Risking It All: London Calling Book Three Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Yes,” he murmured.  
    “I’m sorry, what was that?”  
    Loudly, “Yes. Yes, it’s Natalie. I can’t get her out of my mind. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
    Devon opened her mouth then shut it again without speaking.  
    “It’s okay. Say what you’re thinking, Dev.”
    She smiled, her eyes softening. She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “You’ll figure it out, Dommie. All in good time.”
    Puzzled, he watched a small smile tilt her lips. Her foggy eyes danced with mystery and mirth, but he was damned if he could figure out the message. The bartender called and Dom rose to retrieve the wax paper-lined baskets holding their food.  
    Sometimes a man just needed to eat.
    ***
    Natalie walked up the neatly landscaped path to the cottage’s front door. Herbs and colorful flowers were situated in various clay pots, some small, others larger. A white trellis was attempting to train roses up the stone facade to drape over the arched red door. Overall, the result was an eclectic and artful arrangement denoting someone with a flair for creativity. Before she could raise her hand to knock, the door opened to reveal a petite woman with ashy blond hair cut into an angled bob. A chunky pink agate necklace cascaded down the front of her denim tunic. Black leggings and blush leather ballet flats completed her ensemble.
    Natalie was a tad jealous of her mother’s effortless sense of bohemian style. Somehow Rebecca Enfeld carried it off, year after year, despite the fact she’d turned fifty a few years back. No matter, she could have passed as Natalie’s older sister rather than mother.  
    Natalie stepped into her mother’s outstretched arms and inhaled her signature spicy perfume. She hugged her tight, squeezing the other woman before pulling away with a too-quick smile.
    “Hi Mum.”
    Her mother stared, matching blue eyes searching Natalie’s face.  
    Dropping her gaze, Natalie waved toward the cottage’s front door. “May I?”
    Her mother shuffled to the side. “Of course, darling, of course. Come in and I’ll put on some tea. I wasn’t exactly sure what time you’d be here, so I waited.” The words emerged in rapid succession. Nervous hands patted Natalie’s back as she walked through the doorway.
    “Mum, it’s okay.” She turned to face her mother, hating the awkwardness between them. At one time, they’d been an inseparable duo, more friends than mother and daughter. Their relationship had changed, but Natalie would be hard-pressed to say when. She only knew she’d been the cause of it. Reaching into her jacket pocket, she brought out a small box. “Here. Sebastian sent a gift.”
    The diversion worked. Her mother’s eyes lit up as she reached for the small token. Opening the lid, she revealed a pair of silver earrings with tiny cascading blocks. “Oh, these are lovely.”  
    Her boss had a better handle on her mother’s taste than she did. “He brought them back from his recent trip to Moscow,” Natalie explained.  
    “Mr. Payne has excellent taste.” Her mother moved toward the kitchen area and Natalie followed. Her mother opened the cupboard and pulled out a square navy tin with a silver ribbon tied around it. A small card was tucked beneath the bow. It read, SP.
    Natalie cocked a brow. “Is that for Sebastian?” When they met several months prior, her employer and mother hit it off straight away. Their friendship was a source of amazement to Nat, as she considered them polar opposites. Since their first introduction, Sebastian sent small tokens along with Natalie when he knew she’d be visiting. It appeared her mother had decided to return the favor.
    “Yes, it’s toffee.” Her mother beamed. “He mentioned he rarely gets anything homemade anymore, since he eats out in London so often.”
    A memory echoed—warm sunlight, rumpled sheets, and Dominic sprawled out, telling funny stories about his childhood in the Southern United States.  
    Toff , he