Page 114 of Positively Pricked

My jaw tightened. "Friends?"

She smiled in obvious relief. "Right."

I was so stunned that I didn't know what to say.

At something in my expression, Tiffany winced. "You're not insulted, are you?"

"Me?" My tone grew sarcastic. "No. Not at all."

"Oh come on, don't take it so personally," she said, glancing down at my clothes. "Honestly, you're dressed so nicenowthat he might not make the connection, but really, it would besomuch better if I didn't have to risk it."

I looked down. Thanks to the busy interview schedule, this was my first stretch of real freedom, and I was on my way out to do some sight-seeing.

Not knowing where I'd end up, I'd skipped the more casual clothes in favor of a long black skirt and high leather boots, along with my favorite white cotton blouse.

This way, I figured, I was prepared for anything – except, of course, to be insulted yet again by Tiffany.

She gave another sigh. "Look, I'm not trying to be mean, honest. It's just that I need to consider my social standing. You know how it is."

I didnow. Looking to make a point, I made a show of backing up until my butt hit the back wall. "Isthisfar enough for you?"

"I guess," she said. "I mean, not like you could go much further." She gave me a nervous smile. "But can you do me another tiny little favor?

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, suuuuure. Anything for a friend."

"See, that's just the thing," she said. "If he's waiting, can you pretend we're just strangers?"

Un-freaking-believable.

At this point, I didn'thaveto pretend. It's not like Tiffany and I had ever been best-buddies anyway. Obviously, she was no friend of mine. "Don't worry," I told her, "Thatwon'tbe a problem."

The words had barely left my mouth when the elevator dinged again, and there we were, at lobby level. The elevator doors slid open, and right there, facing us, was a familiar male figure, dressed in dark tailored slacks and a cream-colored shirt, open at the collar.

But it wasn't the senator. It was Zane.

When he saw me, mashed up against the elevator's back wall, his brow wrinkled. "Jane? You okay?"

Probably, it was the nicest thing he'd ever said to me.

Before I could even think to answer, Tiffany squealed out, "Oh, my God! Zane!" She dropped her bags and lunged forward to claim his arm. "Imagine seeingyouhere."

As if his last namewasn'ton the building.

She looked back to me and said in an off-handed way, "Hey, can you grab those?"

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"The shopping bags," she said, "would you mind grabbing them and taking them to the front desk? I think they've got a giant safe or something." She gave a breezy wave of her hands. "If they ask, just tell them I'll pick them up later."

Well, that was rich.

I put on my clueless face. "I'm sorry, but who are you?"

She gave a nervous laugh. "Oh, stop." She looked back to Zane and then froze, as if finally putting two and two together. "Wait, so you two know each other?"

Wow. What a guess.

Zane had, after all, just called me by name.