“No.”
“He will.”
“Undoubtedly.”
When Mac’s paintings had been recovered, Mac had bought them back from the Mayhew, and both were now hanging above the fireplace. Jemima carried a platter of appetizers into the living room. She patted Christa’s head as she passed and gave her father a kiss on his cheek. Rick was due back in court next week. Jemima had been right about his star rising in the wake of the shooting. I couldn’t turn on the television without hearing his name.
Mac had admitted he left in a last-ditch effort to show Jemima what was truly important in life and that it wasn’t too late to turn things around. By the glow on Jemima’s cheeks, she had taken the lesson to heart. Mac had, too. He started chemotherapy in two days.
“Any news on those librarians?” Raphael asked.
“Not a peep. They could be anywhere by now.”
“Could you find them?”
“Maybe. Depends on what they took with them.”
He eyed me carefully. “Do you want to find them?”
I patted his cheek. “I think you know the answer to that.”
He kissed my forehead and went to help set the table.
“I’ve been spurned,” Sean said, standing next to me. He motioned to Rufus.
Rufus had switched allegiance and dropped the rubber chicken in Dovie’s lap. She gave him lots of attention before she tossed the chicken again. He charged after it. I caught the look she shared with Mac over Christa’s head. It was full of affection.
My father came over and clapped Sean on the back. “Did you tell Lucy the good news?”
“What news?” I asked.
Sean said, “I haven’t had a chance yet.”
“What news?” I asked again, looking between the two of them.
“Even though I had a new security system installed, I’m not fond of my penthouse sitting empty. I knew Sean was looking for an apartment, so I offered him my place, rent free.”
“And he said?” I prompted.
“I move in next Monday,” Sean said. “I’ll be living in Raphael’s old quarters.”
“Isn’t that great news?” my father asked.
I drained my wine. “Wonderful.”
“It is; it is,” my father said. “By the way, Lucy Juliet, do you know why I would have received a complimentary fedora from Dominic Pagano with a note expressing his apologies if he offended you and your dear friend?”
“Maybe.”
My father grinned. “He’s a creepy little man, isn’t he?”
I laughed. “The creepiest.”
After my father wandered off, Sean said, “Are you really okay with me living at your father’s place?”
I smiled at him. “As long as you don’t ever expect me to sit on the couch in the living room.”
“I’m sure it will be short-term. Just until…”
Right. The fear. “I know.”
“Did you tell my father about Thoreau’s leaking issues?”
Sean grinned. “No.”
“Then you may be evicted sooner than you think.”
“I think I’ll bring him to work with me more often. Marisol said it was probably separation anxiety causing his issues.”
“You think Grendel taught him?”
“Definitely. Your cat is a bad influence.” Sean nudged me with his elbow. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
I really didn’t. I finally understood the saying “home is where the heart is.” It didn’t matter where he lived. Wherever he was would always feel like home. “I’m sure.”
Cutter headed our way. “I need a drink. I think I just agreed to adopt a cat from Marisol, and I think I have a date with Preston next week to see the Rembrandt exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. If this keeps up, Dad will have me making matches within the month.” He strode off toward the wet bar.
Dad. I smiled. Maybe they would figure things out on their own after all.
“I thought Preston made a promise to you.…”
“She did.”
“Then why the date?”
I looked at her. She was staring after Cutter. “I think she likes him.”
“Ah.” Sean laughed. “The way things work out sometimes.”
“I wish Em were here. She’d love this.” She and Aiden had extended their vacations a few days and weren’t due back till the middle of the week.
“As much as you’d love being where she is?”
“Not that much. I mean, she is in Hawaii, after all. But I do miss her.”
There was a twinkle in Sean’s eye. “Do you want to go visit her?”
“What are you talking about?”
He slid two plane tickets from his coat pocket. “A flight leaves tomorrow. Do you want to be on it?”
My heart jumped for joy. “Just try and stop me.”
“Why would I do that?” he asked. “You see, I had this vision.…”
“You did not.”
“It was clear as day. Let’s just say there was a private hula dance involved.”
I punched his arm. “I liked my vision better.”
Sean and I were sharing a hammock tied between two palm trees, overlooking ocean so beautifully blue it stole my breath. Vibrant green islands dotted the horizon. A sailboat swayed, anchored just offshore. Sean turned his head, looked at me, a smile in those pearlescent eyes of his. Our bodies were nestled, skin on skin, my hand on his chest, my bare leg draped over his, his arm around my shoulders pulling me closer, tighter. He leaned in, his gaze on my lips, his intent crystal clear.…
“What was your vision?” he asked, pulling me in for a hug.
“Oh, you’ll see.”
“Will I like it?”
“I guarantee you’re going to love it.”
“Were you in it?”
“Of course.”
He cupped my face and kissed me. “Then I already do, Ms. Valentine. I already do.”
St. Martin’s Paperbacks Titles
By Heather Webber
Truly, Madly
Deeply, Desperately
Absolutely, Positively
Outstanding Praise for Truly, Madly
“This clever paranormal mystery series is sure to delight fans … Fun characters, sparkling prose, and a twisty plot add up to a great beginning for Valentine, Inc.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Charming and lovable … [a] truly irresistible mix of clever romance and wildly inventive mystery.”
—Booklist
“Snappy and fresh—a delightful mix of intrigue and humor!”
—Jane Porter, author of Mrs. Perfect and Easy on the Eyes
“Lucy Valentine is as comic and romantic as her name implies, not to mention engaging, sexy, and smart. She has an otherworldly knack for finding lost objects, and will undoubtedly find her creator, Heather Webber, many new fans.”
—Harley Jane Kozak, Agatha, Anthony &
Macavity-award winning author of A Date You Can’t Refuse
“With characters that sparkle like diamonds on the page, this is my new favorite Valentine! Heather Webber has created a bright new world, populated by quirky characters and brimming with non-stop action—I’m a fan!”
—Beth Harbison, New York Times bestselling
author of Shoe Addicts Anonymous and Hope in a Jar
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY
Copyright © 2011 by Heather Webber.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
ISBN: 978-0-312-94615-9
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / February 2011
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
eISBN 978-1-4299-9348-7
First St. Martin’s Paperba
cks eBook Edition: February 2011
Heather Webber, Absolutely, Positively
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