“Oh,” Cari said with surprise in her voice. “That actually sounds nice. Wait—you’re not asking me out, right? Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest?”
Randi paused and decided to tell Cari the real reason she was going to the bar.
“That’s a yes and a no. Yes, I’m asking you to join me, but no, I’m not asking you out. Do you remember the Pitch a Friend event where we met?”
“Of course I do. It was just a few days ago.” She gasped. “Does this have something to do with it?”
“It does.” Randi smiled. “Eden, my friend I was pitching, has a first date at the bar. She’s meeting a woman there who is supporting a friend that will be performing that night. I’m going along in case Eden needs me.”
“Oh, how sweet.”
“Mmm, she’d do the same for me. We look out for each other. But I will be in stealth mode, so instead of sitting alone or roaming around the bar looking creepy…”
“You thought of me and wanted someone to look creepy with you?” Cari laughed.
“Not at all! I know that you include music in all of your books. It would be nice to hang out and listen to music. I didn’t get to talk to you at the pitch event, so maybe we could do that.” Randi winced at her awkward delivery.
“Sounds like fun. I can be a stealth wingwoman with you. Maybe I’ll get something good to put in one of my books.”
Randi smiled. “Great. I’ll text you the location. I’m looking forward to hanging out with you.”
“Me too, Randi,” Cari replied. “Although I may be a tad disappointed you’re not asking me out. I love a good forbidden romance or hook-up, whichever it might be.”
Randi widened her eyes. She wasn’t sure if Cari was teasing her again. One thing she knew for sure was that Cari DeWare wasn’t shy.
“So you’re always looking for good stuff to put in your books,” Randi replied.
“You’d be surprised at the things that happen around you if you stop, observe, and take notice.”
“Good to know. In other words, you’re always watching.” Randi would file that information away and remember it Thursday night.
“Yuck, that makes me sound creepy.”
Randi laughed. “The jury is still out on that one.”
“Okay, I’ll plead my case Thursday night.”
“See you then.”
“Thanks, Randi. This will be fun.”
“We can only hope.”
“Bye.”
Randi hung up the phone and shook her head. She’d have to be on her toes around Cari DeWare.
“Eden!” she called from her desk.
“Just a sec,” Eden’s voice filtered into the room. “What’s up?” She stuck her head in the doorway.
“I talked to Cari DeWare,” Randi said. “She’s meeting me at the bar.”
“Oh, great!”
“We’ll see.” Randi sighed. “She is one bold woman.”
Eden came in and sat in the chair opposite Randi’s desk. “How so?”
