“Is that a threat?” His grin ate through her. How had she missed this grimy side to him?
“No, it’s not a threat. The lab means as much to me as your political career does to you.”
“I need some time.”
“You have until the end of the week to get step away as chair of the board of directors. Break all affiliation.”
His laugh made her skin crawl. “You’re a lot tougher than I ever gave you credit for.”
She straightened, dropping her arms to her sides. She hoped she made the right decision by coming straight to him and not the Sheriff. “I learned from the best. You can keep the paperwork. I have copies.”
She was halfway through the door when he said, “You don’t know who you’re messing with, sweetheart.”
“Oh, I have a good idea that I do.” She closed the behind her.
She hurried to her car and once she was alone inside, she inhaled deeply. It took a lot of courage to stand up to Bentley. She was proud of herself.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sammich had slept in Aasia’s arms all night.
He slowly removed himself from the warm nest, stretched, and meowed.
“Let me guess. You’re hungry.” Aasia lifted herself up on her elbow.
As if he understood her, he hopped down, pranced to the door then stopped to look back at her to ask “Are you coming?”
Pushing back the covers, Aasia grabbed her robe off the end of the bed, pulled it on, and followed Sammich down the hall, to the stairs and into the kitchen. Aasia about came unglued when she flipped on the light and found Phoebe sitting at the table. “My God, Phoebe. You almost gave me a heart attack. When did you come back?”
“Sorry. I came back a few hours ago. I saved you some coffee.” Phoebe looked tired. Frazzled. There were dark circles under her eyes. Next to her coffee cup and sketchbook was her phone thatdinged. repeatedly.
Phoebe didn’t seem happy.
After pouring a small amount of cat food into the bowl for the impatient kitten and pouring herself coffee, Aasia sat down at the table. “You okay?”
“Does it matter?” Phoebe said sarcastically.
“Of course it matters.” Aasia didn’t want an argument, especially before ingesting a sufficient amount of caffeine. She’d tossed and turned most of the night.
“Really? Last I heard I was annoying and unwelcome.” She flipped her phone face down.
Aasia sunk back into the chair. “I’m sorry that I made you feel that way. I think it’s time we buried the hatchet.”
“Do you now?”
Sammich curved his way around Phoebe’s ankles then hopped up onto her lap. Instead of pushing him off, she lifted him up and held him close to her chest, scratching his head. He seemed very comfortable with the attention. When Phoebe realized she was being watched, she asked, “What?”
“I just didn’t think you liked cats,” Aasia said. “Or any animals actually.”
“Just because I don’t like to get up before sunrise to feed pigs and milk cows doesn’t mean I don’t like animals. I like animals just fine, especially Sammich here.” She nuzzled her chin against the kitten. “It seemed disrespectful to keep calling him Kitty. I’m glad you named him finally.”
“Well, I took care of that. He likes his new name.”
Phoebe lifted the kitten and examined his face. “Sammich, huh?”
The scent of strong coffee permeated the air, an aroma that usually Aasia found comfort in but today she felt stressed. She traced the rim of her mug, careful to examine her words with an internal microscope before she said them aloud. Things were already as taut as a harp string between her and her sister. They hadn’t really had a conversation since the last time they were in the kitchen, bickering over coffee and unspoken demons. “I’m being serious when I say I want us to smooth things over.”
“I’d honestly like that too.” Phoebe smiled. Some of the tension between them eased up. “But…”
