Golden Lies - Barbara Freethy [62]
"She's seventy-eight years old. Does she need a reason? Besides, she's always in a bad mood around the New Years'. I guess counting up all her sins for the year depresses her." Ona rested her arms on the counter as she leaned forward. "So, how are you, Alyssa? Any new men in your life?"
"I'm too busy for men."
"Ben was asking about you the other day. He always asks about you when he comes into the shop."
"I'm sure he was just being polite."
"You know, he might get tired of waiting for you."
"He's not waiting for me, and I'm not interested."
"Because he's Chinese."
"Because we're too different."
"You should talk to him, Alyssa, give him a chance. He might surprise you."
"I doubt it. He wants a traditional Chinese wife, and I could never be that."
"Do you want me to tell Nai Nai you came by?"
"No, I'll catch up to her later. Thanks."
Alyssa stepped onto the sidewalk and paused, debating her options. Maybe she should talk to Ben. Not about her love life, but about the dragon and the robbery. Ben was a reporter for the Chinese Daily News. He covered everything that happened in Chinatown.
Still, she hesitated. She hadn't seen Ben in several years. They'd been friends throughout childhood and had started dating in high school, but when she'd moved away to college, she'd ended their romance the same way she'd cut the ties to the old neighborhood. There was no future for her in Chinatown. And that's where Ben wanted to be.
He probably didn't care about her anymore, she told herself. He just asked about her out of politeness and friendship. He probably had a girlfriend. There was no reason not to see him. She needed answers, and he was in the position to give them. They'd have a simple conversation, and that would be it. Thankful she had a plan, she walked briskly down the street.
* * *
"She's leaving," Paige said, watching Alyssa from Riley's car. "Are we going to follow her again? I don't really see how this is accomplishing anything. We've seen her talk to an old man and go into an herb shop. What have we learned? Nothing."
Riley ended the call he'd been making on his cell phone to his assistant. "The herb shop is owned by Alyssa's grandparents, An-Mei and Lee Chen. They've owned it for the past thirty-five years."
"Your assistant got that information in the last five minutes?"
"It's all a matter of public record."
"I have a feeling everything is public where you're concerned."
Riley laughed. "True. I believe the old man she was talking to in the square was her grandfather, Lee Chen."
"So what now?"
"I think you're looking a little stressed, Paige."
"Thanks for pointing that out." She pulled down the sun visor and checked her face in the mirror. "I don't look that bad."
"You look perfect, but maybe the herbalist won't notice, especially if you tell him or her how tired you are all the time, and how you need a pick-me-up."
"And why can't you be the tired and pale person in need of an energizer?" she asked, realizing his intention.
"Me? I'm the picture of health."
Riley was the picture of a gorgeous male in the prime of life and didn't she know it. "Fine. But I draw the line at actually taking anything. You don't know what's in those Chinese herbs. They could be dangerous."
"Or they could save your life. Chinese medicine has accomplished some amazing things. In fact, many of our modern medicines are based on herbs that first appeared almost two million years ago."
Paige raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"
He laughed. "Sorry. I have one of those minds for trivia. Things come into my brain, and they don't leave."
"And it doesn't get crowded in there?"
"The human brain is quite a large organ—"
"Please. I do not want to hear about the size of your organs," she said with a mischievous smile. She hadn't seen Riley in this lighthearted mood before. Everything had been so intense, so fast-paced, so filled with drama that they hadn't had much time to laugh, and she was enjoying it—probably more than she should be.
He smiled back at her. "It doesn't have to be just talk."
She shook her head. "Let's stay