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Rhiannon nodded. Instead of asking why it mattered what her ex thought, she tried to see it from her perspective.

“Hmm . . . fair point. So go and show her you’re living your best damn life. A boss bitch who’s killing it. Make her eat it.”

Carmela laughed and the sound lifted her heart. The mischievous grin she gave her a second later, stopped it.

“That would be really mature of me, huh?”

The question sounded like Carmela was testing the waters. There was definitely a wrong answer. Rhiannon went with her gut without giving it too much thought.

“Does it matter? Maybe you need it for closure or something. Or maybe some part of you wants to see if she’s really better o without you. It’s all valid.”

“Now you do not sound like Liz,” she joked. “We’ll see.

Maybe I’ll wait until the wedding planner figures out I’m still not getting her messages,” she said before turning up the music in Rhiannon’s car and reclining into the headrest.

For the rest of the short drive, Rhiannon couldn’t take her eyes o Carmela. She’d never have expected her to care about what anyone thought of her. The more she learned about her, the more she wanted to know.

IT WAS late in the afternoon by the time Rhiannon dropped Carmela o at the dealership to pick up her car. When she returned to the o ce, Carmela stopped in Liz’s open doorway. “What are you still doing here? Isn’t Philip in town?”

“His flight was delayed,” she replied as she pulled o her reading glasses. “Where have you been?”

“We had some stu to do at the house.”

Liz made no e ort to stifle her smirk. “We, huh?”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Carmela narrowed her eyes. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Nothing,” she replied casually, but after so many years together there was no walking back her initial tone.

“Oh please, don’t give me that. You meant something,”

Carmela pressed.

“It’s just nice to see that despite having gotten o on the wrong foot, you two are working really well together. Some might even say you’re inseparable.”

Carmela quirked an eyebrow. “We’re working a deal together, and if you recall she doesn’t actually know what she’s doing. I have to hold her hand at every turn.”

“I’m sure there’s plenty of handholding,” Liz countered, far too amused.

“Are you implying we’re more than colleagues?”

Carmela’s heart skipped a beat. The last thing she wanted was to be gossiped about. Especially when it wasn’t true.

“All I’m saying is that you’ve been a lot happier lately, and maybe you have your new friendship to thank for that. If that’s the case, then I’m completely behind y

our . . .

partnership . . . one hundred percent,” she explained as she glanced down at her phone. “I better get going,” she said as she stood and grabbed her purse from inside her desk drawer. “Don’t over think it, okay? Keep doing whatever you’re doing,” she said with her hand on Carmela’s shoulder. “It’s really working for you. And Rhiannon is a smart, fiery young lady. You could really do a lot worse. Hell, you have done a lot worse. If you want to get your groove back, Stella, I’m sure as hell not going to judge.” Liz added leaving her alone in her o ce.

Am I really so obvious?

Whatever was happening or not happening between her and Rhiannon, she hadn’t expected anyone to notice. It’s not like they were spending any real free time together. How would Liz know there was anything else going on?

As she walked back to her o ce, Carmela glanced at Rhiannon. She was back at the photocopier, though this time she actually knew how to work it. It took a moment to realize

she was helping Brandy the Receptionist make copies for the two closings one of the other agents had going on at once.

She smiled at the sight. When Rhiannon wasn’t a ruthless little shark, she was surprisingly humble and thoughtful.