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I smiled. “So a little syph and you’re out, huh?”

“Are we still talking about the king thing, or is this a dating question? Syphilis is highly treatable and nothing to be ashamed of. A single intramuscular injection of long-acting benzathine penicillin will take care of it.”

“Okay, we get it, you know how to cure syphilis.”

She laughed again.

“Yeah, you’re right,” I said, dipping my brush in the can and tapping it. “I read a lot of historic nonfiction. I guess it was pretty brutal back then.”

“Historic nonfiction?” she said, sounding a little surprised.

“My favorite kind of read.”

“Me too. I like the medical aspects. I always think about how I’d do it differently if I lived back then, knowing what I know.”

“I like it because it happened,” I said. “Can’t get frustrated with the plot if it’s a true story. And you learn something.”

“Yeah. You know, reading makes your penis look bigger—don’t quote me on it, the science is really new.”

“Is that what’s going on down there? I was wondering. Just finished War and Peace, by the way.”

She laughed so hard I think she spit out her drink.

“I like to read,” I said, grinning. “It’s the only way I get to live somewhere that isn’t Wakan. I read three, four books a week. A lot of audiobooks. That way I can work and read at the same time.”

“I’ve never done an audiobook,” she admitted.

“Oh, you should. It’s like a movie for your ears. You could listen on your drive down to see me. Which is when again?”

“Daniel, you know how much I love watching you work. But I’ve got my country’s five hundredth anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder, and Guilder to frame for it. I’m swamped.”

A line straight out of The Princess Bride. I was cracking up.

God, I liked talking to her. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d liked talking to someone this much. I liked seeing her more, but this was a close second for sure.

I checked my watch. “I gotta feed Chloe.”

“Oh,” she said, sounding a little disappointed. “I guess I should hang up with you then.”

I set my brush on the lid of the can. “Nope, I’m taking you with me. Took me a week to get you on the phone, I’m not hanging up with you now.”

I didn’t hang up with her later either.

We talked for five hours straight.

Chapter 14

Alexis

We were on our way to our girls’ weekend.

The men had gone north to Grand Marais, so we went south. Some bed-and-breakfast Gabby had booked.

Gabby was driving, and Jessica was in the passenger seat. I was sitting in the back of the black Escalade like the kid. Jessica was the grumpy dad and Gabby was the perky mom.

Gabby had a cheerleader thing about her. She was thirty-four, blond, and stood only five feet tall. She was a pediatrician. Of the three of us she was the only one who was in a happy relationship. Philip was totally devoted to her.

Gabby turned to Jessica from behind the wheel. “You’re sure Marcus didn’t care that you didn’t go? It’s his birthday.”