An Unlikely Deal(49)

"Fine. Thank you," I say as ungraciously as possible, which elicits a laugh.

I manage a smile. But I can't shake off the unease.

* * *


Ava

Despite my worries, I end up with an extra five minutes before the appointment. Lucas has thought of everything. He had the concierge bring up my favorite face lotions and took my wrinkled dress and hung it in the bathroom while he showered so it was presentable again. That was considerate, since I don't have anything else to wear, and I didn't think beyond being with him last night.

The spa reception area isn't huge, but it's airy with bright cream colors, soft leather couches and oval glass-top tables. High-quality herbs and spices scent the air, and numerous vases with fresh roses and lilies occupy various nooks and crannies. A young, slim receptionist in a dark blue and cream dress informs me in excellent English to wait a bit and serves me my drink of choice-hot lemon tea with milk-in an elegant bone china cup with a saucer.

I take a quick sip of the tea. It's great, made with real lemon, not the cheap imitation goop you often find in Osaka supermarkets. I pull out my phone and text Ray and Darcy.

I'm coming back home soon, probably this week. Don't know exactly when yet. Will let you know. Miss you. Give Mia my love.

A couple minutes later, I get a call. "Ray! I didn't know you were still up."

"Mia's been a little fussy today. Darcy was with her, and I told her to get some sleep."

I wince. "Sorry she's such a difficult child." The apology slips out before I can stop myself. Every time she gets sick or acts in a manner that makes her less than perfect, I feel responsible.

"Ah, she's an angel. Even princesses have bad days." He chuckles. "Listen, I just wanted to make sure you're all right. Darcy said something about asking you to come home for Thanksgiving. But your vacation probably isn't gonna be long enough to make it worth your while to fly all the way out here, right? So what's going on?"

"Kind of a long story, but I think I'm moving back home. Permanently."

He's quiet for a moment. "You are? Did you resign?"

"Something like that."

"Okay. Well …  Do you have a place to stay?"

Probably Lucas's place in Charlottesville, but …  "Yes, I think so."

"It's a man, isn't it?"

"What?"

"You hesitated, and there's no way you just quit your job like that. The Japanese are bad about quitting."

It was Ray's expertise in Japanese history and culture that got me interested in working in the country in the first place. "Yes."

"He must be something special."

"He is." I turn away from the receptionist checking the computer and lower my voice. "It's Lucas."

"The Lucas from two years ago?" Ray asks sharply.

"Yes."

"Well …  I suppose I should say I'm glad you're getting back together."

My hand clenches and unclenches around the phone. "Ray."

"Does he know?"




 

 

"No."

In the silence, I can see Ray pinching his steel-gray eyebrows together. "So. You aren't one hundred percent certain about him, but somehow you quit your job to be with him."

Put that way, it does sound pretty crazy.

"Darcy's going to worry," he says.

"I know."

Ray sighs. "Can you send me your flight information as soon as you know? I'll pick you up from the airport."

"You don't need to-"

"I insist. So will Darcy. We've missed you, and Darcy's going to want to keep you under our roof and spoil you for a while."

And when Darcy wants to spoil you, you get spoiled. "Thank you." We'll discuss where I'm going to be living later-that's not a battle I want to fight at the moment.

"No need for thanks. That's what family's for."

My eyes prickle with tears. Ray and his wife, Darcy, are the ones who treated me like their own. Without them for foster parents, who knows how I might've ended up?

The receptionist smiles to signal that they're ready for me. I turn my attention back to the call. "I have to go, Ray. I'll text you the flight info as soon as I can."

"Great. Love you, Ava."

"I love you, too, Ray."

* * *


Lucas

Since I know Ava is going to cheap out on me-I don't trust that she'll get more than a foot massage-I call the spa and instruct them to give her the works. I want her happy, relaxed and glowing when she comes back.

I lean against the headboard and smile to myself. I wish I were there to see it when she realizes she's going to be pampered whether she likes it or not. Mostly so I could kiss away her annoyed scowl and taste that adorable pouty mouth.

My phone buzzes with a text. Ava, writing about my high-handedness? I should probably send her something inappropriate. Maybe a pec shot … or something more risqué. I snort with a suppressed laugh, but my humor vanishes when I see who it is from-Blake.