“He must have been on his best behavior for quite awhile.”
“Almost a year,” she replied. “Until he went ballistic that first time, I’d believed him when he said his previous wives had been bitches from hell. All I’d ever experienced from him was kindness and an interest in pleasing me. But when he went Jekyll and Hyde on me, I knew I’d made a terrible mistake.”
“The three wives before you probably came to the same conclusion.”
She shook her head. “If only I’d known, as they say. I thought at first I might have said or done something to initiate his rage. When the tirades only escalated, I knew it had nothing to do with me. Mazie stepped in at that point and helped run interference.”
“Your housekeeper.”
“She was my absolute savior.”
“I interviewed her, along with the rest of the staff. She told me to go to hell.”
Janie smiled. “I can always depend on Mazie to protect me. And perhaps you as well?” She gazed up at him from under her lashes. “Possibly?”
His brows rose. “Anything’s possible.”
“Seriously, you can’t really consider bringing Matt back to a man like Leo.”
“That’s not my bailiwick. I’m no psychologist.”
“Neither am I, but I know what’s good for my son.”
“I can’t make any promises. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Janie touched his arm lightly. “I’m grateful for any consideration you might give to me.” But before she could elaborate further, a Federal Express truck came roaring up the driveway, and her expression and demeanor instantly changed. “Oh, wonderful! It’s here! I probably should have mentioned that I took my Hockney portrait when I left,” she said in a rush. Leaping from the swing, she raced for the stairs.
“So I can expect another irate call from Leo.” Roman was fast on his feet for a big man. He caught up with Janie before she reached the stairs.
“I don’t think so. Leo doesn’t pay attention to paintings.” She smiled up at him. “And what good would my portrait be to the new Mrs. Rolf?”
“Thanks, I do,” Janie cheerfully noted, waving at the FedEx driver as he came to a stop at the edge of the lawn. “I already told Liv about the painting, and she said something about her barn,” Janie added, descending the stairs. “I’m guessing there’s plenty of room for it there.”
“The driver can swing over to the barn.”
“How clever,” she brightly said, offering him a dazzling smile. “You are, you know. And good-looking, too.”
He frowned. “Don’t. Okay?”
“I don’t care. It’s true.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He raised his voice so the driver could hear. “Take it to the barn. Over there.” Roman pointed. “Come on, Janie.” He held out his hand. “And no more bullshit, okay? I’ve heard it all. I’m here just getting the lay of the land. So let’s just talk about the weather or something.”
“Whatever you say,” Janie replied sweetly.
“And how about a normal tone of voice,” he said with a grin.
“Isn’t it a lovely day in the country?” Janie smiled. “How’s that?”
Roman surveyed the green, rolling countryside and exhaled softly. “It
For a man who had seen all there was to see of the sordid underbelly of the world, perhaps he, more than most, could appreciate serenity.
Sixteen
Jake had just walked into Liv’s bedroom and quietly shut the door in order not to disturb her when the phone rang.
Coming awake, Liv saw him first and smiled.
He nodded at the phone. “Want me to get it?”
“I’d better. I wouldn’t want to explain to my mom what you were doing here at this hour of the morning.” Reaching for the bedside phone, she picked it up, glanced at the caller ID, said, “False alarm,” and lying back down, hit the Talk button. “It’s way too early, Shelly.”
“Speak for yourself. I’ve been at work for two hours.”
“That’s because you’re driven to succeed. Kindly keep in mind when you have these early morning impulses, I’m semiretired.”
“I haven’t heard from you since you so rudely left us in the lurch at Taglio’s. He must be good.”
After a moment’s hesitation in which Liv debated lying, she said, “He is.”
“Tell me every little detail, or I’ll come out there tonight and see for myself.”
“Don’t waste your time.”
“So he’s not there?”
Silence.
“I knew it,” Shelly crowed. “Whenever you talk like someone’s around, someone’s around.”
“Okay, so you win the prize. I’ll call you later.”
“Is he in bed with you?”
“Good-bye, Shelly.”
“Let me say hi.”
“We’re not in the eighth grade. Otherwise, I would.”
“Selfish.”
“You betcha.” Liv hung up the phone. “It was Shelly,” she said.
“I heard.”
“She’s embarrassing.”
He grinned. “What are friends for?”
“She wants to meet you.”
“Is she as good-looking as you?”
“Why?”
“Just curious.”
“No you’re not. That’s a typical man question.”
He laughed. “Look, I was just teasing. I’m not even remotely curious.”
“I shouldn’t care.”
“And I should be curious.”
“So this is strange.”
“I think we’ve already established that. The question is not over the strangeness, but the resulting consequences. And with that in mind, I’m here to tell you that Janie is busy with the detective her husband sent out from New York. Matt is looking at kittens in the barn with Amy, and we are conveniently alone for at least-”
“Long enough,” Liv interrupted, grinning. “Do I have time to eat that French toast you’re holding?”
“Sure. What I have in mind won’t take long.” His smile was wicked. “Let me rephrase that. The first time won’t take long. The rest depends on whether we’re left alone or not.”
“It’s my house.”
“I didn’t want to say it, but yes, it is.”
“So I may do as I please.”
“Or occasionally as I please.”
“Why don’t we discuss that after I eat.” She held out her hand, suddenly ravenous. Or maybe the sight and smell of apple-cinnamon French toast and bacon had triggered all her taste receptors.
