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I sighed. “Order a doggie booster seat for my car, will you?”
“Yes!” Robin said. “You’re a regular working guy now. I’ll figure out how to get you on the payroll.” She set the dog on the floor, and she and Baxter followed me into the main office. “You did have some calls while you were out.” Robin frowned “You were gone a lot longer than I thought you would be.”
“I know,” I said as I replaced my purse in a drawer and then sat in my chair. “We saw Lillian. She was pretty much out of it. Then, before we could get lunch, Zack got a call that Lillian’s house alarm was going off, so we headed over there.”
Robin took a seat in front of my desk. “Oh, no. How bad?”
I lifted Baxter into my lap. “Looks like whoever it was got some valuable art pieces and all of her sterling silver.”
“Jewelry?”
I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know, and we may not know until Lillian is more alert.” I gritted my teeth in anger. “But this makes me so mad.” My harsh tone upset Baxter. He nuzzled under my chin as though trying to calm me. I nuzzled the top of his head and stroked a hand down his soft back. “Thanks. I needed that.”
“Well, I hate hearing about that.” Robin laid a stack of phone messages on the desk. “The only one that seemed urgent was from your sister, Dee. She said to have you call her as soon as you get in. She tried your cell, but it went to voice mail.”
“I’ll call her now.”
Robin stood to leave but stopped. “I’ve enjoyed having Baxter around today. I think everyone else did, also. He hasn’t been a problem at all, and you know I’d tell you if he was. I hope you’ll continue to bring him in with you.” She shut the door as she left my office.
“Hear that?” I whispered to Baxter. “You’re a hit.”
Baxter licked my nose as if to say, “I know.”
My sister, Dee, answered on the first ring. “We need to talk.”
I frowned at my sister’s tone. “Okay, sure. What’s up?”
“Not on the phone. I have a client sitting in my waiting room, and I need some time and your attention to go over some legal papers with you.”
“Sure. Come by tonight if you want.”
“I’ll be by about six, okay?”
“Sure. What’s this about?”
“Lillian Branson.”
“Ah. Okay. See you then.”
Hmm, very interesting. Since Dee did a lot of trust and estate law, I supposed that was what this was all about. But, still…what did Lillian’s legal affairs have to do with me?
There was a knock a second before Robin opened her door. “I grabbed you a sandwich since you missed lunch.”
There was a reason I overpaid my assistant. Replacing her would be impossible.
Baxter and I arrived home in time for me to change clothes and set up a cheese and cracker tray to go with a bottle of merlot. I added two wine glasses to the tray and carried all of it onto the deck overlooking my backyard. I poured a glass of wine for myself and settled onto a lounger. As I sipped wine, I watched Baxter sniff and inspect every blade of grass. It took a while, but he finally found the perfect spot to do his afternoon business. I saluted him with my wine glass.
As I waited for Dee, my thoughts naturally went to Zack. His comment about that night rang in my ears. I’d been at the Orange Cactus with my sisters when he’d come in, but I’d been on beer number one. I’d been in complete control of all my actions. As soon as he’d slipped up next to me, and whispered, “Hello, Princess. I’ve been looking for you,” all the control over my feelings and emotions had evaporated like dry ice. Hell, he’d pulled me toward him like a magnet to metal.
Baxter’s excited yip brought me out of my deep memories. I turned toward the gate in time to see it swing open and Dee stride in—and really, stride was the perfect verb for her. She’d always had that strong, assertive air around her. During law school, she’d added the art of intimidating her opponent with her approach technique. Her head was held high. Her gaze was fixed directly ahead. Each step was confident, each foot placed firmly in place before the next step. The whole walk happened in such a fast and self-assured poise that the affected person felt the intimidation but could rarely determine what caused it.
“Don’t try your lawyer strut on me,” I called. “It doesn’t work.”
Dee laughed. “Sadly, I think this is my normal walk now. Maybe it’s the reason no guy ever asks me out.”
“You just haven’t found anyone good enough for you.”
“Maybe.” Dee knelt to greet Baxter, who’d run from the far end of the yard. “Hello, precious,” she said, picking him up. Baxter snuggled against her chest.
