Page 9 of Nothing to Beat

“It’s a possibility.”

Sequoia interrupted the couple’s flow.“It’s a wonder I’ve managed to miss this woman everyone talks so highly of.”

“Roxie?”Savanna asked.“You’ve never met Roxie?Oh, you have to meet her!Another reason to come with us tonight!You have to.I haven’t spent enough time with you.”They’d been introduced, that was about as far as it went.“Alice will be with us, it won’t be too crazy, I promise.”

Her eyes met Darroch’s.

“You’re one of us, Seq, you’re family.”

Which was his way of telling her Breck would be okay with it.Of course he would be okay with it.He didn’t know how to not be okay with any of her choices… barring one.

“Not like I used to be.”

“Breck’s not an asshole.If you’re mad at him—”

“Okay.”She closed her laptop and stood up, ending that track of conversation.“I’d love to join you.”

Would she?Maybe.Maybe not.One thing she didn’t want to do was get into the nitty-gritty of her and Breck’s non-existent relationship with one of his numerous brothers.

Everyone else had gone home.The building wouldn’t fall down without her.Why shouldn’t she have a little fun?

FIVE

“SEQUOIA DRURY, meet Roxanna Kyst.She prefers just Roxie.”

The private dining space in Blaze was decked out just for them.Cocktails, canapes, a variety of goodies.All laid on by the striking beauty smiling at her, offering a hand of welcome.

“Breck’s squeeze,” Roxie said.“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“It’s probably mostly true,” she said, sitting as the others did too.Huh, alcohol, she hadn’t drunk any since the previous year.She should’ve thought this socializing thing through to the end.“Tripp your source?”

“It’s not like Breck would be,” Savanna said, presenting her a cocktail.

She hesitated.“Anything virgin?I’ve been a little piqued the last couple of days.”

“Sure,” Roxie said.“You can have anything you want here, ma’am, anything at all.Baker!”

A guy scurried in.“Roxie?”

“We need virgin cocktails, sweetie, please.”The hostess looked at her.“Anything specific?”

“Something fruity?”

“Fruity we can do,” Roxie said.“Anyone else?We want different food?We should have something more substantial.We’re busy working women, we don’t need to suffer this dainty crap.”

“Roxie,” Alice said on a laugh.

“What?And Jane’s in LA for a few days…”

“So you won’t be reminded you have a certain dress to fit into soon?”

“Exactly!You get me, Alice.”Roxie’s head dropped back.“We need something, I don’t know… solid, not sensible.”

A suggestion slipped out of her.“Pizza?”

“Ah ha!”Roxie snapped her fingers and pointed.“Pizza!Sequoia, good!Yes, but real pizza… Where will we get deep dish in this town?”

The Crimson helper still stood, expectant, waiting for instruction.“I can ask around.”