NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN,Dillon,” said Mindy. The three of them were in the library having cocktails before dinner.
“You too, Ms. Temple.”
“Please, it’s Mindy. You don’t work for Rhett anymore.”
He nodded and looked her over. She was as lean and fit as ever, but there was puffiness in her face that he hadn’t noted before.
“How’s your daughter?”
“Mandy is fine. Growing like a weed. She’s already in bed.” She glanced at Temple. “Rhett told me that you know about. . .?”
“Yes. I’m glad she’s doing well and hasbothher parents around.”
Temple had just swallowed some of his scotch and almost coughed it back up.
“Yeah, lucky little kiddo,” he said, giving Nash an unfriendly look.
A minute later dinner was announced, and they went into the dining room.
The conversation was listless if amiable.
“This place is so big that our toddler Mandy gets lost sometimes,” said Mindy as they were finishing dessert.
“Hell, so do I,” groused Temple. “It should have its own fucking zip code.”
“Rhett, I told you before about your language. Mandy can pick it up.”
“But Mandy’s not here now, is she?” countered Temple. In a low voice that probably only he could hear he added, “Thank God.”
Mindy turned to Nash. “I never really saw myself as a mother, but now? I really can’t see myself as anything else.”
Nash almost slipped and said something about his wife feeling the same way.
“Being a mother is the toughest job in the world. But probably the most rewarding.”
Temple poured himself more wine. “Okay, can we talk about something else? I feel like I’m in a Hallmark movie, and in case you didn’t know, I’m not a fan.”
Mindy said, “Where did you and Dillon go? You just said a road trip.”
“We had some business we were conducting on behalf of a third party,” Temple answered vaguely, glancing at Nash.
“Is the business done then?” asked Mindy.
“Work in progress,” Temple said casually, sipping his drink. He looked around the grand room. “You know, I like my penthouse a lot better. This place actually gives me the creeps. It’s like a museum.”
“We can move into your penthouse,” Mindy said quickly. “There’s plenty of room for Mandy and her things. And there’s a separate suite for her nanny.”
“No, nope. The penthouse is my escape place. Where I get to be, well, me.”
“I just thought—” began Mindy before Temple cut in.
“We are not married, Min. And we are never going to be married, okay?”
Mindy shot Nash an embarrassed look. “Please, Rhett, this is not the time or place.”
“Well, you just don’t seem to takeneverfor an answer. With capital appreciation you now have well over 300 million bucks in an investment portfolio that throws off nearly ten million a year just in interest and dividends, and a lot of it tax-free. You can go anywhere, buy anything. You’d be a great catch for some guy looking to score an easy life.”
“That isnothow I want to find my life partner,” replied Mindy primly, shooting Nash another embarrassed look.