Page 104 of Just My Luck
My fingers twitched as I glanced at the clock. Abel was working at the brewery, and since he wasn’t staying at the house, I wanted to steal a few moments with him. Still, I knew Russell King was a powerful man, and if there was any way he might be able to help me, I’d be a fool not to take it.
Right?
Indecision gnawed at me.
“How about some lemonade and cookies? I won’t keep you long.” There was a softness in his request I wasn’t expecting.
“Um... okay. Sure.” I swallowed past the regret.
“Wonderful. I’ll be expecting you.” Russell King ended the call, and my stomach flopped over.
The drive to the King estate was short. Pulling down the long driveway, I was reminded of my first meeting with Abel’s father. I had been so nervous that he would suspect the marriage between Abel and me was fake. Now, I knew it was real and, still, the looming house filled me with unease.
I knocked, and Russell opened the door with a wide smile. He was dressed in a collared knit shirt, beige dress pants, andloafers. If I squinted hard enough, it reminded me of what Jared might grow to look like in a few decades.
“Sloane.” He stepped aside to open the door and stretched out his arms. “Please, come in.”
I ducked through the doorway, sidestepping him to avoid an awkward embrace. His hand landed softly on my back.
“Please, come this way. The office can be so stuffy. I have refreshments in the solarium.”
I followed behind him, taking in the grandeur and opulence of the King estate.
The interior was pristine. Sunlight danced through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow over the tastefully arranged furniture. Every corner exuded a sense of sophistication, with delicate lighting hanging from the high ceilings, and thick drapes cascading gracefully down the windows.
“This way, you remember,” he said. “It may not be as lovely as the wedding shower Bug decorated for, but I always enjoy a sunny spot.”
Together we walked to the back of the house, toward the solarium. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling glass. Without the wedding shower decorations, the windows provided an unobstructed view of the sprawling backyard. The home may have been nestled amid lush greenery and picturesque surroundings, but it stood as a testament to the King family’s wealth and opulence. It lacked the warmth and coziness of the home Abel had carved out for himself.
My soul ached at the mere thought of my husband.
Russell gestured toward a small tray with a plate of cookies and two tall glasses of iced lemonade.
I forced a smile. “It’s lovely. Thank you.”
Carefully, I sat down, and Russell took the seat next to me. A small table with our refreshments stood between us. He slid it in my direction. “Please. Enjoy.”
The glass was cool in my hands. I placed it against my lips and took a small sip. The lemonade was the perfect balance of sweet and sour. “Thank you.”
Russell did not move toward his glass, but rather folded his hands in his lap. A gold pinkie ring with a small diamond winked in the sunlight. “Outtatowner is a hidden gem, don’t you think?”
I smiled. “It’s perfect.”
He leaned back. “I thought so too. Nestled against the Western Michigan shores, you’ve got beauty and grandeur. I’m able to maintain my business and travel to Chicago when needed, but outside of our little town, very few people have heard of it. It’s quiet. Secluded.”
I stared down at my lemonade. “I think that’s why I chose here. I needed a fresh start, and my granddad was here. It seemed too good to be true.”
Russell nodded. “Bax Robinson is a good man. I’ve known him for many years.” His hand ran the length of his thigh. “Bit of a shame about his farmhouse—though I hear you’ve started rebuilding.”
I nodded. “Home Again Designs are taking on the renovation. It’s going to be really beautiful.”
He hummed, disgust laced in the single sound.
Russell King was known to hold grudges, and it was clear he did not like that I was associating with Kate Sullivan and the design company she ran with her husband.
He leaned against the armrest. “I don’t want you to worry, my dear. That’s why I asked you to come.”
I tipped my chin toward him, and my brows cinched down.