SEAL the Deal(63)
“Really? That’s great!”
Lacey pulled her hair out of its clip. “Not just great—fantastic. It’s right on the Bay in a gated community. If I can sell this one, it will be more than I’ve made in an entire year in my life,” she said, putting particular emphasis on the last three words. “I’m meeting with the homeowner tomorrow morning to sign the papers. It was her mom that passed away—ninety-seven years old, and she had been living with her for years, taking care of her. So now she’s selling the house and moving to Hawaii.”
“Hawaii?”
“Yep. It’s been her lifelong dream. She’s so excited. Nice to sort of see a happy ending come from a funeral I crashed for a change.” She stretched out her legs in front of her. “Mick is taking me out to celebrate tonight. What are you up to?”
“I’m going to the mall to buy a crib, if I can just get the energy.”
Lacey’s face froze. “Really. Hmm. Well, which one did you pick out?”
“The most utilitarian one,” Bess said with a bit of a scowl.
“Oh, you mean the cheapest.”
Bess sighed. “Yeah. But it will do the trick.”
Lacey’s voice was strangely uneasy. “Um, why not join us for dinner instead? Mick’s buying, you know. You can really soak him.”
Bess laughed. “Thanks, no. I have to get this done. I have so little energy after a day of work, and it’s only going to get worse.”
Lacey all but physically blocked her path out of the kitchen. “Well, if you know what style you want, why don’t you just show me online, and I can pick it up for you?”
“It’s too much trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all, Bess. Really. You need to get rest when you can.”
Bess paused. They really were too protective of her. But her puffy feet stretching her old Nikes to capacity prodded her to say, “You really wouldn’t mind?”
“I love any excuse to go shopping. Besides, I have to go check out the baby stuff if I’m going to find something cute for the little girl when she gets here.”
“You guys really don’t have to get us anything. We’ll be fine on our own.”
Lacey rolled her eyes. “Will you quit it? You’ve already made us swear we won’t throw you a baby shower. You better not deprive us of doing a little baby shopping.”
Tears filled Bess’s eyes. “I really don’t deserve you guys.”
“Oh, honey,” Lacey said, her voice catching. “Yes, you do. Yes, you really do.”
***
“So tell me all about the possible listing.” Mick’s grin was wide, as he took her hand in both of his.
Sitting side by side in the secluded high-backed booth of a dimly lit restaurant, they were hidden enough from other patrons that Lacey was tempted to curl up on his lap.
“It’s gorgeous. Waterfront. Gated community.” Lacey shook her head, still unable to believe her own good fortune. “People will be clamoring for it. The properties in this community just don’t come on the market that often.”
“So how did she find you?”
Lacey’s heart nearly stopped. “I’m sorry. What?”
“How did you get the client? Was it a referral or something?”
Unable to lie, she blurted, “You know, I really shouldn’t even talk about it until the contract is signed tomorrow. I might jinx it.”
Mick shook his head with a smirk. “You’re so superstitious.”
“Can’t help it.” Lacey attempted to smile.
“Well, contract or not, you should be proud she even called you. Your name is obviously getting out there.”
And you have no idea how, Lacey thought grimly, fighting the urge to come clean.
“Your career is really taking shape,” Mick continued, rubbing her hand with pride, apparently unaware of the moral war waging in Lacey’s head.
“And how about you?” Tugging her hand free and reaching for her wine glass, Lacey tried to divert attention from herself. The guilt was suffocating. “How are your plans shaping up to get you back on the road to San Diego?”
Mick gave a slight nod of thanks to the waitress as she put the cheese fondue in front of them. “Actually,” he began, refilling Lacey’s glass from the half-empty bottle of wine, “I may have some good news myself before the school year is out.”
“Really?”
“There’s an Admiral I knew when I was stationed in Rhode Island. He’s in Qatar now, but heading to the Pentagon in a couple months to do some briefs. We’ve got dinner on the schedule.” Mick took a sip of his drink. “I’m hoping he might be able to pull a few strings and get me out of this job early and into something better for my career.”