Mischief in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #2)(54)

Sabine felt all her resolve crumble. “God help me, Maryse. I am scared to death. I’ve never felt this way about someone. I mean, I hardly know him. How can he have this effect on me?”

Maryse reached over and took her friend’s hand. “I don’t have an answer for you, even now that I’ve lived it myself. You were always the one that believed everything had intent and purpose—bad and good. Maybe people are linked before this life and if they find each other again, that link overrides everything lived this lifetime.”

“I don’t know that I believe in past lives,” Sabine said.

“Okay, so what if your souls were hanging out in the same office before they were assigned a mother? Whatever you want to believe. I just know that when I met Luc, I felt things I hadn’t felt before, and I’m not just talking about the sexual attraction—although certainly that was part of it.” She blew out a breath. “As a scientist, I want to think maybe it’s pheromones or some other biological draw that happens to fit Luc and I together better than I’d fit with others. Maybe he’s the first man I’ve met with the same biological imperative that matches mine.”

Sabine studied her friend. “You don’t believe that for a minute, do you?”

“No. I believe it’s love.”

Sabine squeezed Maryse’s hand, so profoundly happy for her friend and yet scared to take the same gamble herself.

“There’s no scientific explanation for love, Sabine, but we can’t deny its existence.”

“I barely know him,” Sabine argued.

“Yet you’re drawn to him.”

“It might just be lust.”

“What’s the downside if it is?”

Sabine stared down at the bed. “What if I die?” she whispered.

Maryse hugged her. “What if you don’t?”





[page]Chapter Thirteen




Sabine shoved the medical files Helena stole into a backpack for Maryse and played lookout since her friend insisted on sneaking out the hotel’s back way to avoid Mildred. Sabine had barely made it back to her room before her cell phone rang. It was a number she didn’t recognize and she was surprised and pleased to hear Beau’s voice when she answered.

“I’m at the lab in New Orleans. Raissa dropped the scanner off here, so I’m heading back that way in a few minutes, but something else has come up.”

Sabine felt her pulse quicken. “With the tests?”

“No. It will be a while before we know something for certain on that end. I got a call from the Fortescues’ attorney. He wants to talk to you at his office this afternoon. I started to say no because of everything that happened last night, but I didn’t want to tip our hand on the poisoning. If he hears through the grapevine, that’s one thing, but I thought we’d better keep it quiet as long as we can.”

“Definitely. No, you did the right thing. So did you tell him I’d be there?”

“I told him I’d check with you. He got a little agitated and asked for your cell number, which I refused to give him.”

“What do you think he wants?”

“I don’t know, but my guess is the Fortescues are putting some pressure on him about something. I don’t think he’ll be put off forever. More likely if you don’t show up there, he’ll show up in Mudbug.”

Sabine stepped to the window and looked out across Main Street at her shop. “You think I should go?”

“I think…oh hell, I don’t know what I think. I’m in a bad position here, Sabine. Professionally, my mind is screaming for you to go because whatever he wants might give us some insight into all the other things going on. Personally, my mind is screaming at me to drag you to New Orleans and put you in a safe house.”

Sabine thought about her upcoming radiation treatment. “That’s not an option. I have something important to do next week.”

“Something worth risking your life for?”

Sabine pressed her fingers to her temple. The irony was overwhelming. “In this case, yes.”

“Care to tell me what it is?”

“No. There are certain aspects of my life that I intend to keep private. This has nothing to do with the other situation, I assure you.”

“Fine.” His voice was short and Sabine could tell he was frustrated with her.

“Do you have the attorney’s number so that I can schedule the appointment?”

“I’ll do it. Is four-thirty okay?”

Sabine glanced down at her watch. Two and a half hours from now. “I’m sure it will be fine. I just need to check with Maryse about driving me there. Mildred is hellbent on me not driving and won’t give me back my car keys.”

“Don’t worry about it. I plan on going with you. I want to see what Mr. Alford has to say.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“Yes, it is. I have a lot of experience at reading people and probably know more about the law than you do. I want to make sure this attorney isn’t trying to pull something off for those nuts.”

“Fine, but there’s someone else I want to try to see while we’re there, if she’ll meet with me, that is.”

“Who?”