“He’s not an animal, you sociopath.” I stare at her. “Maybe you and Brett Croft would be perfect for each other, after all.”
“Oh, shut up.” Her voice is laced with excitement — she’s practically giddy — and I wonder, not for the first time, if Lila likes living on the edge a bit too much. “Step One in our plan of attack — you have to do it again.”
“Date a sociopath?”
“No, idiot. You have to make Knox jealous.” Her eyes gleam. “And, thankfully, driving men crazy is one of my specialties. When I’m done with you, he’ll be eating out of the palm of your hand.”
I nearly choke on my sip of tequila. “You do realize this is Nate we’re talking about?”
“Honey.” Her grin widens. “The wildest stallions are the most fun to break.”
“Sociopath,” I mutter, taking another gulp of my drink.
Lila claps again. “Ohh, this is going to be so much fun!”
Fun is one word for it.
Personally, I think terrifying, mortifying, and nauseating fit the scenario better.
Chapter Six
I only cut carbs when I’m using a pizza cutter.
Phoebe West, considering the Atkins diet.
“Hello?”
“I told Chase this was going to happen. Told him! But did he listen? Noooo.” A familiar female voice bursts over the line, far too peppy for this time of morning. “Open your own gallery, he said. It will be fun, he said.” She snorts. “Well, it’ll be a freaking disaster is what I said, but does he listen? Nope. Why listen to Gemma? She’s only ever right… Oh, yeah! That would be all the time.”
“Gemma?” I ask, rubbing bleary eyes and feeling like my head might explode.
“No, it’s Danny DeVito.” I can practically hear her rolling her eyes. “Yes, it’s Gemma. Keep up, will you?”
I sit up in bed, phone pressed to my ear, and glance at Boo with my eyebrows raised.
Don’t look at me. You know I like my beauty rest, he conveys, flashing a row of pointy white teeth as his mouth widens in an adorable doggie yawn. His head cocks to the side as he pins me with a pleading look. Though, now that we’re awake… time for walkies?
I shake my head at the dog and try to focus.
“Gemma, did we have plans?” I murmur, voice still scratchy with sleep.
“What do you think of calla lilies?” she asks, totally ignoring me. “Too macabre? Do they scream funeral parlor?”
“Um… lilies are nice?”
“You’re right,” she continues. “Too macabre. Thanks, Phee.”
I blink slowly. “I have no idea what’s happening right now.”
“You and me both, girl. See you tonight!”
She clicks off without another word.
“Bye,” I murmur to no one.
What the frack?
I stare at the disconnected phone in my hand for a few moments, totally stupefied, then collapse back against my pillows with a huff. My eyes slide closed. Maybe I can fall back asleep for a few more minutes…
The thought has barely left my mind when I feel Boo’s weight settle in the middle of my chest. A second later, something warm and wet darts out and licks the length of my cheek.
“Not the face, Boo!” I grumble.
He ignores me.
***
Feet stuffed into slippers, silk bathrobe wrapped tightly around my body, I fight off shivers as I wait for Boo to do his business. Which, I know from experience, could take anywhere between three minutes and seventy years. I take a big swig of my coffee, hoping it’ll ward off the chill while kickstarting my brain into gear.