Page 23 of Home Again

Gianna opened the bathroom door just a smidge and when she saw that the hallway was clear, she made a run for her bedroom across the hall. She quickly dressed in what she considered her armor. Since she wouldn’t have to leave the house, she didn’t have to worry about comfortable shoes, so she was going to wear some of the clothes she’d packed to impress Lazar. Hopefully, they would work on his grandson and keep him off her back, and stop him from noticing her looking like the walking dead.

She shook out her green sweater dress with the scoop neck, the one that hit her just above her knees, and threw it on with her sheer gray tights. She paired that with the leather boots that slid up above her knee. They’d been a New York purchase when she’d sold a couple of her designs to a store that wanted exclusive rights for a new bedding line they were starting. She’d made bank on that deal.

Gianna brushed and dried her hair for another ten minutes until she could feel it was shiny and dry, then she headed for the kitchen.

“You’re not going to tell me what I can and cannot do,” she heard Armand say belligerently.

“I wasn’t. I was offering some advice.”

Gianna pushed open the swinging door and found Sebastian seated at the small kitchen table drinking coffee with Armand standing over him with his fists clenched. He was wearing his coat and boots.

“If I want to drive the four miles into town, that’s my prerogative, and your punk Army ass isn’t going to stop me.”

Gianna walked to the counter where the coffee maker sat and pulled out a mug. “Navy, Armand. He’s in the Navy.”

“Doesn’t matter, he’s a punk.”

Gianna poured herself a cup of coffee and went to the fridge to get out the creamer. After she was done doctoring up her coffee, she sat down at the table.

“I’m hungry, I feel like French toast. Since I’m going to cook, can I make some for either of you?” she asked as she sipped the extremely good coffee.

“It’s lunchtime.” Armand glowered at her. “The storm has subsided, so I’m leaving.”

Gianna cocked her head. The wind might not be howling the way it had last night, but it was still loud.

“Armand, the roads are going to be shit,” Sebastian said. “What’s so important in town that won’t wait until tomorrow?”

“That’s none of your goddamned business, boy.” He pulled car keys out of his pocket, then hit the kitchen door so hard that it swung wildly as he left toward the front door of the house. Gianna could hear the heavy winds when the front door was opened, even from her seat at the kitchen table.

“I’m not thinking he’s making a wise decision,” Gianna said as she took another sip of coffee.

“I’m not thinking that ‘wise’ is part of his make-up,” Sebastian said as he got up and opened up the refrigerator. Gianna watched as he pulled out a carton of eggs and milk.

“What are you doing?”

“Helping you make breakfast.” He also pulled out half of a ham that had been wrapped up in plastic wrap. “What do you think of fried ham to go along with the French toast?” he asked.

“Sounds good to me,” she said as she started to get up.

“Stay there, Gianna. I’ll cook. How does your head feel?”

“Not bad. I took some pills that I had in my purse before coming down, plus the caffeine is helping.”

He pulled out a frying pan from a cupboard beneath the stove, he seemed to know his way around the kitchen. “Well, that’s good.” He started slicing off pieces of ham. “How did you like attending NYU?”

Gianna set down her mug of coffee. “Well, that didn’t take long.” She got up and grabbed a whisk off the rack where the utensils were kept. “How much intel were you able to find out in just seven hours?”

She picked up the eggs and milk and moved over to another counter, then looked for the cinnamon on the spice rack.

“A fair amount. Seems like the textile business is pretty lucrative.” He shot her a smile over his shoulder. “It’s also nice all that you’ve been doing to help out your cousin with her craft store in Berea.”

Gianna started to whisk the ingredients for the French toast. “And Etta Rose, did your source find out anything about her?”

“Gideon was able to find out about Etta Rose and Jada Harlow.”

Gianna stopped stirring and whipped her head around to face Sebastian. “How did you know Jada’s last name?”

“Honey, her full name popped up on your phone last night.”