Lisa crossed her arms over her chest and blew a strand of bleach blonde hair from her eyes. “You don’t take a two week vacation without telling the boss. Philip has been worried like the rest of us.”
Helen glanced beyond Lisa to the back of the showroom. “Is he here?”
“He was in the warehouse a few minutes ago.”
Ignoring the pounding of her heart, Helen pushed around Lisa. “I better let him know I’m alive.”
“You should do that.”
As Helen made her way around the room, Lisa called out. “I’m going to want details about your Highland hottie.”
Helen pictured Simon on his horse and wearing a kilt. Something in her expression must have shifted because Lisa whistled and winked. “That good, huh?”
“I’ve had an unforgettable two weeks.” There wasn’t a trace of lie in her statement.
Helen heard voices in the warehouse before she rounded the corner and noticed Philip standing beside two men who were setting an early Regency buffet down.
“Philip,” Helen uttered his name and waited for him to turn her way.
For a brief moment, Philip didn’t look at all surprised to see her, but his expression quickly changed to one of complete concern. “Helen?”
She lifted her arms. “Back from the dead, apparently.”
Philip strode her way and pulled her into his arms. She stiffened, never having had the man this close to her before.
The delivery guys watched the exchange.
Unable to avoid his brief hug, Helen patted his back and tried to push out of his arms. “I’m sorry I worried everyone.”
He didn’t let her go immediately and Helen’s skin started to buzz. He tightened his hold and the realization that the man holding her was stronger than she was, made her question the wisdom of coming there alone. When he let go, he kept his hands on her shoulders and squeezed.
His touch was cold, his eyes dark. “Where the hell have you been?”
“It’s complicated,” she offered.
“Ah, Mr. Lyons, where do you want the rest of this stuff?”
Philip kept one hand on her shoulder and turned toward the men. “Set everything on the east wall. I’ll have Lisa come back and finish the inventory.”
The guys nodded and went back to work.
Philip kept a hand on Helen’s shoulder and led her out of the warehouse and into his office.
He barked an order to Lisa and closed the door.
Some of the concern lifted and Philip’s eyes crawled up and down her frame. They leveled on her chest briefly before returning to her face.
“I’m sorry, Philip, I should have found a way to call.”
He leaned against his desk and waited for her to explain.
Ten minutes later, Helen had delivered her well thought out lie that sounded convincing even to her.
“I should fire you on the spot.”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”
“Did you tell Mrs. Dawson you’re back?”
Helen nodded. “I called her when I arrived.”
“What about the police? We filed a missing person’s report.”
None of what Philip was saying sparked any alarms, but the way his eyes kept a hooded stare on her made her heart leap. “I’ll have to give ‘em a call. I didn’t think everyone would be so shook up with me taking a few days off.”
“We wouldn’t have if you’d told us.”
He sounded sincere, and Helen started to feel guilty about her deception. Maybe Amber was wrong about the man, maybe he was only concerned for her well being. But then why had he been in her apartment snooping around? And why had he followed her to Scotland?
“Lisa told me you followed me to Scotland.”
Philip pushed off the desk as he spoke, his eyes leaving hers. “I thought you’d like the help. I didn’t think I’d be interrupting…”
“It wasn’t like that.”
He waved her off. “I don’t want the details.”
He closed himself off and slid into his chair. “I’m sorry.”
“Do you know the police questioned me?” A spark of anger edged with his words.
“Why you?” Now was the time to ask some questions. Maybe find out why he was at her apartment.
“I’m your boss. We were both in Scotland when you disappeared.”
His explanation was plausible.
It was time to stretch some of the truth. “I talked to one of my neighbors today, they said they saw someone who looked like you at my apartment right after I left.”
His hand hesitated as he reached for a pen on his desk. “I went to your apartment after you went missing. They must have seen me then.”
Helen shook her head. “That’s funny, they said a guy in a suit was there the day after I left. They must have you mixed up with someone else. But you’re the only one I know who wears a suit.”
Philip’s eyes found hers and held.
They were cold, piercing.
Helen shivered.
“It wasn’t me.”
“Okay.”
But it wasn’t okay.
“I should be going. Let the police know I’m not missing.”
Philip lifted his chin. “I’m glad you’re not dead.”
Helen’s skin started to buzz and her hand reached for the necklace. It was warm in her palm and reminded her of who waited for her at Mrs. Dawson’s home. She really should get back before someone came looking for her.
“I’m sorry.”
“You should be. I’ll have to think about your job.”
“I thought I’d be fired.”
“I should fire you. Not look back.”
Any other boss would. The fact he didn’t told her he needed her for something.
“I’ll be in touch.” His voice stopped her before she left the room. “The next time you end up missing, people aren’t going to search hard to find you.”
It was a warning. Or maybe it was a threat. “I’m sure you’re right.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Where the hell is she?”
Simon was frantic. He’d searched the house and hadn’t found Helen anywhere.
Her car was gone.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Myra said as she slowly made her way across the room. “Probably just needed some air.”
“She would have told one of us if that were true.” No, Simon had seen something in her eyes earlier that day. She’d been quieter than normal.
Amber placed a hand over his. “She wanted to confront Philip. Do you believe she’d go alone?”