stroking her pretty face.
“You look so out of place in here,” Elaine commented when I stepped back out, and there was a pretty little smirk on her face, even through the chaos and fear. “I mean you looked pretty out of place at the house, but this is a whole other league.”
“You’re virtually reading my mind now,” I said, and that smirk stayed bright on her.
“Maybe we really are star-crossed lovers after all. Our minds and hearts in perfect alignment.”
I was coming close to actually believing her.
11
Elaine
I was so nervous as we gathered our things ready to go. No, nervous doesn’t cut it. I was terrified.
I had a battered old suitcase of Jemma’s with her clothes inside and was dressed in a way I’d never been dressed before. I’d chosen as casual as I could, hoping it disguised me as well as humanly possible. I had a tight little t-shirt on with be the world’s best friend on it in scrawly script under a big loose green sweater, and faded jeans that fitted me just fine. Her sneakers were okay on my feet, besides being a little bit big. It would do okay. I hoped so anyway.
I appeared nothing like my usual self with my hair scraped up into one of her hair bands, and that was a good thing.
Lucian nodded his approval. “You make that look damn fine.”
“Thanks,” I said, then took a solid look at him. He was in by far the most casual combination he was able to muster from the clothes I’d packed for him. He was wearing some loose joggers with a sports sweater on over the top. Unfortunately, his head still looked very, very much like Lucian Morelli, the sculpted god.
I just hoped they’d let him on that plane without realizing.
“Just a few hours left,” he told me, but I already knew that. I was counting down every minute.
He gestured to the cash cases on the living room floor.
“Take what you want for your friend, just make sure we have plenty left for our airport deal.”
As soon as I opened the case, I realized that his idea of leaving some money for Jemma and my idea of leaving some money for Jemma were very, very different things. A couple of little bundles would easily be enough to make her faint in shock.
The letter I wrote for her brought a tear to my eye.
Be you, forever, because you are amazing. Just a shame I won’t be able to share that forever with you. You’ve been such an important friend to me. I’ll miss you for all time.
Love, Elaine.
P.S. use the money to save the planet if you want to, but use it to save your wardrobe, too.
Oh, and please at least allow yourself some little treats before you donate it all to charity.
P.P.S. I’ve included another little pile for Tristan, too. If you could please pass it on to him, I’d be grateful.
Lucian scanned my letter as I put it on the kitchen countertop along with the six bundles of cash.
“Wow,” I said as he reached into a cash case and pulled out another two bundles, placing them next to the others.
“I know these people mean a lot to you. I’m sure the money will mean a lot to them.”
I would have never expected the monster Morelli to be so generous. Even now, after all the shockers I’d witnessed from him, this was one of the biggest.
Clearly he could see that. He brushed it aside like it was nothing.
“We can’t take the cash anyway, Elaine. It’s hardly me being Mr. Compassionate.”
But it was.
Lucian sure was turning out to be Mr. Compassionate to me.
Slowly but surely the minutes ticked by. The afternoon matured until it was ripe for us to leave, and there we were, gathering our pitiful excuses for belongings ready to go.
I cast one last look around the place before we stepped out into the hallway, then I locked up behind us.
I kissed my fingers and pressed them to the door.
“See you later, Jemma,” I whispered, and then I followed Lucian down the corridor.
The street was pretty busy when we headed outside and began our walk. The taxi stand was a few blocks away and luckily we got there just fine without anyone shooting us too much of a glance—or actually shooting us.
The cab driver was barely interested in us when we slipped into the back seat.
“JFK Airport, please,” Lucian said and he gave us a nod.
“Sure.”
We didn’t speak in the cab, just stared