The Last Good Liar (Carolina Kisses #3) - Sylvie Stewart Page 0,10
feet. Just like a musician is skilled at plucking out just the right melody at the right time, I’m an expert at my own game.
And the name of my game today is to get that goddamn lease. If making Lila feel good at the same time greased the wheels, so be it.
Lila blushed, and I got that familiar rush tempting me to take this just a little further. But I didn’t. Gotta keep my eye on the prize.
“Say, I know you’re probably busy, so I won’t take up too much of your time. But I’ve been trying to follow up on a lease application I filled out, and I’m afraid I’m running into some roadblocks.”
“Oh, why’s that?” Her interest was piqued, and I could tell she was already on my side.
A premeditated chuckle escaped as I shifted to rest my elbows on the counter and leaned in. “I don’t really know, to be honest. My business is perfect for the location, and all my financials are in order. I’m sure if I could just speak with Justin, I could clear this right up.” The guy may be able to dodge my phone calls, but he’d be hard pressed to hide once Lila led me to him.
Her lips curved at my words, showing her pleasure at being able to offer me some hope. “I’m sure Mr. Barnes could help.” Her smile dropped. “But he just left for vacation until next Friday. All of his client business is on hold or being forwarded to the office manager’s inbox while he’s gone.”
Shit.
“But my frie—business associate just spoke with him this morning, I believe.” I tried my best to hide my impatience. I didn’t come all this way just to turn around emptyhanded.
Lila’s eyes resembled those of a cartoon puppy. “He just left after lunch.”
Dammit.
It took all my focus to keep my expression casual as I figured out my next move. “Well, that’s a real shame.” I let out a sigh and dropped my eyes to the counter in dejection. “I’m only in town until tomorrow, and I was really hoping to clear this up.”
When I glanced up again, she had her lip caught between her teeth, clearly battling an ethical dilemma. Even though it was just the two of us in the room, she glanced around before leaning in so close I could smell the rose and vanilla of her perfume and spot a tiny little fleck of green between two of her teeth. Her voice dropped to almost a whisper and I had to strain to hear her next words. “Maybe if you tell me the property address, I can look up the owner’s phone number.”
I straightened a bit but didn’t draw back too far. “You could do that for me?”
Lila’s blush was back. “Well, technically I’m not supposed to, but…”
“You’d be doing me a huge favor.” I smiled with genuine pleasure as Lila typed into her computer and produced not only a phone number, but an address for a William and Winona Fontaine.
The plan worked perfectly, or so I thought, but now I’m here knocking at the property owners’ mansion door and not so much as a butler or gardener is paying me any attention. To make matters worse, it seems the Fontaines answer their phone just about as often as the realtor does.
I guess I’ll have to keep calling and try showing up in person again in the morning. It’s going on six o’clock already, so I may as well go to Bran’s shop and convince him to join me for a beer or a bite to eat. I’m too frustrated to drive back to Greensboro with nothing to show for my trip, and besides, I’m confident it took Ashley less than sixty seconds to find alternate plans for this evening after my call. A beer with Bran will do me good, then I’ll crash at a beach motel and set up a lawn chair in the manicured grass beside the circular drive tomorrow if that’s what it takes.
But just as I turn to go, one of the huge doors swings wide to reveal a young woman with long red hair, ice blue eyes, and a frown the size of a Buick. Unfortunately for me, that frown is a familiar one.
“What do you want?” Her tone isn’t angry or impatient. It’s straight-up bored, as if she’s on the last hour of a double shift as a customer service rep and I had the misfortune to dial her extension.