“That bastard.”
“Lots of people think so.” He nodded to Finn. “I’ll be going. If you have any questions about this, call me.”
“Still nothing on the Collective incidents?”
“Nothing more than what I updated you the last time.”
Finn shook his hand then Elise held out hers.
Damned, if Jeff didn’t get a kick out that!
* * *
Scarlet hummed as she set the table for dinner. She admired the festive green and gold color scheme. The doorbell rang, interrupting her rumination.
She crossed from the big dining room to the main area, into the foyer and opened the door. “Hey, hi Jules.”
“Hi, Scarlet. I came early to see if I could help.” She held up a basket. “The dessert needs refrigeration.”
“Come on in.” Juliet wore a green sundress and strappy golden sandals. “Hey, you match the table setting.”
They both laughed. Juliet always looked like a fragile princess with her blond hair pulled off her face, her pale skin and her long lean body.
“Let’s go into the kitchen to see what’s going on.”
They walked through other rooms to the large farmhouse sized kitchen. After stowing the dessert in the fridge, Juliet walked over to a wall which housed a fireplace. “This kitchen is beautiful. I love this brick.”
“Me, too.”
“As a matter of fact,” Scarlet said, “this is the best room in the house.”
“I don’t know. The great room is gorgeous, too.”
Her housekeeper came into the room. Scarlet introduced Mary Miller to her.
The doorbell rang again. “Would you get those glasses, Juliet while I answer the door?”
“Of course.”
Scarlet found Anabelle and Oliver on the big winding front porch. “Hey, you two. Welcome.”
They stepped inside and Anabelle handed her a big gold box. “I made you all different kinds of fudge.”
When she took it, Oliver leaned over and kissed Scarlet’s cheek. God that man always smelled like heaven.
Scarlet said, “Thanks Anabelle. I love sweets. And you look terrific in that peach sundress.”
“I think so, too.” Oliver again.
“Come sit in the great room.”
They greeted Juliet and took seats. “I have liquor and lots of wine.”
Juliet and Anabelle chose wine. Oliver asked for a scotch.
Scarlet served drinks then excused herself to check on the dinner again. “Did it come yet?” she asked Mary.
“Not for another half hour. Now I got this. Go have fun.”