“When I first moved to California, my roommate talked me into taking cooking lessons because she thought the teacher was hot,” Violet said.“I figured it would be a good way to meet people, plus I had the idea that someday I’d move back to Oakwood Falls and become a housewife.”She pulled a face.“It didn’t go well.”
“Which part?The housewife plan?Or the cooking lessons?”
“All of it.I set fire to a baked potato.”
“How?”
“I’m not even sure, and neither was the firefighter who lived in the next apartment.He came running in like a superhero and shot foam everywhere.And obviously the small-town housewife thing didn’t work out either.”
If my hands weren’t covered in flour, I would have pinched myself.Again.Violet Miller was sitting on a stool, scratching Shiro’s head as she chatted with me about Hollywood and baking and life in general.And she seemed so normal.Not at all like the uppity diva the gossip websites tended to portray her as.
“Being a movie star beats being a cowboy’s wife, huh?”
“The guy I’d cast as my future husband was a lawyer, which with hindsight, was so much worse than a cowboy.”Another grimace.“If ever you get the chance to date a lawyer, take my advice and don’t do it.”
“I needed that advice six years ago.Guess what my husband does?”
“Oh no!I’m so sorry.”
“He seemed real kind at first.I’d just lost my mom, and he helped me with the wrongful death suit.By the time I realised what kind of man he really was, it was too late.”
“I was so lucky to meet Dawson before I committed to an asshole.He bought the land to build us a house and everything.And now you have Justin, which is an improvement, right?”
“We’re not together.I’m more of a pity project.”
“Hey, don’t say that.It’s only a matter of time.”Violet glanced up as the ad break finished and the news resumed.“Where’s the remote?”
“You don’t like Dax Prescott?”
In recent months, he’d emerged as the frontrunner for next year’s election, with James Harrison struggling to keep up and Ron Perlmutter trailing in a distant third place.I’d always thought that Dax Prescott came across as too slick, too fake, but the talking heads joked that in America, the only man who could beat a former military pilot to the presidency was a man who’d played one on TV.
“I barely know him, but I spent more time than I want to think about with his girlfriend.Trust me, if he’s dating Mikki Moretz, that definitely calls his judgment into question.”
“Didn’t you make a movie with her?Hidden Intent?”
“Yup.And she can stand there looking all demure in a pantsuit and a crucifix, but I guarantee it’s an act.She’s only pretending to care because she thinks it’ll get her money or fame or both.Probably both.”
“I’m sure my husband donated to Dax Prescott’s campaign.”
“Then you should totally get a divorce.”
“Right now, that’s just a pipe dream.To get a divorce, I’d have to speak to him, and honestly, that terrifies me.”
“I’m not super familiar with the process, but couldn’t you get a lawyer to do that part?”
“To afford a lawyer, I need money, and to get money, I need a job.I want to resurrect my cooking show, but what if Ridge manages to track me down through the internet?”
“Alexa’s sitting in the next room, and she’s the queen of cybersecurity.Ask her to help you.”
“But I barely know her, and she seems super busy at the moment.”
“Okay, maybe wait for the Amie situation to resolve first, but she won’t mind helping.Dawson says taking petty revenge is basically her hobby, even if it’s on behalf of somebody else.”
“Justin said pretty much the same thing.”
“There you go.Once she’s done, Ridge will think you’re in Abu Dhabi or Timbuktu.”
“As long as he doesn’t think I’m in South Korea.My best friend lives there, and I don’t want to cause her any trouble.”
