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‘What do we do with that, then? The magnets?’ Leigh asked.

‘I don’t know. But what I do know is that I want to know you,’ Alex said.

‘How long do you have?’

‘All night,’ Alex smiled. ‘I wanteverything.’

Leigh didn’t know if she truly meant it. But Alex was an irresistible force. So Leigh talked.

She explained how her housemates made her feel crazy. They all seemed so happy in the chaos. But chaos unnerved Leigh. She couldn’t deal with it. And not because she wasn’t used to it, but because she was.

Her parents were, in her grandmother’s words, ‘A volatile combination.’ Leigh’s definition ran more along the lines of, ‘Immature nutjobs with no sense of boundaries.’

What that meant was screaming matches, doors slammed, crockery broken, peace shattered. Her parents had broken up and gotten back together beyond the count. Leigh woke up never knowing if both parents would be there or if she’d find one or the other bemoaning the latest row to her, explaining their unimpeachable innocence in the whole thing. Leigh just wanted someone to hand her a bowl of cereal before she went off to school. She did not have the time or the inclination to let adults cry on her shoulder.

She’d left hoping to find something better. Somehow, now? She was even more adrift.

She told all this to Alex that night. With every word coming out of her mouth, she felt like she was showing Alex that she was a loser. She felt sure that Alex was going to understand that she’d made a mistake attaching herself to this sad sack.

But Alex’s bright, sharp eyes were fixed on her, searching, intrigued, interested. She listened that night. Leigh didn’t think anyone had done that in a long time. She wasn’t sure anyone hadeverdone it, actually.

‘God, sorry. I didn’t mean to go on,’ Leigh said, breathless, embarrassed.

Alex smiled. ‘No, no. It’s OK. It’s good. I liked it. I mean, I don’t like hearing how bad it’s been for you. But I like…’ She stopped and reassembled herself. ‘It’s cool that you’re telling me this is what I’m trying to say.’

Leigh blushed, stunned. ‘Oh, well… You! Let’s talk about you.’

Alex flashed a quick grin. ‘There’s not much to tell.’

Leigh couldn’t have that. She needed to hear Alex’s emotional wounds, too. ‘Come on, I know you’re complicated. I can tell.’ Leigh practically demanded, surprised at her own confidence. Perhaps it was infectious.

Alex looked surprised and then pleased. Leigh couldn’t wait to hear exactly who this charming stranger was.

Now

Ten years later, Leigh was watching Alex work her magic on Helen Archer’s security guard. She could see that it was working because Mr Stick-up-his-arse was smiling. Charmed. But ofcoursehe was. This was Alex’s great talent. And now she was going to win.

Fuck.

Eleven

When Alex pulled up alongside Leigh’s car in Helen Archer’s driveway, she was ready to be smug. Leigh had not penetrated Helen’s sanctum, which meant she probably never would. Alex was ready to revel in her delicious victory.

Until she saw Leigh, and her breath caught in her throat.

She’d been a beautiful girl back in the day, but with womanhood on her, it was a little ridiculous. Her red wavy hair was a little shorter now, but it framed her face better. Her large dark eyes had lost none of that irresistible vulnerability. Her mouth had retained its sexy, natural pout. And her crooked nose, her one flaw, still charmed the bejesus out of Alex. All in all, the extra decade on Leigh Calloway suited her very nicely.

Alex felt like her thoughts were going to show all over her face if she wasn’t careful. And she wasn’t giving Leigh that. So, she put on her usual mask: Alex Walker, confident, successful, cool as a cucumber dipped in liquid nitrogen.

She gave Leigh a little wave to sell her indifference. Like, ‘Oh, it’s you again, how annoying to see you.’ And itwasannoying that Leigh was at Helen Archer’s place, ready to compete for the prize of photographed infidelity.

But it also kind of wasn’t.

‘Hi, Leigh!’ Alex said as breezily as her voice would allow. ‘Great to see you.’

Leigh didn’t say anything back. Just nodded. Alex was furious to find she felt small in the light of that nod.

Alex turned away and got out of the car, heading for the old guy standing in front of the big, ornate gate. Steven had texted her his name, but that’s all the prep he could do. Helen wasn’t taking calls right now. But that was fine. For now, Alex only had to block Leigh. Anything else was a bonus.