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“I am, too. I wasn’t into eating at the party.”
“Me either. It’s like the food is secondary to the fun. I should have made up plates to bring home. Do you want a pizza?”
“A pizza would be great,” he answered. “I like anything on it.”
“Everything it is,” she said, keying in the order on her phone. “It’ll be here in half an hour.
“Follow me. I’ll show you your room.”
She took him to the guest room on the second floor, with its private bathroom.
“I have a few men’s things, sweatpants and T-shirts, if you don’t mind castoffs.”
Grinning, he nodded. “Thank you. I’ll take them.”
Slipping into another man’s castoffs immediately relaxed him. There was no pretense when you were wearing hand-me-downs, not that he was that kind of guy anyway. He was wealthy because he was driven, and he was driven because of experiencing a lack in his childhood. Setting goals, aiming high, it was his way out. But it resulted in him being obsessed with success.
“You look comfortable,” she said. “I dressed the part, too. This T-shirt is ten years old.”
She had on her signature at-home ensemble, an oversized Minnie Mouse T-shirt with spandex bike shorts.
“You’re fetching regardless of what you wear. I’m so comfortable I’m a little shocked.”
“Just go with it. I bet you don’t get the chance to relax much.”
“I have a sudden yearning to watch old movies on TV.”
“Old movies it is.”
The pizza arrived, and they cuddled on the couch with paper plates of pizza and Greek salad while Sandra foundTootsieon a movie channel. By midnight, they were both out cold on opposite ends of the couch.
Chapter 4
After the children were removed from the premises, the party really took off, and by midnight, the music had slowed down. Only diehards were left dancing and eating the late supper offered. The picnic atmosphere had been transformed after sunset, with tablecloths and candlelight. At a table near the water, Will, Laura and Jake huddled, solving the problems of the world.
The time had come for Jake to level with Laura. It was only fair. She was his right hand now, after almost a year working together, and the business would depend more and more upon her.
“Did you know I got sick yesterday?”
“What happened?” she asked, not wanting to reveal that Will had seen him in the ER.
“I collapsed when I got here for lunch. Missed a fish fry, too.”
“Did you get a cause yet?” Will asked.
“Lung cancer. Mesothelioma.”
In control, Laura stayed calm, not showing any emotion. She didn’t want him to feel worse than he obviously already did.
Will asked questions, and Jake answered, but the end game was that he’d decided he was going to die, and Laura was going to take over his business.
“I don’t have any kids or heirs. All I really have is a reputation. And you’ve proven to be an able private investigator, Laura. I’ll need you to eventually take the business over completely if you want it.”
Not sure how to respond, she decided to accept. Later, if it didn’t feel right, she’d decline, but now, at the party, she’d be nice. “I’d be honored to run your business.”
“But it will be yours,” he said. “My attorney has begun the process of moving the paperwork to you, in your name. The final transfer will take place when I’m no longer able to make decisions. There’s a protocol lined up to determine when that is.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
