Chapter 696

I took a deep breath and drank in the image of the two of them standing before me, kissing, one more time before I walked back out to the car. When I reached the door, however, I whirled around.

"You know, you didn’t finish the house tour, Juliet," I said.

"Tomorrow," she said between kisses.

I barely caught her eyes flashing over Melanie’s shoulder.

"You can make a very, very thorough inspection of the house, the property, and all of its assets," she said and giggled.

"And you can count on that," I said.

The door opened automatically, and the next thing I knew I was back in the California sun. Before I even started the car, I tried calling Jess. But she didn’t pick up. I sped home, making it in seven minutes. Inside, I found Jess on the sofa, a throw pillow tucked against her chest as she clutched it around her arms.

"What is it, darling?" I asked.

"Katie decided to go back to wor