Endangered: A Delecoeur Mystery #1 Read Online Free

with it when he was a young,
hormonal teenager.
    His cell phone rang. “That’s Madeleine.
Excuse me.” Stepping behind his desk, he picked up the phone and turned his
back to Julia for privacy.
    “How’s the conference?”
    “Good. Having that chat with Julia last
night was a help.”
    “Got a few anti-environmentalists?”
    “Let's just say there are some people
with opposing opinions who aren’t afraid to express them.”
    The tone of Madeleine’s voice concerned
him. “Is everything okay?”
    “Yes, fine. It was a verbal sparring,
but he clearly didn’t like my talk or me.”
    “You’re sure?” Max knew that Madeleine's
views weren't always popular, but usually it was her views, not her personally
people objected to.
    “Yes. I just hope it didn’t deter the
others from getting something from my presentation.”
    “I’m sure you were brilliant. How was
the flight up?”
    “It was fine. I was sorry to leave you
so early though.”
    “You left me with great memory,” he
said. “I love it when you wake me up like that.”
    “I could tell.”
    He smiled into the phone as the memory
of Madeleine waking him with sensual kisses and caresses came back to him. The
silence on the other end of the phone told him Madeleine was thinking the same.
    “How’s Oscar?” she finally asked.
    “He misses you. He likes your breakfasts
better than mine.”
    “At least someone likes my cooking.”
    “I love your cooking. I love you,” Max
said. “Listen, I left a message with Alan.”
    “Oh, good. I appreciate your taking care
of that,” she said.
    “I’m happy to do it.” He turned briefly
to see Julia sitting on his couch leafing through a business magazine. “I had
hoped to come up tomorrow, but I have some business still and hopefully I can
arrange to see Alan, so it may not be until Friday that I can get away. I
thought we could go to the vineyard for the weekend.”
    “Great idea.”
    “I’ll make the arrangements.”
    “I’m sorry, Max. I've got another
seminar to attend.”
    “I seem to have a date myself,” he said.
    There was a pause. “Let me guess,
Julia.”
    “You were always a smart one.”
    “Well, just keep your reminiscing to a
minimum.”
    He laughed. “I love you. Stay safe.”
    “I love you too. I’ll call you tonight.
Probably about 6:30. I’m going to turn in early.”
    “I’ll be waiting.”
     
    ~~~
     
    “I hope you don’t mind that I took the
liberty to make a reservation at
Chatelain
,”
Julia said when Max got off the phone. “It turns out you are a regular there.
You have your own table.”
    Max’s face colored. It embarrassed him sometimes
the favors he got simply because he had money. “It's Madeleine’s favorite
restaurant.”
    “Well, I know it won’t be the same with
me, but it will give us a chance to catch up.” Julia linked her arm through
Max’s as they headed out the office door.
    “You haven’t changed a bit, Julia,” he
said.
    “Thank you, Max.”
    Max’s comment wasn’t entirely a
compliment. While she still retained her beauty, Julia also retained the annoying
habit of controlling everyone around her. Max didn’t mind assertive women. He
loved Madeleine’s strength of mind and character. But with Julia, her
controlling always left Max feeling like she didn’t trust him to make good
choices. When they were young and dating, she always chose where they went and
what they did, like she couldn't trust him to create a good date on his own. Of
course, he wouldn’t have taken her to
Chatelain's
if given a choice. It was silly, but it was his and
Madeleine’s place. And it was always filled with nosy people, which is why he
had his own table in a secluded section of the restaurant.
    "You look happy," Julia said
after they ordered their lunch.
    "I am. Very."
    "Good. Not that I'm surprised. You
may have had a rough start, but anyone could tell you would become a
success." She leaned towards him, laying her hand over his.
    "Thank