all those emotions he felt for Violet behind the proper, impersonal attentiveness of a bodyguard.
“You do,” Kevin said. “You look beautiful.”
Violet rolled her eyes, but she blushed. “You’re both crazy. Or blind. But thank you.” She patted Kevin’s hand. She didn’t see what that simple touch did to him, because she was looking at me instead.
I kept my gaze off Kevin. No need to torture the man. “So when’s the big move?”
“Last week,” she said.
Correction. She was very good at playing this game. I hadn’t even heard a hint of a rumor.
“I would have contacted you earlier, but on top of all this, I’ve been trying to get everything ready for the baby. I know I still have three months to go, but I don’t want to put it off to the last minute, just in case.”
“Oh.” I wasn’t the maternal type. I had very little idea of what a baby needed. Blanket, bottle, diapers. Was there more to it? Nola, my best friend, never had kids. And my lack of social life hadn’t afforded me many baby showers.
“Do you . . . uh . . . need me to do anything for you, for that?” I asked.
“No, no, I’ve got it. There’s still a lot of time; I’m just putting my nervous energy to good use. Making lists. A lot of lists. I like lists.”
“Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?”
“Nope. And I won’t until he or she takes their first breath of air.” She picked up her cup again, took one last drink. That reminded me. I hadn’t finished my coffee, or even opened the bag with the scone yet.
“I do need to be going, though,” she said. “I have an appointment with the lawyers. If you need anything, or have any problems, I’d like you to let me know.” She stood, and I marveled at how her petite frame could be so rounded in front and otherwise look exactly the same.
Kevin was already on his feet, holding her coat out for her. All the sounds from the room came rushing in like someone had pulled plugs out of my ears. Kevin’s Mute spell was gone.
“I’ll call you when I move back into the condo, or if I hear anything about the legal actions.” Violet put on her coat. “And you call me if you are contacted by anyone, stockholders, members of the board, anyone. I want to know if they are offering you anything . . . interesting in return for favors.”
“Like I’d have anything to do with this political business maneuvering crap,” I said.
“We all have our price,” she said pleasantly.
“Did you just tell me I’m going to sell you out?”
“I don’t think you would, no. You’re . . .” She paused and gave me a critical look. Her eyebrows dipped. “What have you been doing lately, Allie? You look good.”
“Remodeling. Next door for the Hounds. Oh, and the whole three-meals-a-day thing is catching on.” Not lies. But not the whole truth. I’d been training my butt off. Physically and magically. And it showed. In all the right ways.
“Still seeing a self-defense teacher?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, but I had a feeling she didn’t think I was telling her the whole truth.
Note to self: tell my sibling never to lie to her.
“You were saying?” I prompted.
“Oh, right. Don’t get pregnant. It ruins your short-term memory.”
I was the last person she needed to explain memory loss to.
“Keep a journal,” I suggested, with as little sarcasm as possible.
She actually laughed at that. “I can’t believe I said that to you.” She pressed her fingertips against her lips. “Pregnant makes me a little stupid. I’m sorry.”
“At least you won’t be pregnant forever.” I gave her a crooked smile to take the sting out of my words.
“True. True. And I was saying you do have a price. We all do. It’s human nature. But you’re not easily bought.” She nodded. “You’re like your father in that. Unbreakable morals.”
I swear she and I had not known the same man.
My father, in my head, exhaled a moan, and the need, the loneliness, swelled in me.
“Take care, okay?” I said. “And let me know if you need anything. Anything I can do for you.” It came out soft, concerned. I didn’t know how much of it was me, and how much was my father.
Probably mostly me. When he tried to take control of my mouth, I got shoved into the back of my head and had to fight to regain control.
“I’ll be fine.” She