Page 128 of See You There

Dahlia couldn’t help herself. “How did he look?”

“Like his heart was broken.”

Dahlia was alarmedwhen they first reached the townhouse and a handsome man pushed away from the wall and approached them. Dahlia was backing away when he held up his identification.

“I’m Brady, Luke’s friend.” His tone was neutral, not letting on that he knew all of her secrets, but she felt her cheeks flush, anyway. “He asked that I sweep your place before you go in.”

Dahlia wanted to deny him access just for spite, but that would be stupid. Even with Hank in custody, her body had tensed as they drove through the city streets. Last time she’d been here, someone had tried to kill her. She hoped that later today, once she saw Hank locked up, she would feel better.

A black Mercedes sedan pulled into the parking space next to them, and Laura gave an enthusiastic wave. Dahlia had googled her attorney, but the woman’s online picture didn’t do her justice. Sleek black hair fell to the shoulders of her red suit jacket, framing high cheekbones and sparkling deep blue eyes.

Elizabeth stared at them for a moment, her face turning white. Dahlia was just about to ask her if something was wrong when the woman took a deep breath and put on a fake smile. “Brady?” She walked forward, extending her hand. From the corner of her eye, she saw Brady’s eyes widen.Do they know each other?

“Luke called and told me he asked you to come by. If you could just make sure no one is inside.” Elizabeth’s voice was tight, and she turned her back to Brady dismissing him. She gave Dahlia a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry we are meeting like thisfor the first time. I’ve arranged for you to stay at a hotel nearby for a few days. I will pay for the reservation with my firm’s card, and I checked you in under an alias, so no one will find you there.”

The woman’s no-nonsense tone took aback Dahlia. “If it’s acceptable to you, I thought you could take whatever you need now for the premiere, et cetera. And we could go there after we meet James Bloom at the police station.”

“James was supposed to meet me here.”

“He’s at the courthouse already, so he’d have to backtrack, and in rush hour… Do you mind?”

Did she mind? Not really, but already this woman was taking charge, and on the heels of what Luke did, it raised her hackles.

“Elizabeth, can I talk to you for a minute… privately?”

“I’ll just start the sweep,” Brady said, taking her cue. Dahlia handed him her keys, but his puzzled gaze lingered on the attorney before he disappeared inside the townhouse.

“Elizabeth, I appreciate all you’ve done to help me with this and finding me the agents to talk to, but…”

The woman stood poker faced.

“She’s saying you’re too bossy, Beth,” Laura called out.

The lawyer shot a death glare at her cousin, who muttered something about waiting in the truck.

“I apologize if I overstepped. I was concerned because of the security issues.” The woman’s blue eyes searched Dahlia’s face, and then her shoulders drooped. “I’m sorry. I can be a bit of a control freak and tend to get carried away. I should have checked with you before I made the arrangements.”

Dahlia had a moment of déjà vu. When Luke said the same words, it infuriated her. The difference was Dahlia could see Elizabeth recognized her mistake. Dahlia knew she was being a little hypocritical, but she didn’t care.

“I’m sure the arrangements are great. I just like to be consulted.”

“Understood.” Elizabeth squared her shoulders. “It won’t happen again.”

Brady reappeared and declared the townhouse safe to enter. “I didn’t find any recording devices either,” he added.

“Recording devices?” Elizabeth looked confused.

“It’s just protocol.” Brady was studying the woman. “Have we met?”

“I doubt it,” Elizabeth said repressively.

Dahlia lost track of their conversation as she entered her home. She’d lived there for almost a year, but now it felt simultaneously familiar and foreign. So much had changed in the time she’d been gone.

Dahlia still didn’t have a gown, a problem which needed to be remedied as soon as possible. She gathered several dresses that might work, as well as the rest of her clothes and makeup. She’d need to hire movers to pack up the rest of her stuff if she left Atlanta.

Brady was gone when Dahlia reached the sidewalk, but Elizabeth was standing nearby with a grinning Laura.

“I didn’t know you had it in you, Beth,” the young woman chortled. “A masquerade ball? Doesn’t seem your style, but hey, if a hottie like that thought I was—"