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I nodded. "He was supposed to reach out to the brothers this morning. I haven't heard back from him yet." I shrugged. "I'm not worried. He has never let me down." I reached out and helped him adjust the collar on his shirt. "I have a change of clothes for later. I left them with Stephen. Want anything down there foryou?”
Devon stared into the mirror absent-mindedly. “There’s a bag I need to give you. Later. You can store it with your clothes. Safer.” He frowned. “Does this lookright?”
“Absolutely. Are you sure you weren't a Renaissance man?" Iteased.
He lifted me up and spun me around. "Positive, but I'll do anything to make you happy, Peri. You're so good to me. Your whole family has been." He gestured to the grounds of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville where we were having a huge gathering of Devon's clients. This was to be a Shakespearean dinner,complete with period clothing, food, and a play. I'd spent the better part of the last two months making it happen. Finding the perfect venue to accommodate a party of our size had been a challenge, but since money was no object, we'd traveled south from Manhattan to enjoy a glorious fall evening in the North Carolina mountains. "This will be the pinnacle of your year." I sighed happily, looking forward to the rest I'd earned, but wouldn't be able to enjoy until after everyone had departed, mostly by private jets and limousines, in themorning.
"Until Christmas," he reminded me. "We'll have to top ourselves with thatparty."
"Ah, yes. So, what...we travel to Dickens’ London and re-enactA Christmas Carol, complete with TinyTim?"
Devon tapped a finger to his lips. "Not a bad idea. Get right to work on that starting Monday," heurged.
I rolled my eyes. "How do I get myself into thesethings?"
"More importantly," he began with a grin, "how are you going to get out of thatdress?"
I ran a hand down the lavender taffeta bodice. "I have no idea, but I love this gown so much, I might just keepit."
"Charge it to my card!" He raised his hand with aflourish.
I leaned in closer to him and whispered, "Mr. Draco, I already did." Then I winked and wandered over to the door. "I must go check on your guests. See you on the grounds. Don’t wait too long before joining us, the music has alreadystarted."
“Peri," he replied, "I like to think of them asourguests." He sighed happily while he gazed at me. "I'm smart enough to know I'd be nothing withoutyou."
I shook my head and laughed. "Please, I’m bracing for the day you wake up and realize you don't really need me atall."
"No danger of that. Of course, if there's ever a Mrs. Draco, she might feel differently about you. Good thing I'm in no rush to find my mate." Helaughed.
I sighed. "Right. That's a very good thing for me." I opened the door and prepared to walk out, but right before I closed it, Devon blew me a kiss. He was such a devil. And naturally he was completely right about how another female would react to our relationship. I stood in the corridor for a moment and was about to gather any stray guests and direct them to the grounds when Devon's door flewopen.
"I almost forgot." He gestured for me to return to his room. I followed him in, then waited patiently while he made a phone call. "Hello, George, can you come to my room and bring your notary seal, please?" He held up a finger to show he'd be with memomentarily.
When he ended the call, I frowned. "What is it, sir? You have lawyers. You rarely need anotary."
"This is important. I can't believe I waited until now to mention it." He blew out a breath and I knew he was collecting his thoughts. "So, Spencer was at the office the other day, pestering me about the importance of awill.”
I chuckled. “Those peskylawyers.”
Devon grinned. “Right? Anyway, I promised I'd get one notarized and filed by Friday, which was days ago. So, here I am, still working on it." He pulled some official looking documents from his briefcase. "This is the version Spencer drew up. I had another version made with some important changes. In case I don't have a mate when I pass, I'm leaving everything to you." He reached out and tapped the tip of my nose with hisforefinger.
I shuddered at the thought of not having him around. "Well, I'll be long dead by the time you're gone, but thank you for thinking of me." I shrugged. "So, where do I come in at themoment?"
“I'll sign. You plus another witness. And the notary will make it official. Most importantly, I get Spencer off my ass.”He heaved a sigh of relief. “Please keep it in the bag, with your stuff in the trunk, and file it for me when we get back totown."
A knock interrupted our conversation. Since I was closest, I reached for the knob. George entered the room with Stephen, our driver, as soon as I opened the door. He had his stamp and seal in his hand. “Ready. What do you need, Mr.Draco?”
Within seconds, we’d finalized his will. I thought little of it, since we handled contracts on a daily basis. He stuck both the signed copy and the original in the bag and passed it to me. “Guard this with your life,” heteased.
I frowned as I took the backpack and slung it over my shoulder, but the strap I held against my heart. “You’re creeping me out with this Last Will and Testament bit. Maybe I need to hire someone to guardyou.”
17
Mishal
“What?”I growled into the phone while I rushed through the Asheville Regional Airport with my clothes stuffed in a backpack over myshoulder.
“I just want to see if you landed safely, sir,” Fredo murmured. “I have a driver there to meetyou.”
