Page 231 of Taken Away

Aubrey sighed.

"Fine."

"Wonderful," Anne said brightly. "See you at six-thirty."

The line went dead.

Aubrey stared at the phone for several seconds before setting it on the coffee table.

Bennett smiled.

"Well..."

She looked at him.

"You think she's actually going to behave?"

"No."

She laughed despite herself.

"Neither do I."

The smile disappeared almost as quickly as it came.

He slipped his arms around her.

She rested her forehead against his chest.

"It's going to be okay."

She gave a snort.

"Is it?"

He looked down at her.

"You don't know Anne like I do."

She snuggled closer to him.

"There's always something underneath."

"A reason."

"A plan. An angle."

She closed her eyes.

"When Anne suddenly starts acting like Mother of the Year..."

She shook her head.

"...I start wondering what she wants."

Bennett rested his chin lightly against her hair.

"Then we'll have dinner."