The Redo (Winslow Brothers #4) (114)

She paces the hardwood floor, and I already know why. Claudia is the worst assistant on the planet. She’s disorganized, forgetful, and is shit at reading people. Truthfully, I’m wondering why Maria isn’t having Tonya deal with whatever it is she’s trying to get Claudia to do.

“Yes, it is Saturday,” Maria answers and puts the phone on speaker while she grabs a bottle of water from the fridge. “But all it’s going to take is some phone calls, Claudia. I’m not asking you to go to the mortgage broker’s house for cocktails.”

“But I have yoga at four,” Claudia whines, and it sounds like she’s chewing gum between words. “And then I’m supposed to do champagne dinner with the girls.”

Maria lets her head fall back on a quiet groan.

“Can’t it wait until Monday?”

“The goal of you reaching out to them today is so that, on Monday, they start the week focused on our client.”

“So, like, I don’t need to actually talk to anyone?”

Maria sighs. “No, that’s not the goal. The goal is to talk to Hank, our client’s mortgage broker, and find out what in the hell is going on with the underwriters.”

“Who are the underwriters again?” she questions. “They sound scary.”

“The people who approve the loan, Claudia.”

“Oh.” More gum chewing.

More sighing from Maria.

I just stand in the kitchen holding the bouquet of white lilies in my hands, trying to figure out when I need to step into this conversation and discreetly remind Claudia of the plan I discussed with her weeks ago.

The plan that included me surprising Maria with a tropical getaway for just the two of us that includes zero work.

I guess it’s a good thing that I also managed to rope Tonya into the big surprise. Surely she’ll be able to keep Claudia on task between her yoga and boozy dinners.

“So, I just, like, need to call them, right?”

“Yep,” Maria responds, popping the p in frustration. “You call Hank and remind him that we’re waiting on the underwriters to approve the final conditions the Langleys sent over on Thursday.”

“Ohhhhh-kay. Whatever you say, boss.”

Once Maria ends the call, most of her hope and all of her patience gone, she turns around to find me standing in the kitchen and nearly jumps out of her skin. “Oh my God, Rem!” One petite hand goes to her chest. “You scared the crap out of me!”

“Sorry,” I say through a smile. “But I didn’t want to interrupt the important meeting of the minds.”

“Oh yeah.” She snorts and drops her hand back to her side. “Some meeting of the minds.”

“I take it Claudia is still being Claudia.”

She nods, and then she moves her eyes down to the flowers in my hand. “Flowers?”

“For you.” I grin and hold them out toward her. The way her face lights up makes my heart feel like it’s playing bumper cars with my lungs.

“That was so sweet, Rem,” she says and steps forward to press a gentle kiss to my lips. “Thank you.”

But when she starts to step away, I wrap my hands around her waist, smooshing the flowers between our chests, and deepen the kiss. Maria giggles, but eventually, she falls into the rhythm and kisses me back with the same fervor.

Once I feel like she’s good and relaxed, I step back and prepare to reveal my big surprise. “So…I have some news.”

“Yeah?” Maria starts to turn around and put the flowers in a vase, but she stops with her hand in midair, seeking out a vase from the cabinet. “Wait…where’s my Izzy girl, by the way? Taking a nap?”

“Actually, she’s at my mom’s house.”

“What?” She tilts her head to the side. “Why?”

“Because of the surprise.”

A cheeky smile crests her mouth. “And do I need to be naked right now for this surprise?”

“Already loving where your head’s at, but…you’re going to have to stay dressed for our flight. The FAA strongly enforces clothing for at least takeoff and landing.”

“Our flight?”

“I’m taking you somewhere, and I’ve already made all the appropriate arrangements. My mom will keep Izzy. The cleaner is going to check on the fish. Claudia has been made aware,” I start to explain, but when she looks terrified, I add, “And Tonya is also aware. Which, I have a feeling, Tonya will be the one making sure Daniel and Brenda are holding down the fort while you’re gone.”

“Wait…you’re not joking,” she comments and sets the flowers down on the counter.

“Nope. This is the real deal, babe.” I step forward to wrap my arms around her waist again. “You and I are going to enjoy a little getaway for a few days.”

My words give her pause. “And Izzy is going to stay with your mom the entire time?”

I nod. “She is.”

Maria digs her teeth into her bottom lip. It’s the look of a woman who is at war with herself. The look of a mother who is trying to decide whether she can be okay with leaving her baby in someone else’s care for a few days.

“You deserve this, Maria,” I reassure her. “You deserve to enjoy a few days in the Bahamas.”