I shot a glance at Naomi over my fancy-ass grilled cheese. She beamed all her happy newlywed vibes in Lina’s direction as they dissected every detail of the dress.
A good friend called the bridal shop and preordered the perfect gown. A great friend pretended like fate was the real hero.
My phone vibrated on the table, and I picked it up. It was a call from my sister.
“Hey, Maeve,” I answered, plugging my ear with my finger and sliding out of the booth.
“Hey, I got your message, but I was stuck in court. What’s up?” she asked.
I ducked behind a large potted plant next to the host stand. “Did Dad ever mention a Mary Louise Upshaw to you?”
“Dad mentioned a lot of people to me. Is she from Knockemout?”
“She was local-ish. She worked at the post office. I didn’t have much time to do any digging, but it looks like she was convicted of drug charges. I think she’s the mother of Dad’s law school protégé Allen.”
“It’s ringing a vague bell. But this was probably a few years ago. Before the cancer and the move,” Maeve said.
Before the beginning of the end.
“Yeah. That’s probably the right timeline,” I agreed.
“He wasn’t her attorney, was he?” Maeve asked.
“No. I think she had a public defender. She got twenty years. First-time offender.”
“For possession? That’s excessive even for Virginia.”
“I thought so too. It turns out his mother’s case is why Allen went to law school in the first place. Would you mind looking into it? You know, in the spare time you don’t actually have.”
“Yeah. I’ll do some digging and get back to you.”
“In return, I’ll take Chloe to play rehearsal for the next two nights,” I volunteered.
“Best aunt ever,” Maeve said, affection in her voice. “What am I going to do when you have kids of your own?”
“Ha. It’s just me and the cat for now. I’ve gotta go. I’m with Lina and Naomi. I’ll pick up Chloe tonight. Love you.”
“Love you. Bye.”
I disconnected.
“What was that about?” Lina asked when I returned to the table.
“Just some papers of Dad’s I found. Get this. My mom wants me to give them to Lucian.”
Naomi’s brows winged up in surprise. “Is your mom unaware of the mutual animosity?”
“Oh, she’s aware. I think she just wants us to find a way to be friends, but we can’t be in the same room without trying to tear each other limb from limb, so I made the executive decision to dump them on Lina here since she’ll be more likely to see Lucifer.”
“Speaking of Suit Daddy,” Lina said, running her finger around the lip of her glass of scotch. “I officially accepted his job offer after demanding more money and a few other perks.”
“That’s wonderful news,” Naomi said.
“Congratulations?” I said. I didn’t mean to make it sound like a question, but that was how it came out.
Lina laughed. “Thanks. I’m excited. I finally get to pull back the curtain and get my hands dirty.”
“What perks did you hold out for?” I asked.
“He has to be nicer to you.”
“Oh my God. You did not negotiate me into your employment contract. Did you?” I didn’t want Lucian Rollins thinking I needed someone to stand up for me.
“It was more a passing comment than a demand,” Lina assured me. “Interestingly enough, when he found out that you two were going to be in town today, he said I should invite you to the office.”
Naomi turned to me, looking like she was about to implode with happiness.
“What?” I demanded defensively.
“He finds out that you’re going to be in town with Lina and invites you to the office. You don’t think that sounds like the exact opposite thing a man would do for his sworn enemy?” she said pointedly.
“Sworn enemy is a little harsh,” I said, thinking of the breakfast burrito and my mother’s spa day. “And he invited us, not me.”
“I don’t know. My instincts tell me he wants you there,” Lina insisted.
“He does not. Maybe he was just pretending to be human to his new employee. Or maybe he has a crush on Naomi like all men with a penis and half a brain do.”
Naomi tossed her hair and pouted like a supermodel. “It’s true. Six men fell into manholes so far today,” she said breathily.
I snorted.
Lina held up her hands. “Okay. Fine. Full disclosure. He’s not even supposed to be in the office this afternoon. So maybe he offered it up knowing he wouldn’t be around to fight with you.”
I was not about to think about recognizing the tiny sliver of disappointment that news brought on.
Naomi, on the other hand, looked fully deflated.
“But seriously. Aren’t you the least bit curious why he’d extend the invitation?” Lina pressed.
“Nope,” I lied.
“Well, I’ve always wanted to see where he works. Does he really have a throne made out of the bones of his enemies?” Naomi asked.
“I was just going to give you the files to give to him next time you were in the office,” I told Lina.
“Yeah, but aren’t you just the least bit curious to see behind the frowny, rich guy curtain? I have to admit it’s pretty impressive,” she prodded. “You could deliver the files straight to his very expensive desk so you can tell your mom that you tried to give them to him personally. Maybe we could even use his in-office espresso machine.”
Naomi clapped her hands. “Ooh! Espresso! Please, please, please, Sloane.”
It wasn’t smart, but part of me really wanted to see where Lucian Rollins ran his evil empire.
Besides, the longer I stayed down here, the higher the chances a hot, local guy on the app would slide into my DMs. There was a possibility that I could help Lina find a dress, tour Lucian’s evil empire, and get laid all in the same day.
“I guess we could stop by and see your new office,” I mused. “Since we’re here and all.”
Naomi and Lina shared a triumphant matchmaker-y look.
“Stop making that face or I’ll change my mind.”
9
Canoodling with the Devil
Sloane
The offices of Rollins Consulting took up the entire fourteenth floor of a pricey-looking building with a pricey-looking view. Everything from the marble floor of the reception area to the dark, wood-paneled walls whispered wealth and power.
There was fancy art on the walls and real plants in gold pots.
“I need to see your IDs,” said the woman behind the front desk.
She was somewhere in her midfifties to early sixties and had the ramrod posture of a career military woman. She was looking at Naomi and me like she thought we might try to steal a painting off the wall or stuff our purses full of espresso pods. The nameplate indicated that her name was Petula.
I found her both terrifying and fascinating.
“They’re friends of mine and Lucian’s,” Lina insisted.
Well, that was a blatant lie.
Petula didn’t appear to be impressed. “Just because they’re friends now doesn’t mean they won’t be enemies later,” she said. “I will accept a driver’s license, military ID, or passport.”
Naomi raced to comply, digging through her purse like it was a scavenger hunt.
I pulled my driver’s license out of my wallet and was just handing it over when ex-U.S. Marshal Nolan Graham entered the lobby space through a pair of smoked-glass doors.
“Blondie!”
“Nolan!”
He looked good. Healthy and happy. And that made me happy.
I opened my arms for a hug. He wrapped me up and plucked me off the floor, leaving my feet dangling. We had dated. Barely. Not even long enough for more than a very nice kiss or two before his heroic injury changed the trajectory of his career and personal life.
Lucian, for reasons that remained shrouded in mystery, offered Nolan a job with his firm. A position that made it possible to win back his ex-wife, Callie.
I may not have ended up with a hot U.S. marshal boyfriend, but at least I’d gotten a new friend out of the deal.
“How’s the bullet hole?” My question ended in a gasping giggle when he gave me a tight squeeze before setting me on my feet again.
His answer was interrupted by the sound of multiple throats clearing. I glanced around and spotted Lina, Naomi, and even Petula looking as wide-eyed as Taylor Swift’s front row audience.
“Oh, hey, boss,” Nolan said, taking his time releasing me from his embrace.