Carly Phillips - Lucky Break

“I’ve got this. You go check out the bedroom, open the windows to air it out-if they aren’t Super Glued sheet. Same with the rest of the house.”

She didn’t mind taking orders if it meant he was protecting her from rodents. “What are you going to do with it?”

“I thought I’d take it for a ride and let it go somewhere far away. Okay with you?” he asked.

She nodded, feeling silly. “Thanks.”

She left the room without looking back. For the next few hours, she holed up in her grandmother’s study, poring over business papers for names. Some Lauren recognized, others she didn’t. None were related to the workers who’d been in the house since she’d begun renovations and her frustration grew.

She called the insurance company and asked how to file a claim. They promised to get an adjuster in touch with her in a few days. She explained she didn’t have the time to spare, that she needed to get started on fixing what had been ruined in the fire, but they insisted she leave things until the inspection.

She lowered her head to her hands and fought back tears of anger and frustration. If she didn’t get this house sold, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it would mean she’d have 2500 square feet still on her shoulders-her responsibility and depleting her bank account.

Lauren knew she still had the chest in her grandmother’s closet to look through, something she’d been putting off because she sensed the drawers contained more personal items and papers. Considering their rocky relationship, Lauren felt like an intruder, looking through Mary Perkins’s private things. The fire gave her the excuse and push she needed.

She rose, stretching her legs, but before she could head to her grandmother’s room, Lauren heard voices coming from down the hall. Jason had his crew here, not just for work but to question them about the fire, but the voices Lauren heard didn’t belong to the men. She’d grown used to the low timbre of their conversation.

She stepped into the hall and saw Amber and Gabrielle, as well as Jason’s cousin Derek and a man she didn’t recognize.

“Hi,” she said warily.

“Hi,” both men said.

“I’m Mike Corwin,” the good-looking, dark-haired stranger said.

Lauren nodded, noting the family resemblance. “Lauren Perkins.”

He shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Same here.” She had no idea what they wanted. “What’s going on?” Lauren asked.

Jason strode to her side. “Derek was just about to tell us.”

“We were,” Derek said. “But I think it’s best if you hear it from Gabrielle.”

“And Amber-” Mike added.

“Both have something to tell you,” Derek said.

And from the serious look in everyone’s eyes, Lauren suspected they wouldn’t like what they were about to hear.

JASON PROPPED one shoulder against the wall and glanced at Gabrielle and Amber as they walked down the hallway. Even to Lauren’s untrained eye, the two women looked guilty, looking everywhere but at Lauren or Jason.

“Tell them,” Mike instructed, staring at his wife.

“We…umm…we did a few things to the house,” Gabrielle said. She glanced down at her colorful Emilio Pucci rain boots, which Lauren loved.

But now wasn’t the time to discuss fashion. Lauren’s stomach churned as she asked, “You did what to the house?”

“And why?” Alert and wary, Jason straightened and stared at the women in confusion.

Amber stepped forward. “It’s like this. We were having a Ladies’ Night at The Wave. It’s something we do once a month, Gabrielle, myself, Sharon and sometimes Clara.”

“And we’d very much like you to join us next time.” Gabrielle treated Lauren to a wide smile.

Derek rolled his eyes. “Quit stalling.”

“And trying to soften her up,” Mike said. “Just tell her.”

Amber sighed. “I’m getting there. Anyway, it was right after the fall festival and we already knew you two had sort of hooked up.”

Lauren’s cheeks flared hot but she forced herself not to touch her face and call attention to her embarrassment.

“We immediately saw the potential for the two of you,” Gabrielle continued. “It was obvious how different Jason seemed after that night. So we figured we’d just help Cupid along, so to speak.”

Jason narrowed his gaze. “Help how?”

Gabrielle swallowed hard. “Well, we didn’t want to do any harm. We just wanted to keep you two together. So-”

“We bought pet mice at Petco and snuck inside-did you know the locks are pretty flimsy? Easily picked.” Amber’s words rushed together quickly.

“Then we let the mice loose in the house.” Gabrielle stared at a point over her husband’s shoulder, unwilling to meet anyone’s gaze.

“Actually I let the mice loose,” Amber admitted.

Mike muttered a curse.

Derek said something about stupidity and meddling women.

Jason’s jaw merely hung open.

And Lauren couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “The mice are pets? As in people actually want to own them?”

Gabrielle nodded. “They spend hard-earned money on them.”

“Hold on!” Derek said. “That’s what’s bothering you about all this? Aren’t you upset that they broke in and meddled in your life?”

“Hey!” Amber said, sounding affronted. “That’s a really negative spin on things. We were just trying to help!” She placed her hands on her hips and glared at her husband’s cousin.

Gabrielle walked over to Derek and calmly stroked his arm. “We just wanted to give Jason a reason to have to stick close to Lauren. Most normal women who see a mouse would freak and not want to be alone.”

“It worked,” Lauren admitted, shaking her head in disbelief.

“But she’s petrified of rats and mice!” Jason exploded. “And for good reason, not that it’s any of your business! Do you have any idea how stupid your plan was?”

The women winced and neither male Corwin cousin stepped in to protect his wife from Jason’s anger. They obviously agreed with his assessment. And though Lauren should as well, she just couldn’t manage to get upset with them. All she could think about was that, unlike Jason’s father and uncles, these women didn’t mind her relationship with Jason. She wasn’t sure where his cousins fell on the Perkins scale, but they seemed more upset with their wives’ behavior than Jason and Lauren.

“Jason, they meant well,” Lauren said, standing up for Amber and Gabrielle. “And they apologized. That ought to count for something.”

Jason frowned, clearly unwilling to forgive and forget just yet. “Why are you confessing now?” he asked, shooting his cousins a look of pity for having to deal with these two women.

Amber groaned. “Because I was in town and I heard the fire was deliberately set-which means we weren’t the only ones doing things in the house. So we wanted you to know we were responsible for the mice-” She hesitated. “And gluing the windows.”

“That would be me,” Gabrielle admitted with a wave of her hand.

Jason shook his head hard. “For the love of God, why?”

Gabrielle and Amber glanced at each other before Gabrielle answered. “I’m not really sure. We tossed around ideas to keep Jason working for Lauren that didn’t amount to more than a nuisance. We didn’t touch the wiring or the fuse box or anything dangerous!”

“The mice worked and Jason started staying over,” Amber said. “And that should have been enough, but I felt since I’d done the mice, it was only fair Gabrielle dirty her hands, too. So I pushed her into doing the gluing.” Amber lowered her eyes, embarrassed.

“We are so sorry,” they said at the same time.

Gabrielle walked over and put a hand on Lauren’s shoulder. “I realize how ridiculous it all seems now but I assure you that at the time-”

“And over drinks-” Amber added.

“It all seemed rational,” Gabrielle concluded.

Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. “I swear these two shouldn’t get together,” he muttered.

“It’s okay,” Lauren said. “As crazy as it sounds, with everything going on in my life, I needed a laugh and you’ve given me one.”

“So you’re not mad?” Amber asked.

Lauren shook her head. “I’m not.”

“Jason?” Gabrielle asked.

He glanced heavenward. “I’m stupefied.”

Mike grinned. “It’s a state I’ve become used to.”

“So you forgive us?” Gabrielle looked unconvinced.

Jason slowly nodded. “If Lauren’s not mad, then neither am I.”

Gabrielle’s shoulders slumped in relief.

“Thank you! We’ll make it up to you,” Amber promised.

Lauren grinned. She knew exactly what she wanted in return. “How about you tell me where you got those gorgeous boots!”

“Bloomingdale’s,” the other woman said. “Do you want to plan a shopping trip?”

“Thursdays are my day off,” Amber said. “So if not today, next week?”

Lauren shook her head, wishing she could take them up on their offer. Not only did she love clothes and shopping, but a girls’ day out sounded like a treat. One she couldn’t afford, not in time or in cash.

“I’d love to but I need to spend my free time here.” She gestured around the house. “It’s got to be finished by December first.”

Amber perched her hands on her hips and surveyed her surroundings. “Can we help?”

Lauren shook her head. She’d never impose. “No, thank you, but I really appreciate the offer.”

“How are things going?” Derek asked.

“Other than the fire damage? It’s coming along slowly but surely,” Jason said. “I’m tackling things room by room so at least there’ll be finished components by the deadline.”

“Where did the fire start?” Mike asked.

“The fire department said the wires in the electrical panel were tampered with,” Lauren said.

Mike let out a slow whistle. “Any suspects?”

“Plenty of people with access. Nobody with motive.”

“If you need any help, don’t hesitate to give me a call,” his cop cousin offered.

“Now that you mention it,” Jason said, “if I give you a list of people, can you run simple checks for me? See if anyone had any connections to Lauren’s grandmother or sister? I’m looking for a motive. A reason for someone to want to sabotage this house.”

“Anything I can do,” Mike promised.

Jason slapped his cousin on the back. “Thanks.”

“Same for us,” Amber reminded Lauren. “If you change your mind and decide you need any help cleaning out the house, give us a ring.”

Goodbyes said, Mike and Derek ushered their wives out of the house, leaving Lauren with the impression they weren’t finished lecturing the two women. But despite the anger, there was plenty of love between these couples, as well.

Lauren envied them.

LAUREN HAD BEEN RIGHT about the police confiscating her grandmother’s papers for evidence, and since her sister had taken many of the notes, they’d kept things for a potential trial. Even the small cabinet in her grandmother’s closet had been emptied. Just when she’d given up finding anything helpful, Lauren had remembered that her grandmother’s night table drawer had a secret compartment. When she was a little girl, Mary used to leave surprise gifts for Lauren and Beth there. So many bad memories had taken place in recent years, she’d almost forgotten there had been any good ones.

Inside the secret compartment, Lauren found an old diary. The book was small, bound in tan leather with dog-eared pages. Since she probably wouldn’t find anything recent or relevant to her problems inside, Lauren placed the diary on her pillow to look through after she’d finished her work for the day.

Hours later, she finally curled up in bed with the diary. Jason eased in beside her. “Anything interesting in it?” he asked.

She flipped through, taking care with the thin, often cracked pages. “I’m not sure. I don’t even recognize the writing.”

He propped himself against the pillows and headboard and she scooted backward, curling into him so they could look together. As she scanned the pages, she realized that something liquid had spilled on the old pages. Although the paper had long since dried, it was yellowed and the writing had smudged.

What was clear, however, was that the entries had been made by one of Lauren’s ancestors.

“It looks like it’s written by another Mary Perkins,” Lauren said, excited. “Not my grandmother, but an earlier one.”

“Interesting,” he said, nuzzling her neck in a blatant attempt to distract her with sex.

And oh how she wanted to be distracted. In a few minutes. After she examined the diary a little longer.

He ran his tongue up and down her throat, but receiving no response, groaned, “I’ll wait.”

“Thanks. I’ll make it up to you.” And she had every intention of keeping her word.