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If I’d been mid sip, I would have spat it out. Steeling myself, I said, “Out of seven billion people, there’s sure to be more than one, right?”

Mia arched her eyebrow. “A truckload of lingerie, and now you’re buying weeds in bulk? You must be serious about this girl.”

I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips. I felt young. Light. For the first time in a long time. “Possibly. I think you’ll like her.”

Mia’s eyes practically bugged out of her head. “I’ve been working with you for three years, and you’ve never once been this smitten. One-time dates to functions, sure, but an actual girlfriend with over-the-top gifts? Who is this magical unicorn of a woman?”

I chuckled and took a sip of my scotch. “You’ll find out if everything goes well Saturday.”

Mia shimmied her shoulders excitedly. “Romance must be in the air. Farrah’s got a date with Pascale tonight.”

I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. The face. The nuts.

“Actually,” Mia continued, “I forgot to mention, I’m babysitting for Farrah at six, so I need to be out of here by five thirty.”

I downed some scotch, trying to settle the irrational emotions going through my mind. Iknewthat fucker liked Farrah.

And I also knew I told her we would not have a relationship.

So of course a beautiful woman like her would get asked on a date.

And I should let her go, right? Stop being selfish so she could have a relationship with someone who didn’t have a billion-dollar company to run.

But then again, I’d never been the kind to lie down and give up on what I wanted.

And I wanted Farrah to be mine.

Only mine.

34

Farrah

I finished changing out of my work clothes into a comfortable black cotton dress, adding a necklace and earrings to match. Cora watched me from the stool in the bathroom. “Can I put lipstick on you?”

I chuckled. “Only if I can put some on you.”

She smiled big. “Deal.”

I reached into my makeup bag, pulling out my favorite shade of plum, and passed it to her. “Be careful though; it can stain.”

I held my breath as she brought the lipstick to my mouth, tracing the pattern of my lips. When she was done, she stepped back, squinting at me and admiring her work. “So pretty, Mommy.”

I chanced a look in the mirror. She actually hadn’t done a bad job. I rubbed my lips together and used my finger to wipe at the corners. Then I took the color and drew it over Cora’s mouth.

With it done, I capped the lipstick and made a kissy face at her.

She blew a kiss back. “We’re pretty, right, Mama?”

“So pretty,” I agreed, picking up my phone to take a picture of the two of us in the mirror.

The doorbell rang, so we finished our impromptu photo shoot and walked together to the living room, where Levi and Andrew were playing video games.

“Thanks for answering the door, guys,” I said, and of course they ignored me, completely absorbed in their game.

Cora came with me to the door, and when I swung it open, she jumped into Mia’s arms. “Auntie Mia!” she cried.

Mia picked her up, spinning her around. “Cora! Show me the new digs!”