Page 59

Rose smiled. “Perfect! Go on then.”

Amber recounted the way Simon introduced Thomas. She lamented how much time he spent gushing about his possessions and how good his fortune was.

“But it’s going to be all right. I have a plan that will make me seem undesirable to him. I just needed to find the right person to help.”

“I remember you implying as much the other night. I assume whoever you found is working out well?”

“He seems to be, but we haven’t quite been able to make it work just yet.”

“That isn’t surprising. You haven’t been at it that long.”

“But we also don’t have that much time.”

“I know, but nothing good will come from rushing this. You must try and be patient. Do you want to tell me what the plan is?”

Amber thought for a moment. On the one hand, it could be a great help to have someone else in their corner, but on the other, she couldn’t stop thinking about the risk she would be putting Rose at.

After a moment, she sighed, shaking her head. “I just don’t think that’s the best idea.”

“I can understand that, but do tell me if you ever change your mind.”

“I will.”

“For now, why don’t you tell me about your accomplice.”

She bit back a smile. “What about him? He’s the worst.”

“Is he?”

“Absolutely!”

“Then why are you working with him?”

“Well, it isn’t like I have much of a choice, do I?”

“I’m sure he wasn’t your only option.”

“It sure felt like it.”

“I can understand that, but still, he is helping you, isn’t he?”

“He is, but I can’t quite understand what he gets out of it.”

“Perhaps he’s trying to be nice because he can understand you are in a tough spot.”

Amber shook her head. “He wouldn’t.”

“How do you know that?”

“He just doesn’t seem like that kind of man. We don’t know each other either.”

“I don’t know. I think it seems like you know each other pretty well now.”

“But we didn’t when I asked him, so it isn’t relevant. Besides, we can’t stand each other. You should hear the way he talks to me.”

She grinned. “Why don’t you give me some examples.”

“Well, he never listens to me for one.”