"So I talked to Chelsea and we worked things out."
Mavis looked at the large duffel bag sitting at Peter's feet. "And?" she asked, her eyes still on the bag. Peter had come to the house uninvited and unannounced but Mavis was swiftly putting two and two together: he thought he could move in. With her. Into Schuyler Manor.
Oh, my. Now what was she supposed to do? Mavis adored Peter, she really did, but that was when they were shacked up at the Hilton or that horrid little motel on the south edge of town. Would she still adore him if he was living with her full-time? Besides, Ron had just died. It was more than a tad tacky to move a boyfriend in so soon after losing one's spouse, even if said spouse had been bopping a waitress when he kicked the bucket. "Worked things out," she repeated. "And that means?"
"I've left her," Peter said simply. "For you."
Yikes. Mavis had never had anyone leave his wife for her and she had to admit that it was flattering. Peter was so handsome, like a young Robert Redford. Well, an approaching middle-age Robert Redford but let's face it, those were his best years. Especially in The Way We Were. And The Sting. Three Days of the Condor--
Focus Mavis silently ordered herself. This was no time for a rehash of Robert Redford's Greatest Hits. "I don't quite know what to say--this is all so sudden, Peter."
"Not for me," Peter declared. "Besides, even though we now know that Ron wasn't murdered, we can't forget that you were kidnapped. Someone in Schuyler Square doesn't like you, Mavis."
A lot of people in Schuyler Square didn't like her but it wasn't the time to point that fact out. "I'm sure that was just a lame attempt to extort money from us," Mavis told him.
"Maybe, maybe not. My point is that you need someone around to take care of you. I'd like to be that someone."
In spite of some serious doubts, Mavis was touched. Ron had never wanted to take care of her and now she had this handsome, buff, sexy man willing to watch her back 24/7. Mavis didn't see how she could say no.
What about Tyler? And Tiffany? And everyone I know? What will they say if I let Peter move in?
Nothing good. "I think I need to think about this."
Peter looked disappointed. "I was kind of hoping we could get this settled right now."
She could see that. She could see that Peter thought he could ring her doorbell, march into her house and install himself in her bedroom as her lover/bodyguard in about the amount of time it took to toast a bagel. "There is my son Tyler and my niece to consider."
"Consider what?" Tyler asked from the door. He entered the room and sat down next to Mavis, arms crossed defiantly. "What's he doing here?" he questioned as he glared at Peter.
Mavis sighed. It just didn't seem like the right time to ask Tyler to meet his new maybe future step-daddy.
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