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He raised a brow.
“Um, Wren said there were clothes here.”
His eyes twinkled.“That’s right.There are.”He turned to Wren, Quint, and Decker.“If you’ll excuse us, we’ll be down in a few minutes.”
He took my hand and led me upstairs without waiting for a response.
19
Z
It had been a very long time since I seduced a woman.Not so long since I’d fantasized about it, though.Given I’d hoped George would come home with me after our date, I’d already prepared the place for romance.There were candles and flowers in the bedroom and bathroom, even something for her to wear on our “morning after” if she didn’t want to return to her place in what she’d worn to dinner.There was also something for her to snuggle up in at the breakfast table.
Shortly after I resigned, I’d placed a call to my daughter.“Wren, I know this conversation may be slightly uncomfortable for you,” I began after I told her I was leaving MI6.“However, I need your help, and I’ve no one else to ask.”
“Of course.Anything.You know that.”
“I need you to purchase clothing for a woman and deliver what you pick up to the townhouse.”
Our already ridiculously uncomfortable—for me, anyway—conversation became much worse when my daughter burst out laughing.She may have even snorted.
“They’re not for me,” I said when I realized how what I said must’ve sounded.
“I know.Sorry.”She gasped between hiccuping laughter.
“It’s, um, for George.”
She caught her breath and cleared her throat.“That’s what I figured.”
“And you found it uproarious?”
“No.Again, sorry.It’s just…I’m happy for you, Dad.I mean that sincerely.”
“I hope you know this doesn’t change the way I felt for your mother?—”
“Z, stop.Mom passed away twenty-five years ago.I would never begrudge you a relationship with another woman, and neither would Quint.We want you to be happy,” she’d said right before our call ended.
While I was thankful my daughter had done as I asked, it occurred to me George might find it curious.I stopped when we reached the top of the stairs.“Um, George, err, Leighton, there’s something I need to explain.”
“Go on.”
“It may have been presumptuous of me, but I asked Wren…God, I’m making a mess of this, aren’t I?”
She laughed.“First, as I said, Wren already told me about the, um, favor you asked of her.Second, you can call me George.It doesn’t bother me.I’ve grown accustomed to it.In fact, I like the way it sounds when you say it.”
Remembering how she’d gotten the code name made me frown.“Wilder suggested it.”
“He did not.He suggested Georgia.You’re the one who shortened it to George.”
“I did?”
She smiled and nodded.
“As for thefavor, I hope you don’t think I was being presumptuous.”I felt my cheeks flush.
“Don’t be embarrassed.I thought it was sweet.”
“You did?”
