ring Aliyah’s request for directions. His

working on the car in the garage had begun to stare at them, and a third tattooed guy watched them from behind the

came to life and the handsome stranger stepped slowly away from the car. In the rearview mirror, Aliyah spotted something lik

*

e stopped at all. If she hadn’t stopped she probably wouldn’t have been on the verge of such a sour mood. And, when she saw t

lumns. The pure white from the photo was actually a putrid gray-yellow. There were a few broken w

what she s

. There appeared to be some old furniture still covered in

take a whole week just to get this

the manor would probably add another couple months to her schedule. She hated to think what the inside might look

’s office. This was the first time she’d talk to him on the phone, and she knew she

etary but was qu

o I have the pleasur

something off-putting in his voice.

I’ve arrived at the manor. I realize I’m a few hours early, but I was hoping we could mee

d my afternoon so I could welcome you to the town. In fact, I coul

sides worry about what the inside of the house looked like, she set a timer on her phone to allow for a short nap. W

the car. You could see it in the way he flattened his eyebrows and straightened his cuff links. He had fine blond hair and a round chin. He was fairly tall and thin. His bi

n his tracks, visibly shocked. Aliyah thought she had missed a cra

toward her. “I’m sorry for gawking,” he said grabbing

ile. “Thanks.” She hesitated to know what to say next. “Well…” she stumbled, “I hate to be so blunt, but the

touched for about seven years. I suppose I should have had my secretary update the photo

nt response. Even now he was stand

require more work than I previously quoted you for. I’d lik

mm

his eyes in thought and cont

osal!” he fina

ed for an e

Dinner,” he said with a twitch of one of his eyebro

didn’t want to go to dinner with this haughty man, s

looked back at Aliyah. “Oh, and Aliyah, this place is a 5-star

nd dirty converse and over to her ‘02 Chevy Blazer. She said to her car, “Do I l