Page 22 of This Time Around (The Can’t Have Hearts Club #3)

“Where does she put it?”

Skye shrugged. “My bedroom sometimes. Other times she’ll take it to the other cats like gifts.”

“I’ve never heard of something like that.”

“I always figured it’s a polydactyl thing—sort of like a six-fingered discount?”

Allie laughed as Skye leaned forward and wrapped one of Allie’s curls around her finger, twisting it so it laid just so. “I still can’t believe you’re going to your reunion with the first guy you ever kissed. That’s so romantic.”

“It’s really not like that.”

“Not like what?”

“Not like we’re together or anything.” Allie nibbled her lip. “Not like that, anyway.”

Skye gave her a serene smile and nodded. “Still, I think it’s very sweet.”

“I guess. So are you dating now? Or is it still too soon after Brody?”

“Oh, I’m dating a little. A couple months ago I even tested out the waters dating women. Just a few Tindr hookups here and there, nothing serious.”

“Really?” Allie couldn’t decide whether to feel scandalized or intrigued.

“It was fun for a few weeks, but honestly, it didn’t do much for me. Dating girls, I mean. I think I just like penises a little too much to ever?—”

“Hello!”

They both turned to see Wade standing in the doorway. He wore a blue Armani suit and the same smile he’d have if he came home from work to find a porn flick being filmed in his living room.

“Thank you, ladies,” he said, folding his arms over his chest and smiling at Skye. “I’m going to dream about that conversation for the next week.”

Allie rolled her eyes. “Don’t you know how to knock?”

“I did, but no one answered. And there was a sign out front inviting me to come in.”

“It’s left over from the bed and breakfast days,” Skye said. “I left the door unlocked for when Jack gets here. Sorry. I’m Skye, by the way.”

“Wade,” he said as he reached for her hand.

Allie caught the dazzled look in his eye, along with the contrast of Skye’s flowery sari skirt and bare feet beside Wade’s Armani and silver cufflinks. Their hands stayed linked, and Skye’s smile had turned goofy.

Wade lifted her hand to his lips, brushing a soft kiss over her knuckles before nestling her hand back into the folds of her skirt.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Skye.

Allie told me she’d met the caretaker of the place and that you were doing her hair, but she didn’t mention you were so—enchanting. ”

Skye blushed prettily, and Allie glanced at Wade, ready to tell him to knock it off. But the look on his face was just as smitten as the one on Skye’s. What the hell? Wade dated polished socialites, not free spirits.

But the way he stood looking at Skye suggested he might be branching out.

“You’re sweet,” Skye said. “How do you and Allie know each other?”

Wade leaned back against the wall and crossed his ankles. “We go way back. Tell me about yourself, Skye. Are you from Portland?”

“Born and raised. I’m finishing up at cosmetology school and hoping to get a job at one of the salons downtown. How about you?”

“I’m from Seattle, originally, but I moved out here ten years ago to take a job at Solomon Ashe and Associates.”

“You’re a lawyer?”

“Don’t hold it against me. That reminds me?—”

He turned to Allie, who had started to think they’d forgotten she was here at all. Wade reached into the side pocket of his briefcase and pulled out a large manila folder with the law firm’s name on it. “Here’s that stuff you were asking about on asset forfeiture laws and estate taxes.”

“Oh—right, thank you.”

He lifted one eyebrow in a silent question, and Allie shook her head.

Not now, she telegraphed, willing him not to ask any questions that would lead Skye to suspect there was a giant trunk of cash in the attic.

Not that she’d told Wade about it, either, but she had asked a few vague questions and enough hypotheticals to pique his interest.

Luckily, his interest seemed more piqued by Skye at the moment. “So, Skye,” he was saying. “Since Allie’s running off to have fun with her old fiancé tonight, I don’t suppose you’d be interested in having dinner with me?”

Skye smiled and began winding the cord around the fancy hair curler.

Her own long curls fell over her face, and Wade stared like she was the most exotic creature he’d ever seen.

Allie tried to remember some of the women he’d dated over the years.

There’d been plenty, but she couldn’t think of any who looked like Skye.

“I think I’m free,” Skye was saying. “What did you have in mind?”

“Something different. I like the blue in your hair, by the way.”

“Thanks. I’ve been thinking of switching to pink, but I’m still loving the blue.”

“It’s great. Very unique. Goes with your name.”

“You’re right, it sort of does.” Skye looked pleased that he’d noticed, and Allie couldn’t help feeling charmed by their flirtation.

“So how about it,” Wade said. “Dinner? With me? Tonight?”

Skye smiled. “Okay. Have you been to Marrakesh?”

“In Morocco?”

“No, I mean the restaurant. It’s this slightly cheesy little place over on Northwest 21st where you sit on the floor and eat with your hands. There’s a belly dancer on weekends, and the staff dresses in traditional Moroccan attire. Like I said, kinda cheesy, but I love the place.”

“Sold!” Wade grinned. “That sounds perfect.”

Allie stood up and set Wade’s envelope on top of the maple dresser.

She pulled the bedsheet off and folded it neatly before setting it on the empty barstool.

Then she straightened the peacock-green dress.

She’d worn it here, not wanting to mess up her hair by pulling it on afterward.

Jack was picking her up from the B&B in about ten minutes.

“Whoa, Albatross!” Wade had finally glanced away from Skye and was looking at her. “Nice dress!”

“Thank you.”

“That color’s great on you.”

“Totally,” Skye agreed. “I told her she looks like Jennifer Garner.” She shifted closer to Wade, seemingly drawn to him. “Did you just call her Albatross?”

“Allie Ross the Albatross,” Wade repeated, smiling fondly at her. “The bird who’d rather fly alone.”

Skye gave Allie a sympathetic smile and shrugged. “Nothing wrong with that. It’s good to be a strong, independent woman.”

“Amen, sister.”

“Are you two going to hug now?” Wade asked. “Because I’d really like to see that. Especially if there’s a boob grab involved.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Allie said, slugging him in the shoulder. She picked up the envelope again and moved through the door. “Thanks again, Skye. Really, you did an amazing job. You’re sure I can’t pay you?”

“No way. You’re doing me a favor here. I needed the practice.”

“Thanks again.”

“You look gorgeous. Kinda glowy or something.”

“Glowy,” Wade repeated, looking her up and down with a critical eye. “You haven’t been snogging the guy already, have you?”

Allie rolled her eyes, which was mostly a move to avoid eye contact with Wade. She knew he could see right through her. She held up the envelope as she made her way out the door. “I have a few minutes before Jack gets here, so I’m going to go look through this.”

“Call if you have questions about it,” Wade said.

“I will. Thanks again. Both of you!”

“You’re welcome,” Skye called.

Allie headed down the hall and into the kitchen, a familiar space that reminded her of dainty teacups and her grandmother’s shortbread cookies. She felt a pang of sadness and took a few deep breaths to get it under control.

She set Wade’s envelope on the counter, hesitating a little.

She’d been deliberately vague when she’d asked him to dig up some info on inheritance laws and Oregon statutes on found property.

He was her best friend, but it seemed unwise to just blurt out the fact that she’d stumbled upon a million dollars in cash.

Given his connection to her parents’ case, would he be required to report it?

Allie wasn’t sure, so she figured better safe than sorry.

She pried open the clasp securing the envelope, careful not to wreck her new manicure. A thick stack of papers was inside, and Allie pulled it out and stared at the first page.

Lost, Unclaimed, or Abandoned Property Laws, ORS §98.005 ...

“Hello? Allie, are you here?”

The paperwork fell from her hands as Jack’s voice rang out from the foyer. Crap.

He called out again, his voice getting closer now.

“I’m in here!” Allie shouted as she dropped to her knees and began grabbing pages.

They were hopelessly out of order, a blur of words like forfeiture and encumbered property and theft by deception .

She stuffed them into a pile, not sure why she felt so guilty, but knowing Jack was going to walk into the room at any moment.

“Allie?”

She turned to see him standing behind her. His eyes were locked on her ass, and he had a funny look on his face.

“Well,” he said, his voice a little strained. “Can’t say I expected to see you on your hands and knees this early in the evening.”

Jack wanted to kick himself for saying something so suggestive to Allie when their connection was still in the realm of tepid friendship. It was the sort of thing he could have gotten away with sixteen years ago, but not now. Not with all this history between them.

Lucky for him, she didn’t seem offended.

“Very funny,” she muttered as she continued scooping papers into a haphazard pile.

“Here, let me help you up.” He reached a hand down to her, half expecting her to swat it away.

But she let him hoist her to her feet by one hand as she clutched a disheveled stack of papers in the other.

“Thanks,” she said. “You startled me.”

“Sorry about that. I knocked on the front door, but when no one answered, I saw that sign telling me to come in.”

“Right, I need to get that taken down.”

“Remind me the next time I’m here with my tools and I’ll get rid of it.”