Read Online Be My Baby by Susan Andersen - Free Book Online

raised that eyebrow again, and shoving his hands in his pockets, he regarded her impatiently. “ What ?”
    “I’ll tell her you’ve requested the pleasure of her company—”
    Beau snorted.
    “—but I don’t guarantee you’ll get it. She may have other plans.”
    “Then she can just cancel them.”
    At Roxanne’s inelegant get-real snicker, he planted his hands flat on her desk and leaned his weight on them, looming over her. “Listen, sweetheart, I’m here at her request—”
    “No, sweetheart , you’re here at her father’s. You clearly don’t understand Juliet at all, so you’ll just have to trust me when I tell you she’d never have asked for protection on her own behalf, and doesn’t want anything to do with the deferential treatment she’s been given.”
    He straightened. “She doesn’t?”
    “Good Lord, no.”
    Well, hey, that should make little Miss Juliet Rose all the more eager to get rid of him then. He fought down the smug smile he felt rising and merely said, “Huh.”
    “Oh, you chatty types,” Roxanne said with a perfectly deadpan expression. “How is a girl to get a word in edgewise?”
    “You’re such a card, Miz Roxanne. And just cuter ’n a button, too.” Beau flashed her a crooked grin as he headed for the door. “Anyone ever tell you that?”
    “All the time, Sergeant Dupree. All the time.”
    “Five after four,” he reiterated. “Tell Juliet Rose I expect her to be ready.” And with a little bit of luck, maybe by this time tomorrow he’d be back to doing what he did best: real police work.
     
    Juliet finished tracking down the missing shipment of linens for the dining room, and looked at her watch. It was nearly three-thirty and Celeste Haynes had yet to put in an appearance. She was reaching with her free hand for the phone’s intercom button when Roxanne’s voice suddenly emanated like a summoned genie from the speaker.
    “Mrs. Haynes has arrived, Juliet.”
    Juliet’s hand settled back on the desk. “Thank you. Please send her in.”
    The last word had barely left her lips when the door opened and an exquisitely turned-out woman in her early sixties wafted in on a subtle cloud of expensive perfume. She was quite tiny, but something about her ramrod posture and vintage tailored clothing made her appear almost tall. Juliet stood and rounded her desk. “Celeste, how nice to finally meet you. I’m Juliet Astor Lowell.”
    The older woman’s white bouffant hair dipped regally as she gave a brief nod of acknowledgment. “Of course you are, dear.” She imperiously extended a soft, beringed white hand with her fingers curved down. No excuse was offered for her tardiness.
    Juliet wondered if the woman expected her to kiss the presented knuckles like some courtier of old. She awkwardly grasped the proffered fingertips and shook. Releasing them, she said, “Please, make yourself comfortable,” and walked back around her desk. Before she could resume her seat, however, Celeste had bypassed the visitor’s chair and crossed to the settee on the other side of theoffice. She took a seat and patted the cushion next to her invitingly.
    “Do come sit down, dear. I’ve asked Lily to bring us a nice little repast. We must talk and get to know one another.”
    “Uh, Juliet?” Roxanne’s voice crackled to life from the intercom speaker. “There’s a woman here with a tray. She says she’s been instructed to—Wait a minute, ma’am!” Her voice grew fainter as if she’d turned away from the receiver. “You can’t just—”
    The door opened and an ancient woman wearing a white-aproned black uniform backed into the room, balancing a large tray. Turning, she shuffled straight over to Celeste. “Here’s your tea, Miz Celeste.”
    Celeste patted a little side table. “Set it down right here, Lily.”
    Roxanne appeared in the doorway and rolled her eyes. “Sorry,” she mouthed with a little grimace, and Juliet gave her a slight, bemused smile. Roxanne held