By the Book (Meant to Be #2)(17)

Blink



She giggled to herself as she pictured Priya’s reaction if she just left it at that.

Seriously, it’s fine, don’t worry. He’s terrible but not like that. This is honestly as much of a vacation as I’m going to get for a long time, might as well enjoy it



She’d better text her parents, too. They thought she’d taken a red-eye the night before and had gone straight into the office.

Hey, guys! Looks like I’ll be in California a few more days—my boss has me working with an author who lives here. Coming back Monday. Have a great weekend!



While she scrolled through her work email, her dad texted back.

Sounds like a great opportunity, honey! Have a great time.



She still didn’t understand why Beau Towers had emailed Marta. Why would he do that? She wondered how furious he was that Marta had railroaded him into letting her stay here.

Well, there was only one way to find out.

She got in the shower—which wasn’t as good as the bathtub, obviously, but was still excellent—got dressed, and went downstairs.

Michaela was at the kitchen table when she walked in. She set her teacup down and stood up.

“Good morning,” Michaela said. “Coffee or tea? And how do you feel about a cookie for breakfast?”

Izzy grinned at her. “I feel great about a cookie for breakfast. And coffee, please, if you have it.”

Michaela walked over to the coffeepot and poured coffee into a mug. “Milk? Sugar?”

“Just milk, thanks, but I can get it,” Izzy said. “How’s your ankle?”

Michaela glanced down. “Oh, it’s a lot better today, thanks again.” She put a cookie on a plate and handed it to Izzy. “So you’ll be here until next week?”

Beau had told Michaela. This must actually be happening.

“That’s what it looks like,” Izzy said. “I hope that’s not too much trouble for you?”

“Not at all,” Michaela said. “Let me know if you have questions about anything; I know this house pretty well.” She looked around the kitchen. “There’s always something around here for breakfast; I make lunch and dinner. But feel free to come in the kitchen and forage for snacks or whatever anytime.”

Izzy laughed. “Thank you, I’m kind of a snacker. I appreciate that.”

Michaela grinned. “Beau is also kind of a snacker, so I’ve stocked up. Let me know if there’s anything that you particularly want me to get you.”

She threw open a big cabinet, and Izzy’s mouth dropped open. The cabinet was like a snack wonderland. She immediately spotted a box of her favorite crackers, those fancy ones they had at work events with the fruit and nuts in them. There were also three kinds of cheese crackers, a few peppercorn flavored, some herb, some plain. Plus, an entire shelf full of potato chips, of many different flavors and brands, some of which she’d never even seen before. And then there was cereal, granola, popcorn, jerky, candy…Izzy had to turn away, she felt like she was getting woozy.

“Is this a magic house?” she asked.

Michaela just laughed. “Oh, and let me give you my number, in case there’s anything you need and you can’t find me.”

Izzy pulled her phone out of her pocket and typed in Michaela’s number. “Great, thanks. Also, I was wondering…did you knock on my door last night?”

Michaela shook her head. “Nope, I loaded the dishwasher and left.”

So it really had been Beau.

Just then, Michaela looked past Izzy’s shoulder. “Morning, Beau.”

Izzy took a sip of coffee before she turned around.

“Morning,” Beau mumbled as he walked into the kitchen. He didn’t even glance in Izzy’s direction.

“Beau, you should take Isabelle on a tour,” Michaela said. “I’d do it, but I can’t, because of my ankle.” She limped over to the kitchen table and sat down.

“A tour?” Beau stared at Michaela. He looked just as horrified about the prospect of giving Izzy a tour as Izzy felt about going on one. Last night had been disastrous enough—this felt like a terrible idea.

“You know, take her around the house and the gardens, make sure she knows the lay of the land, etc.”

Izzy almost laughed out loud. The house and the gardens? Was this a palace?

But then, a tour would force Beau Towers to talk to her, sort of. Maybe even about his memoir?

Would he let her actually help him with it? Unlikely. Would he even give her this tour? Almost certainly not.

“Fine,” he said. “Let’s go.”

That was surprising.

“After you,” he said, and gestured for her to precede him out of the kitchen. Oh, the tour was starting now? Okay.

Izzy downed the rest of her coffee before she walked by him and into the hallway. Good thing she’d put her work phone in her pocket before she’d come downstairs—if Marta sent an email that Izzy didn’t respond to right away, she’d flip out.

Beau joined her in the hallway and pointed back the way they came.

“Kitchen,” he said. He pointed next to it. “Dining room.”

Ah, this tour was just an excuse for him to be a jerk again. Got it.

He pointed back and to the left. “Michaela’s office.” He looked at her for the first time that morning. “The rest of this hallway is off-limits.” Then he walked off in the other direction.