Page 84 of Mayfair Madame

She stepped back and righted her robe, smoothing down the fabric.

As she sashayed away, I groaned, my skin hot. My heart pounded, and a million butterflies fluttered in my stomach.

Was this what being in love was like? Because if it was, I was all for it.

Chapter Twenty Four

Naomi

“Ellie thinks you hate her,” I said as I walked into my study.

“What?Of course I don’t.”

Melinda could have fooled me. We’d already fallen out over this, but I wasn’t about to do that again. She was a very dear friend. One I’d hate to lose.

“How was your weekend?” I opened the takeaway coffee cup, added some sugar, and gave it a stir. They never put enough in it.

“Itwas uneventful. Shopping, cleaning. You know, the usual stuff.”

She really needed to find a hobby, or maybe she should hook up with a certain young lady who worked in the bakery. Maybe then she’d be less inclined to be all up in my business.

But hey, I couldn’t tell her that now. Or could I?

“You know you should get out more.”

“I’m not asking her out, Naomi.”

“I didn’t even mention her name.” I laughed because I didn’t have to.

“What did you tell me about meddling in other people’s business?”

“Touché, Melinda. I won’t interfere again.” But we both knew I was lying. I’d not meddle, but I’d do what I could to get them together. She deserved her happiness.

“So, what else happened?” She changed the subject. “More messages?”

“Another text message and a letter in the post this morning. I promised Ellie we’d see Josh, but I don’t see how that’ll help. I might just leave it a while and see if I get any more. Hopefully, with the other problems Godfrey has, he’ll drop it.”

Even I didn’t believe the shit I was telling her, and I was pretty sure Melinda didn’t either. But I wouldn’t let this ruin my life. I had a life to live, a curvy detective to explore. I’d come through worse. This was just another bump in the road.

“We can only hope. Look, Naomi, I can’t stay long today. I’ve a list a million miles long. A few personal things too I need to take care of. Is it okay if we cut it short?”

“Of course! Jeez, Melinda. You have this place running like clockwork. A couple of days away won’t hurt.”

“Oh, I don’t need a couple of days.”

“Eh, take them anyway. If anything crops up, I can handle it.”

I’d done it before Melinda had joined me. Yes, there were probably a few more issues now that the retail side of things had grown, but I wasn’t just a madame. I had an astute business mind, which was why Rupert had trusted me with his building.

He wasn’t a man who trusted easily, and he trusted me as I did him.

“But stay and drink your coffee first.”

“If you don’t mind, I won’t. I’ve so much to do.”

Wasit me, or was she acting peculiar? Either way, it didn’t matter. There was nothing that couldn’t wait.

“Call me when you’re next around. I can take care of things in the meantime.”