Page 110 of The Last Goodbye
“Albert, you would never get hired by the CIA. You give up trade secrets far too easily,” she said as we pulled into the long circular drive of what I could only describe as a grand estate that looked more like a private luxury hotel than a family home. Brilliant white stone pillars, manicured hedges cut so precisely they almost looked artificial, and a fountain at the center of the roundabout that looked like something from one of Jovi’s Jane Austen books. The place didn’t just sit on the land; it owned it. Wings, sunrooms, and observatories spread out in all directions from the main house.
Damn. Now I know what making the Forbes list looks like.
For a second I just sat there, taking it all in. The scale of it. The extravagance. The sound of the ocean on their doorstep.
Why did two people need so much space between them?
“Remember, I grew up in a tiny apartment, so none of this is normal for me, either,” she whispered as Albert opened the door for us to get out. “I’ve just learned to play the part.”
He took both of our bags, like it was the most natural thing in the world, which somehow made this experience feel even more surreal.
Briar slipped her hand in mine, then hesitated, looking up at me like she was bracing for something I couldn’t quite read. “If you and me come to an end after this weekend—which is very possible—I want you to know that I will forever be grateful that you came here with me. So thank you.”
My brows pulled together.
“My God, woman. What the fuck am I in for? You’re thanking me now, and we’ve got forty-eight hours here before we leave?”
Albert’s chuckle lingered in the breeze as he walked up the three curved stairs to the giant front doors. I looked over my shoulder at the large field of green grass leading down to the ocean.
The doors flew open before we’d made it to the top step, and a woman who appeared to be in her mid-fifties with warm eyes stood there, wearing a uniform of a white polo and a khaki skirt. She opened her arms and wrapped Briar in a hug. “I’m so happy you’re home, my love.”
“It’s good to see you, Jan.” She turned to me. “This is Bass Bennett.”
Jan extended a hand. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“Where is everyone?” Briar asked.
“Getting ready for dinner. I’ve been asked to tell you to head to your room and get changed for dinner.” She paused to glance at her watch. “You’ve got less than an hour.”
“Is Denton here yet?”
“Yes, he and Jessica arrived this morning,” Jan said, and Briar nodded.
This was quite possibly the strangest welcome I’d ever experienced. There were no family members anywhere to be found. But Briar seemed awfully close with the people who worked for the family, so that was a good sign. Not everyone was difficult.
A man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties walked out with a big smile on his face. He also wore a white polo shirt, along with khaki dress pants.
“Briar, hello, it’s so nice to see you,” he said, his gaze perusing her from head to toe. I immediately stepped closer and draped an arm over her shoulder, which earned me a questioning look from her.
“Peter, hi, good to see you as well.”
“And you must be Bass Bennett, Briar’s special friend,” he said, as if I was her dirty little secret.
What the fuck is wrong with these people?
I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Peter will bring your bags up, and you two can go and get settled,” Jan said.
Briar leaned closer to the woman. “Are we staying in the same room?”
Staying in the same room? We weren’t teenagers. We were grown-ass adults. Of course we would be staying in the same room.
“Yes.” Jan arched a brow. “Tabitha insisted on it.”
Briar seemed surprised but relieved at the same time, and we made our way up one side of the double-sided staircase. Seriously, this place was overwhelming, to say the least.
Once Peter had dropped our bags in the room, Briar closed the door and then motioned for me to join her on the bed. “Sorry, I warned you that it’s—different.”
