Page 24

CB: OMG you were -10 when that movie came out. You have no idea the trauma we endured. I’ve never been able to look at an oil painting the same way again. Or mice.

Sitting up in her seat, Rhiannon smiled while texting at blinding speed.

RR: Man you never learn to stop assuming things do you?

It really is hard to teach new tricks, I guess… I’ll have you know my MUCH older sister used to love that movie and I’ve probably seen it like a hundred times.

CB: Then good night and I hope she appears to you in your dreams.

Carmela’s text was followed by a GIF of Anjelica Huston peeling o her face to reveal the grotesque creature underneath.

Unable to let her have the last word, she replied with a heart-eyes emoji.

Lingering in the car long after they’d stopped texting, Rhiannon’s skin tingled. It wasn’t unlike the crush she’d developed on Dr. Montero, her freshman year English teacher at Goode. She knew it was a terrible idea for so many

reasons. Chief among them being that Carmela barely tolerated her and she’d been none too happy about being forced to work with her.

Logic couldn’t stop her from daydreaming about how much fun it was to spar with her, or how devastatingly smart and beautiful she was.

Good job, Rhi. Another very unfortunate crush is in your future.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I NEED to stop pickling my liver in white wine.

Carmela blew on her extra hot latte as she maneuvered her car around Yeardsley’s opening gate. She’d decided last night was her last date with a bottle of Chardonnay. It was time for an amicable split, or at least a hiatus. On the edge of forty, she was losing her ability to drink without consequences, and headaches weren’t cute. Not with endless sunshine burning her retinas.

Tipsy texting with Rhiannon was an even bigger motivator than her desire to rid herself of next-day queasiness. When she’d read the messages in the morning, she’d been horrified at their exchange.

I can’t believe I was flirting with the shark. I’m more desperate than I realized.

Before she could shame spiral out of control, Carmela convinced herself that without the benefit of tone, she didn’t necessarily come o as flirting. She swallowed hard. And anyway, it wouldn’t happen again.

It was no surprise that Rhiannon’s car was already parked behind the garage when she arrived. It was still an hour before the caterer and florist were scheduled, but that didn’t seem to matter.

When Carmela walked into the house, she found Rhiannon setting out flyers and arranging the tablet for agents to check in.

“You know there are rules against sleeping in a client’s home. Just because Yeardsley isn’t here doesn’t mean you can move into his house,” she commented, her heels clicking against the floor as she moved toward the kitchen.

Rhiannon looked up from the counter, flashing her a devastating glance. She’d done something new with her makeup and her eyes were radiant. It was a punch to Carmela’s already nauseated stomach.

“That’s hilarious,” Rhiannon said with a smile. “Tell another.”

Carmela took a sip of her co ee instead, gliding into the kitchen to look at what Rhiannon had prepared. “Who helped you with this project?” The flyers were striking and exceptionally professional.

The scent of Rhiannon’s perfume hit her nose before she sensed the warmth of her body behind her. Combined with the fact that the room was already spinning a little, it was nearly too much.

“I designed it and one of those print shops downtown pumped them out overnight,” she admitted before pressing into her as she reached for a completely unnecessary pen.

Three sat right in front of her. Rhiannon’s mind game was messy, but it still left Carmela reeling from the sudden contact.

“Why didn’t you print them at the o ce? That’s what our fees pay for,” she pressed, unwilling to let her get under her skin.

“You mean that bullshit machine no one understands how to use?” Rhiannon laughed, still too close even after the flimsy cover of having needed a pen had vanished.

The raspy sound of her voice made Carmela’s mouth go dry. “Just because you don’t know how to use it doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.”

Rhiannon’s height advantage meant her warm breath fell on the back of Carmela’s neck, making her stomach clench.