He straightened and started around the front of the car. “Let’s go. It’s a solid four-and-a-half-hour drive to Labyrinth Springs, and that’s assuming no car trouble.”
She did not respond, nor did she make any move to get into the car. It was important to start as one meant to go on.
Simon got halfway around the front of the convertible before he stopped abruptly. Without a word he turned around and returned to the passenger’s side of the vehicle. He opened the door for her.
She gave him a real smile and slipped into the butter-soft leather seat.
“Thank you,” she said.
“That’s right.” He closed the door. “It’s important to reward good behavior.”
“This is going to be a very long drive, isn’t it?”
“I have a radio. We won’t have to amuse each other with scintillating conversation.”
“Too bad. I’m quite good at conversation.”
“Believe it or not, I already figured that out.”
He rounded the long hood of the Cord, opened the door on the driver’s side, and got behind the wheel. He took a pair of sunglasses out of his shirt pocket, put them on, and fired up the engine.
She pulled a green silk scarf out of her handbag, folded it into a triangle, and put it over her hair.
“Am I allowed to remind you that this honeymoon cover was your idea?” she asked, knotting the scarf under her chin.
“That would be rude,” he said. He pulled away from the curb. “But I probably deserve it.”
“I like a man who takes responsibility for his behavior.” She opened her handbag again, took out a pair of sunglasses, and slipped them on. “If you regret suggesting I accompany you as your bride, why did you come up with the idea in the first place?”
“I couldn’t think of any other way to keep an eye on you. And you were planning to continue the investigation on your own. Admit it.”
“Of course I would have continued looking for Raina, with or without a fake husband.”
“I knew it.”
She settled back into the seat. “Besides, although you had no way of knowing it, this trip to Labyrinth Springs will allow me to cross off one of the items on my personal agenda.”
He stopped the car at an intersection and glanced at her. “What’s that?”
“Checking into a hotel with a man who isn’t my husband.”
“Is that your idea of a joke?”
“Nope. I’m serious.”
“What else is on this agenda of yours?”
“Lots of things I haven’t done because I wasted too much time trying to be the perfect daughter and prove to my father that I was mature enough and smart enough to take over his business. After I graduated from college I talked my father into hiring me. I started in the mail room of Brazier Shipping and worked my way up to the head office. I wanted to learn every aspect of the business. I was Father’s assistant until a few weeks ago.”
“What happened a few weeks ago?”
“I quit. It’s complicated. I’m hoping my new career as a private investigator will make it possible for me to fill in my résumé.”
“What résumé?”
“Just an expression. What I’m trying to explain is that when I get old I want to be able to look back on an interesting past.”
“I saw the article in yesterday’s edition of theHerald. Looks like you’ve already got an interesting past.”
