THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

so sorry. I didn’t see you sitting out there. Did you lock yourself out?”
    That worked. “Yeah, I was locked out. Good timing for you to show up.”
    Seriously good timing.
    She hadn’t paid attention to Trish’s soft southern accent the first time they’d met, but caught it now.
    “Come on in, Sug, it’s too hot to sit out there. I don’t know how you and Zane stand the heat. The man loves his fresh air. Let’s close the door and enjoy the AC.” 
    Trish’s ankle-length fuchsia dress dotted with yellow squiggles blared in stark contrast to Zane’s coffee brown and forest green décor. The dark-haired beauty circled the sofa carrying a glass full of cola-looking liquid, before sinking into the soft green leather.
    “Want something to drink, Sugar?”
    “No, I’m fine. Thanks for letting me in.”
    “No problem.”  Trish eyed her curiously. “I hadn’t even heard of you before yesterday. So, where’d you meet my brother?”
    A reasonable question under any other circumstance, but not one Angel had anticipated. Telling Zane’s sister he’d helped her escape armed men didn’t strike her as a wise idea.
    “We met in North Carolina. I was in a hurry to leave, so he gave me a ride to Jacksonville.”  Basically true.
    “You live here or just visiting?”
    Though Angel knew his sister’s intent was not to put her on the spot, it didn’t alleviate her discomfort. The fact that they’d never meet again didn’t change the way Angel felt about blatantly lying to her.
    Her father had lied as part of his plea bargain. Basically, he’d sacrificed her to save his own skin. Mason had lied when he hired her. Angel would stay as close to the truth as possible.
    That didn’t mean she couldn’t be a little creative.
    “Actually, I’m visiting. I plan to relocate in the future, but haven’t made up my mind where yet. How long have you been here?”
    “I moved here three years ago when Zane did. Before that I lived in Houston. We grew up just outside the city limits. Our parents died while Zane was in the Air Force so he opted out early. He didn’t feel any real tie to Houston, and I’d missed him terribly. When he picked Ft. Lauderdale, so did I.”
    Trish’s deep brown eyes softened every time she mentioned her brother.
    Angel envied the close sibling relationship. Zane’s love for his sister had been written all over his face when he’d hugged her the day before.
    Before Trish could ask her another question she’d have to dodge, Angel said, “Zane said you’re really good at appraising antiques.”
    Trish looked away, looking decidedly uncomfortable and mumbled, “He’s biased.” 
    Sore topic. Angel changed direction to fix her mistake. “He also tells me you have a gift shop. Sounds like a fun business. Tell me about it.”
    That brought a smile to Trish’s face, but not her voice. “It’s an eclectic mix of doodads. Been open three months.”
    Zane was right. His sister’s heart wasn’t in the gift shop. But would moving her shop to this other Las Olas area make any difference? Angel wanted to do anything to help Zane and she liked Trish, but the best she could offer was encouragement. “Takes time to build a business, but Zane says you’re great with people.”
    Trish leaned back, kicking her crossed leg with a nervous bounce. “I told him things would pick up this winter when the snowbirds show up.”
    “That makes sense. So you’re partners?”
    “I couldn’t have done it without Zane’s help. I had no idea where to start with opening a business, but...” Trish shrugged, a version of Zane’s. “I’m getting the hang of it. He takes care of all the real business and I work with the customers.”
    Angel wondered where the tough breaks Zane had mentioned came in. His parents may not have doted on Trish, but she was bright and pleasant, obviously loved her brother and operated her own shop. Sometimes. His sister was sitting here again during business hours. Maybe Trish had someone covering for her when she showed up unannounced like this.
    Trish waved her hand from side to side. “Yo, Angel, back to earth.”
    “Sorry, what were you saying?”
    “I asked you where Zane is?”
    Oops. “He didn’t tell me where he was going, but he’ll probably be back before you know it.”  Fair answer.
    “He doesn’t even have an answering machine. Can you believe that? I called earlier here to see what his plans were, but didn’t get him,” Trish said, jiggling her