Read Online Blindsided by Fern Michaels - Free Book Online

to tell her he lived in mortal fear of the plants dying and Maggie somehow finding out. He’d nurtured them daily, sometimes hourly, with plant food, new soil, and spraying the leaves so they’d be shiny and healthy-looking.
    â€œYou really should call John now, Annie, and tell him about his promotion. I set everything up for him. All he has to do is turn on the computer, plant his rear end in the chair, and he’s good to go.”
    â€œSince you all don’t need me right now, then yes, I’ll call John. Stir the sauce once in a while so it doesn’t burn, and do not eat it! That’s an order.”
    â€œLike we would really do something like that,” Ted said in mock horror.
    Within seconds, three of Annie’s favorite people on earth were back to forming and shoring up their plans to take on the Ciprani twins in Baywater, Maryland. Oh, to be that young again and have the drive and stamina that those three have, Annie thought.
    There was excitement in Maggie’s voice that was contagious when she looked at Ted and Espinosa, and said, “We’re onto something, aren’t we?”
    â€œOh, yeah. Keep talking, sweet cheeks,” Ted drawled, using his favorite nickname for his old love. Maggie laughed out loud. Espinosa’s thumb shot upward as he leaned in closer to make sure he didn’t miss anything.
    â€œOkay, guys, listen up. This is what I’m thinking . . .”
    Â 
    Â 
    It was totally dark outside when Myra’s guests arrived, the headlights of the various vehicles bouncing off the kitchen windows. It was hard to contain the excitement she was feeling. She looked around to make sure everything was satisfactory. It was. They were eating in the kitchen this evening because it was less formal than the dining room, with the long, polished table where one had to shout to be heard at the end. Kitchens, in her opinion, were for eating and cooking. She wasn’t sure, but she rather thought her guests felt the same way.
    The large, round, oak table that could seat eight was set with colorful place mats along with decorative colored dishes that seemed to glow in the kitchen light. A bright orange pot of brilliant fall leaves, with a small pumpkin that matched the ceramic pot, graced the center of the table but would be removed and replaced with grated cheese, hot pepper flakes, salt, and pepper, and, of course, the bread tray when Annie served her dinner.
    The security monitor above the door came alive as car after car, along with short bursts of their respective horns, announced Pinewood’s guests for the evening.
    There were laughter, hugs, and comments about how good the food that Annie and Maggie were carrying to the kitchen table smelled. Questions were asked about Nellie’s not-so-new titanium hips and Pearl’s gout, then followed up with inquiries about Martine’s trip to the place, wherever it was, that no one could pronounce.
    Things moved with a precision drill as the food was transferred to bowls that matched the colorful dishes, wine was poured, and more hugs welcomed Maggie home, followed by casual conversation along with a hundred excited questions about what was going on.
    It was all casual, friendly, and when Myra said, “Charles is knee-deep in his research down below in his lair, so his rule that we can’t talk business while eating is not in effect.” Hoots of delight ensued as the guests all helped themselves from the bowl of spaghetti.
    Most of the questions were aimed at Maggie, who willingly relayed all she knew, ending with, “After our meeting this evening with Charles to hear what he came up with, Ted, Espinosa, and I are going to travel to Baywater and see what we can come up with firsthand and get the lay of the land, so to speak. My gut is telling me we all need to tread very carefully. I think the twin judges are a force to be reckoned with.”
    â€œAnd you think we aren’t?” Annie