Illusions of Death by Lauren Linwood

die when Warren leaves.”
    Chris shook his head. “I can’t believe he’s stayed so long. He’s had a blast hanging with Resa at the salon and going to all the social events with her and your mom. But we need to get back to Atlanta. I’ll give him the news and start packing.”
    Her cell phone buzzed in her pocket. She answered it as Chris slipped out.
    “Hello?”
    “Hello, my beautiful.”
    Freaking Mario was calling her?
    “I’m definitely changing my cell number.”
    “Karlyn. Always so dramatic.”
    “No, that was your specialty. Tantrums. Mood swings. Excuses for sleeping around. I’m hanging up. Goodbye.”
    “Wait!”
    Karlyn knew she should cut the connection, but the writer in her thought she might get something good from whatever her ex-husband wanted. He was a recipe for disaster. Might as well see what he asked for. Maybe he’d provide fodder for a creepy character down the road.
    “My Karlyn, I have missed you.”
    “Cut to the chase, Mario. You want something. What?”
    He began cursing in Spanish, his mother’s tongue. Then Italian, which he’d picked up in art school in Florence. She rode out the torrent of words, waiting for him to wind down.
    “You are so petty, my darling.”
    “You treated me like shit, Mario. Stomped on my heart. Spit it out. How else would you expect me to be toward you?”
    “Well, I do have a small request. I want to see you. I heard your father passed. I should comfort you and your mother. And possibly borrow a bit of money. Maybe as a commission.”
    She expelled a loud breath, furious at his nerve. “You have got to be kidding.” She almost went on her own cursing rant but decided a cool head would prevail. She’d take a firm tone with him, like a parent with a naughty child. “We are divorced. I gave you the condo. The furnishings. It’s over between us. I’d give a homeless person my last dime before I’d see it in your greedy hands.”
    Her ex let out a long string of profanity in multiple languages. Karlyn hung up and turned her phone off rather than listen to his tirade. She knew it would infuriate him—which gave her pleasure. He didn’t have the unlisted number of the Walton Springs’ house landline. He’d always left details like that up to her. She made a note to change her cell phone number tomorrow.
    Yet she was curious. How could he go through that kind of cash so fast, assuming he’d listed and sold the condo. Gambling? A mistress?
    She didn’t care enough to Google it. Mario was the past. She looked forward to her future.
    Karlyn thought about it. Georgia was growing on her. Technology made it easy to stay in touch. She could write anywhere. Look at Chris. He pulled seven figures easily and lived over two thousand miles away from the major studios.
    Maybe she could buy a Victorian in Atlanta. She loved the architecture and pace of the city from book tours she’d done. The outstanding food and terrific museums made it an attractive place to live.
    Yet she had to admit she felt the tug to stay close to her mother. Maybe the time had come for a fresh start in their relationship. Walton Springs was an idyllic town with big city conveniences a short drive away. It might be the place to put down roots.
    And Logan Warner’s face kept popping up in the equation. True, she was nowhere near wanting to become involved with a man, but if she were? Logan would be a good place to start. And end. What was not to like? Intelligent. Sexy as hell. Dedicated to his job.
    Maybe she would stay in the Springs.
    “The witness is dismissed. Court is adjourned for the lunch break and will reconvene in two hours.”
    Logan left the stand and exited the courtroom. He saw Brad on a bench talking on his cell.
    Brad caught sight of him and waved. “Okay, babe. Looks like it’s my turn to testify. My partner finished. See you tomorrow at eight.” He pocketed his phone. “It go okay?”
    Logan nodded. “You know me. With my detailed notes, I’m the last