The Cherished Wife

Rowena was the first to lose it once they were out of the mall, bursting into laughter. "Oh my gosh. Did you guys see Winter's face? It was priceless. I couldn't stop laughing!"

She went to give Sean a friendly pat on the shoulder but realized he was way too tall, so she turned to Noelle instead. "But I'm totally lost. What was that whole act with Mr. Smith all about?" Noelle arched an eyebrow and casually took Rowena's hand off her shoulder. "We're just playing a part!" She turned to Sean with a questioning look. "Where's Charles? You said he was coming, right?"

Sean arched his eyebrow too and made a couple of tsk-tsk sounds, putting on a pitiful face. "Come on, do you have to be just like Charles? You're so distant! Remember, I'm the one who just helped you out. That Charles is acting like a scaredy-cat. He's too chicken to show up, so he made me fill in for him!"

Noelle could not help but laugh when Sean talked about himself that way. Before she could say anything, Rowena jumped in, "Oh, so you can admit you're just a fill-in!"

Sean scowled. "Hey, that's not very nice of you to say!" However, he grinned. "You did act pretty brave back there, though!"

do you think I am? But seriously, I've only been gone a few months.

Sean said as he opened the door for them. After they were settled in, he slid into the driver's seat and glanced at Noelle

up the engine, and they were

good distance away, and Sean had obviously made a beeline to get there. "How did you

and kept quiet, but Noelle put two and two together. She remembered being tailed before, and that

with Winter and the ladies? Sean was playing the

too figure out a riddle.

Noelle's curiosity. "When did Eloise get the nickname

always prided herself on reading people well, and Eloise whom she had met a