She leaned back, her brow puckered. "Why do you keep calling me that?"
James tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Because you remind me of a cute, fluffy kitten who likes to hiss until it's stroked just right." He cupped her cheek, bringing her lips flush with his. "Then it arches into your hand and begs for more."
"Huh." Anna bit back a grin. She loved the description, but she wasn't about to tell him.
"Thank you for telling me, by the way," he said before cramming another bite of pancake into his mouth.
"Telling you what?"
"About your parents. I'm sorry. I can only imagine what it must have been like for you."
Anna looked at her plate and sighed. "It was rough. But thank god I had Aunt Louise. She’s been my rock."
"I can't wait to meet her. She gets here in a week?"
"Yes, and she extended her stay when she learned what the Royal Conch ladies have in store for her."
James chuckled. "I can only imagine what they've cooked up."
"Several parties, for which I’m sure you’ll receive invitations, and a full schedule of readings. Aunt Louise is a very talented tarot reader. She's exceptionally accurate," Anna explained.
He grinned as he took another bite. "I look forward to it." She watched as he finished off his plate and stole the remaining pieces from hers.
The sudden chill was Anna’s only warning as she felt an imperceptible shift in the air. An insistent tingle brushed her arm and Anna jumped, glancing to her side. The spot was empty, at least to the naked eye, but she knew very well when a spirit was trying to reach her.
A heavy wave of energy pushed at her—something she wouldn't have felt if her blocks were up. Alarmed, she hopped off the stool. She had an idea who was trying to get her attention, and there was no way she was prepared for it in her current state. She needed to bolster her defenses and privacy was a necessity.
"I'm sorry, James. I need to get moving." She kissed him on the cheek and scurried toward the door, grabbing her truck keys as she went.
"Wait!" he hollered, following her. "Anna, wait!"
She paused on the sidewalk, glancing over her shoulder.
He stood in the doorway, frowning, his eyes worried. "Did I say something wrong?"
She shook her head as she rushed to her truck. "No, you've done everything right." Anna launched in and rolled down the window. "I'll be back at six. I can't wait to see what you're making me for dinner," she teased.
She was rewarded when his posture relaxed and a goofy grin replaced the frown as he waved at her. Anna waved back as she pulled from the curb.
"Good morning, boss. You're looking well rested," Gwen commented. Her horn-rimmed glasses were perched precariously on the tip of her nose as she peered into the computer screen.
"I am rested. Finally got a full night’s sleep." He tipped his chair back and tapped a pen against his chin.
Gwen's eyes narrowed. "You look like you're up to something. What's going on? Is it what I think it is?"
Gwen had been his assistant for over a decade and knew him better than anyone. It was logical she'd read the decision on his face. "That depends on what you think it is."
"You want to sell." Her frown told him everything. She had been on the fence about him relocating to Key West and had considered it a temporary situation. But now she knew it wasn’t.
James dipped his chin. "I do. It's time and I don't fit there any longer. I belong down here."
There was a long pause as Gwen stared at him. "Okay," she finally drawled, a tone of defeat in her voice. "Are you selling everything?"
"Everything in the northeast, as well as most of the global properties. I’ll keep a few of the Singapore properties as well as my holdings in Key West, and in fact I’ll be adding to them.I toured the Sunset Key property yesterday and met with the owner of the resort. That deal should happen within the next thirty days, maybe sooner. Contact that broker on fifth about the northeast portfolio. He had a list of potential buyers last month."
Gwen nodded as she scribbled her notes. "Will he know the details or do I need to provide them?"
"He knows. You shouldn't have to provide a thing other than my scheduling information." James shifted in his seat, unsure how she'd take this next request. "I have a favor to ask of you, Gwen, but I’ll understand if you say no."
