Page 131 of Just One Look

“Take your tea,” Lauren said calmly, and handed it to him.

Around the house to the deck, then. Luka could have said something, but he didn’t. Baxter said, “It has a good view, I suppose.”

“Yes,” Luka said. “It does.”

“I thought there was a dog,” Baxter said.

Elizabeth opened the accordion doors to the deck from inside and said, “Good idea. The only place with four chairs.” She brought out her mug of tea, sat down defiantly, and said, “Well. Now that I’ve broken the ice.”

Lauren slipped in beside her, and Luka sat down himself. Baxter could either stand there and give an awkward speech, or he could sit down. Could go either way.

He sat down and started to tell Elizabeth, “I thought there was—” And then he stared at her.

Oh. Well. She was wearing some flirty little black running shorts, the ruffly kind that looked like a short skirt, with the low-cut pink push-up bra she’d worn to try on dresses, and a white V-necked T-shirt with a heavy gray cardigan open over it. The clothes had been nearly all he could find. The T-shirt wasn’t one bit thick, though, probably more of a bedtime thing, and the push-up bra was … pushing up. To say the least.

Baxter said blankly, “Good God. You look like a prostitute.”

“Well, thanks,” she said.

“Baxter,”Lauren said.

“What the hell?” Luka said.

Elizabeth said, “You should see the shoes and dress Luka just bought me. You’llreallylove those. The dress is red, and it shows off my body like nobody’s business. The shoes are black suede, and they have a stiletto heel higher than anything I’ve ever worn and straps that tie around the ankles and look generally justextremelysuggestive. And I’m going to wear them to a restaurant Tuesday night in front of God and all the neighbors.”

Luka said, “I didn’t buy them. You bought them. I just told you what to buy.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Baxter said. “That’s just wonderful.”

The doorbell rang.

Elizabeth said, “I can’t believe it. It’s a revolving door.”

Luka said, “I’ll get it.”

It was an older bloke out there. He said, “Luka Darkovic, isn’t it?” and held out a hand. “Angus MacDonald. I’ve watched you with pleasure.”

“Come in,” Luka said, shaking his hand.

“How’s it going?” Angus asked, stepping inside and bending to take off his shoes.

“Come see for yourself,” Luka said. “I think the word is ‘surreal.’”

* * *

Her dad said,“I don’t understand what’s going on. Are you supporting this man? Does he have some kind of power over you? Thank God I came.”

Luka came out of the house with Angus, and Elizabeth jumped up and said, “Angus! Hello. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“I got to thinking,” he said, “if you’ll excuse me, that sometimes it helps to have a third party around. A bit more neutral, eh. I was sorry afterwards that I left all of you alone the other night, so I thought I’d check and see if you wanted me. I’m a pretty handy fella in a negotiation, or so they say.”

Luka said, “I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

Angus waved a hand. “Nah, I’m swimming, mate. Lauren and I have been in a charity meeting half the day.”

Luka picked up his own tea and said, “Have a seat,” then grabbed a chair from inside and dragged it out. He settled into place himself beside Elizabeth, and she giggled.

She slapped a hand over her mouth and gave a belated fake-hiccup that probably didn’t fool anybody. Luka looked at her, amusement in his eyes, and she giggled again. He smiled, and she started to laugh.