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“Oh.” Heat scorched against my cheeks like someone had just snatched my head and tugged it over a freshly lit grill. “I love you, Blaire, you know that, but I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

She sat up straighter and had the audacity to scoff at me. “Bitch, you’re thirty-three and I’m thirty-five. We’re grown, this is juicy shit, and you know my husband is deployed in Iraq and won’t be home for another six to eight months. All I have to keep me company is my book boyfriends and sex toys. If you’re fucking someone, just say you’re fucking someone… And then give me all the dirty details.”

“Blaire.”

“It’s just sex, Charlotte. Everyone has it, does it, experiences it, whatever. Come on. Loosen the hell up a little and just talk to me.”

“Fine.” I shook my head, knowing she wouldn’t let it go until I gave her something. “No. I haven’t slept with anyone.”

“Bullshit,” she coughed with her curled fist under her mouth, straining not to grin at me in her drunken state.

“You’re drunk, Blaire.”

“I am drunk, that is true, and you’re a liar. You’re fucking someone and I want to know who it is.”

“Only thing touching this pussy are these three girls here.” I raised my hand up and wiggled my middle, ring finger, and thumb around.

“Bull. Shit.” She grinned at me, still not buying it despite how good I was doing at almost having her convinced. “Tell me his name. Just tell me his name and I swear I’ll leave you alone.”

“Who said it’s one guy?”

“Bitch.” She put her water down and grabbed ahold of my shoulders, shaking me with her eyes blown wide with sheer excitement. “Tell me everything.”

“You’re so fucking gullible.”

I wiped another round of tears out of my eyes and shook my head at her, cackling so hard I snorted.

“What the fuck ever. If you don’t want to tell me, then fine. Just because everyone is entitled to their privacy doesn’t mean others won’t find it interesting or maybe a little on the sexy side.”

Blaire fell silent for a moment, then looked up and locked eyes with me like I was some random rodent she’d just caught pissing all over her brand-new tire.

“It’s Peter. You’ve been secretly screwing Peter all this time, haven’t you?”

“You’re not serious.” I scoffed, blinking at her in total disbelief. “Have you lost your mind?”

She snorted and shook her head at me like I was an idiot. “He likes you, Charlotte, and I see how you two are around each other when he comes by the office. I just don’t understand why you won’t—”

“Because Peter and I are friends and will always and only be friends.”

I wasn’t sure what ever it was she may or may not have seen that had given her the impression I was interested in Peter, or him with me, but she was far off because in my eyes, Peter was nothing more than a massively overprotective brother who severely pissed me off on occasion.

“Okay, fine,” Blaire whined. “So, you mean to tell me you aren’t interested in anybody? I mean, I know shit’s been rough, but eight months is a long time to self-soothe an aching appetite only a dick can cure. Trust me, I’d know.”

I sighed, and instead of answering right away, I leaned over to the center table and filled my empty glass with water, sipping it for a minute. I wished I could tell her about Spike and Phoenix and all about this new wild and exciting ride I’d been experiencing, but I’d learned the hard way months ago about spilling any specifics to her about my personal life.

As much as I loved Blaire, she had quite a ridiculous and annoyingly nasty habit of spreading anyone and everyone’s personal business around the firm. When I’d finally convinced myself to file for divorce, aside from Peter, Blaire was the only person I’d told at the time. Come the next day, everyone knew my marriage had fallen to shit. If I told her about Spike, Phoenix, The Flirty Sanctum, and that I’d done the most stupid shit ever by giving them my phone number last night, then my career, my reputation, and everything I’d ever worked so fucking hard for would be over.

I’d be ruined.

“I don’t know what you want me to say, Blaire. Eventually, I’ll get back out there but for now, I just want to focus on my career. You know Harley still hasn’t hired anyone to fill that ADA position yet.”

She widened her eyes at me. “I know. You’re gunning for it, right?”

I nodded despite my frown. “Trying to, yeah. I hope we manage to catch a huge break in this case. If we do, and this shit makes it to trial…”

I closed my eyes and blew out a sharp breath.

“I want this, Blaire. I want this more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life. It’s my dream. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll get it. More than likely she’ll offer it to you or Perry.”