”

  “Now, dear, you’ve been spending money very foolishly.” Donna maintained a calm tone even as Lilly assaulted the door again, though this time with the flat side of her fists. “Your broker says you emptied your accounts today.”

  Lilly screeched and screamed and pounded and kicked. Antoine would hear her. The maid would hear her. The secretary would hear her.

  “And you’ve been spending far too much time with that pervert.” Donna’s prim voice was only slightly muffled by the door. “The last woman who got involved with him died, did you know that? Oh, he made it look good— the police never even questioned him—but where do you think he got the money to go into business with Brady? You’re a Marquette, Lilly. You have to think of your reputation. You have to look out for gold diggers.”

  What was she thinking? If the cook, maid or anyone else was still in this house, it’d only be out of true loyalty. In which case, she was screwed.

  Wait—What had Donna said about Jake?

  “I’ve been trying to convince you any way I could to move in with Frank and me. I called you every week so you’d understand how vulnerable you are, but you’re just so darned stubborn.”

  Suddenly understanding the late-night phone calls, Lilly backed away from the door.

  What would Donna and Andrew tell Jake when she didn’t go home tonight? Would they make up some story about how she didn’t want to see him anymore?

  God, Jake, don’t believe them.

  Lilly quickly found herself sitting in the middle of the carpet, and not very straight either. She didn’t remember sitting down.

  What the heck?

  Her head felt very heavy, and it was hard to focus with the walls swimming in circles.

  Was this it? The end?

  Before she could appeal to Elizabeth for more time, the room turned black.

  13

  Jake didn’t take Lilly’s advice; he skipped the wine. He wanted to keep a clear head so that if Andrew was too tired to bring Lilly home, he could drive over and get her.

  Damn, he should have offered. He should have said something before she walked down his driveway and dipped into the low-slung Jag.

  He should have his head examined.

  He’d been so focused on how he was going to hook a meter up to her bracelet as soon as they got home. How he’d explain everything so it’d be crystal clear and Lilly wouldn’t doubt the results, because he sure as hell didn’t want to read any blasted metaphysics book.

  Maybe she’d call and want a ride home. He carried the cordless phone everywhere in the house with him, just in case. When it finally rang, he nearly stabbed his finger right through the TALK button.

  “Hey, Jake, how ya doin’ ?”

  “Gary, hi.” Gary was one of his former Silicon Valley employees, and Jake needed this call right now about as much as he needed a hole in the head. But networking meant business, and business meant paying his dad and uncle back. It also meant hiring back people like Gary, who had families to support and bills to pay, people he’d hated letting go, but had no choice. It also meant earning Lilly’s respect.

  “Hey, listen,” Gary said, “I got your message, and I’ll get back to you on that later. But I have a minute now and I just wanted to tell you, you know the guy that bought your house?”

  For a song.

  “Yeah.”

  “He’s having a party next weekend. Lotsa bigwigs, buddy. I’ll schmooze all night.”

  Jake had to laugh, in spite of himself. Gary schmoozing was about as hard to imagine as catching fish with cat bait. “Get ‘em drunk first.”

  “That’s my plan, right after I show off everything you put into the house. I’ll call later and let you know how it goes. I just wanted you to be jealous, so you’d move back out here and hire me again.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’m working on some leads from this end, too. Stay in touch.”

  At eight-thirty, he gave in to what he’d wanted to do since the moment Lilly’d left; he called the Marquettes’ house. He got their machine. He called Lilly’s cell phone and got her voice mail, which was odd because she always had her phone handy. But it was a big house; maybe her purse was in another room. It was early still. He’d try again later.

  At eight-forty-five, he put his phone on call forwarding and walked over to Noreen’s to hook up an RBD: Random Barking Dog. The neighbors loved his RBDs, especially the women. Susannah’s was a golden retriever. Mickey and Glen went for two yappy miniature schnauzers—go figure. Noreen was getting her very own Doberman pinscher, whose bark was spiced with some very convincing rumbling growls. He’d formatted them so there was no repeat pattern to pick up on. Susannah even had a sub woofer to imitate the sound of a large dog thumping against the door.

  It wasn’t high-tech, but it kept him busy and made the neighbors happy. And you never knew when someone with connections would see it and want to talk to him.

  Noreen had been a stay-at-home mom back when that was the norm, and now she was a stay-at-home grandmother who babysat half a dozen of her grandchildren while her own kids p
ursued careers. She was pleasantly round, always smiling, and didn’t worry about keeping up with fashion.

  When she heard Jake had forgotten to eat supper, she tsk-tsked, warmed over a casserole, and insisted he fill his stomach before she’d let him work. The portion hadn’t been modest, but conversation was pleasant, it took his mind off Lilly for ten minutes, and his plate was clean before he knew it.

  Installing an RBD was too simple; it allowed him time to think. To worry. And then to castigate himself, because Lilly was undoubtedly fine. Donna’d look out for her. Brady always said Donna doted on Lilly.

  Then again, Brady’d said a lot of things that weren’t true.

  Would Lilly be impressed if Andrew pulled out all the stops—like champagne corks—and made a play for her?

  “Jake, phone call. It’s your dad.”

  He was installing a sensor at the front door when Noreen handed him the cordless. He propped it between his shoulder and ear and continued to work. “Hey, Dad.”

  “I hope you’re getting paid.”

  He didn’t mean it like it sounded, he didn’t even mean money, but he’d cautioned Jake about refusing some form of payment and making the neighbors feel uncomfortably indebted. Susannah was the only one Jake had been stubborn about, and that was because she’d been looking out for him since he’d been in diapers.

  “Noreen makes a killer casserole.” He tossed her a wink, making her blush girlishly. “I’m moving in with her when you get home.”

  “Oh you.” Noreen waved him off and left the room.

  “Good for you,” his dad said. “Now that the contracts’re all signed, your mother and I were wondering what you’re doing about Lilly Marquette.”

  He wondered how to break the news to his dad. “You’re not gonna believe this.”

  “Try me.”

  “Well, I think you’d like her. Mom, too. No, I know you would. She’s a really good person, with this really big heart. She didn’t know beans about the insurance money until I told her. Turns out Brady changed the beneficiary. I’ve also found out for myself that a lot of what Brady told me about her just isn’t true,” he said. “You’re awful quiet. Aren’t you going to say anything?”