Champagne Brunch: The Stiletto Sisters Series Ainsley Claire (primary phonics books .TXT) 📖

given that Katrina has nothing to offer that can contribute to Viviana’s case. She and Walker left last night and will meet us at Jackson’s, but she’s all over it and hopefully will have information for us when we arrive.”

“I don’t remember if Viviana and Katrina ever even met.” I shake my head. “Does Marci think she can prevent Katrina from having to testify? Depositions are pretty broad.”

“Katrina’s out of town with her aunt tomorrow, and obviously I’m out of town. We’re asking that it not happen. Marci’s going to tell them Katrina needs a legal guardian with her, and I’m out of town, returning in two weeks.”

“Oh, where are you going?”

“I was going to come home after the wedding, but right now the team is on the road, and I think I need to go with them.” He gives me a look.

I shake my head. “She is such a piece of work.”

“I’ve meant to ask you—did Viviana ever tell you she had feelings for me?”

I think back over my conversations with her. “I’m sure it could be painted that way. We both agreed you’re a twenty on a ten-point scale in the looks department, and we thought you were a great catch, but we knew Cecelia left big shoes.”

“When Viviana made her declaration of guilt to me, she said she’d wanted to be my first after Cecelia’s death. But I can’t recall that she ever made any overtures to me after Cecelia died. Then today her lawyer indicated we’d been involved and hinted that it had been going on before Cecelia was killed and maybe I even manipulated Viviana into killing Cecelia.”

I snort. “No way. I would have known. Viviana told me everything. I knew when she was involved with Jackson and…” I lower my voice. “Landon.” I search my brain for any hint, but I’m confident that had she and Nate fooled around or even flirted, I would have known. “Okay, I didn’t know anything, but several of us get together regularly, and the group used to include Viviana. We call ourselves the Stiletto Sisters. It’s a free environment to talk openly. Caroline is often there. She can corroborate that Viviana talked about broken hearts and how hard it is to date if you have a healthy bank account, but she never once talked about you. The only thing I can recall is that we discussed you being single forever because you’d lost your soul mate.”

Nate scrubs his hands over his face. “Thank you. I know she’s putting you through the wringer, too. Is that why we’re not seeing Axel today? I thought he was going to join you for the wedding.”

“We talked about it, but his sister flew in with four kids, and his life is upside down right now.”

Nate eyes me suspiciously. While I may want to throw Axel under the bus, I’m the one who freaked out. Anyway, Axel and Nate work together. I’m not about to mess that up. My challenges with Axel shouldn’t affect Jeremy, Crispin, or Jake—not that Nate would ever be vindictive that way, but I won’t take the chance. Plus, who wants into my drama? Nate’s life is already full enough.

Chapter 22

Axel

“Uncle Axel! Watch this!” my nephew Clay cries.

He swings high, full of giggles. Nina, the new nanny, waits at the base of the slide for Laird to rush down, and Duke is in the sandbox. I didn’t realize how wonderful my nephews were until they came to live with me—not that it’s all enjoyable, or easy in any way. They are a flurry of activity all the time, and there are crumbs and orange fish crackers hidden in every crevice of my house. When they move out, my place will need a deep cleaning and, chances are, new furniture, too.

My mind drifts to Mia as I continue to watch the boys race through the playground, flying down the slides and trying to swing above the trees. I still don’t know what to do or even what to think about everything I saw online the other night. And I haven’t been able to bring myself to look at it any further. I did watch the news a little, but there was nothing about her there… I have no one to talk with about this, so mostly I just feel like an idiot. I sigh. My youngest nephew is sitting in the sandbox, digging himself a huge hole and running his favorite truck over the piles of sand. That’s the life.

Alana has heard from Marco, and he’s full of apologies. He wants to come to meet her in San Francisco, but he doesn’t have the money. I’m certainly not going to help him. I want him out of her life. He may have been my best friend when we were kids, but he’s not a friend anymore.

I wish Alana would talk to a divorce attorney, but first I need to get her into a house with a yard and big enough for a live-in nanny and a bodyguard, if she ever needs it.

My phone rings, bringing me back to reality.

“Jeremy, what’s up?” I say in greeting.

“Just checking in. Are you coming to the game today?”

“Yep. I’m taking care of SoBe right now, and I’ll walk over. Everything okay? Ready for another no-hitter?”

He laughs. “I’m trying to be realistic, but I seem to throw best when your girlfriend is at the game. Is she coming with you?”

Crap. Baseball players are notoriously superstitious. I can’t tell Jeremy things have fallen apart with Mia, but at least I know she’s out of town right now. “Sorry, man. She’s at a friend’s wedding in Hawaii.”

“Why aren’t you with her? Isn’t that like candy to a girl—having her man with her at a romantic event?”

“I’m here for you, and plus, weddings aren’t really my thing.”

He snorts. “Worried