Page 46 of Between the Lines

Maybe. But Cece had developed a much thicker skin since then. If Darcy thought this was some kind of threat, she was wrong.

But that wasn’t exactly what it felt like. This was something else. More like a way of saying, “I see you. I know where your cracks are. Where your weak spots are.”

And maybe that would have been true a few years ago, but Cece didn’t have cracks anymore. She’d been through too much. And now? Nothing could compete with facing cancer again.

No, if Darcy thought she was coming to this interview with a quiver full of arrows, Cece was going to give her an impenetrable target.

Cece slid the phone back into her pocket and started walking again, moving toward the waves so they could wash over her feet. She let her thoughts run wild the way they always did when a story began to take shape.

Darcy wanted this interview. Maybe because she wanted the exposure, but there was no doubt in Cece’s mind that Darcy believed she could control it. Or at least steer it.

That was fine.

Cece knew how to let people talk themselves into revealing more than they meant to. She never pushed a subject unless she thought they’d allow it. Instead, she asked insightful questions and let the person talk without interruption. People liked to fill silences and Cece paid attention to what they said when that happened.

It would be even easier to do that with a woman like Darcy. A woman who thought she was really something. Who liked to hear herself talk.

Cece reached a good stopping point and turned back, already composing her reply in her head. It would be calm and professional. Friendly, even. It would bear no hint that Darcy’s subtle jab had been interpreted as such.

Even though it had.

And now Cece was very interested to see what Darcy Lane would say when the conversation began. The funny thing was, Cece was pretty sure that Darcy was assuming past experiences had made Cece cautious.

What it had actually done was make her very, very good at listening.

And all right, maybe it had made her a little cautious, but Cece had learned the value of discussing things with someone who wasn’t in the middle of the situation. Someone who could give solid advice.

Legal advice, if necessary.

By the time she reached the path that led back toward her house, she’d already decided who that someone was. As if that took a lot of thought.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and tapped Joe’s name, slowing her pace as it rang.

“Hey, there,” he said, answering quickly. She could tell he was smiling and that made her smile, despite what was on her mind. “I was just thinking about you. What’s up?”

“I just got a response from Darcy,” Cece said. “The woman I told you about. She agreed to the interview.”

“I’d say that was good,” he said. “But you don’t sound especially thrilled.”

“I’m not not thrilled,” Cece said. “But the email was…interesting. She did her homework. On me.”

Joe went quiet for a second. “Even though I think I know the answer to this, in what way?”

“In a way that makes me want someone else’s input on this before I reply,” Cece said. She turned onto her street, her house coming into view at the end of the block. She stuck her sandals back on. “Any chance you could come by for a bit? I’d like to talk it through. I can offer you dinner if you’re all right with salad and chicken.”

“Sure,” he said without hesitation. “I can be there in twenty. Salad and chicken sounds great.”

Relief moved through her. It was such a gift to have a man like him so readily available. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” Joe said. “Do you want me to bring anything? I made a low-carb pound cake today. You want to try it for dessert?”

“I’m game,” she said. “I’ve got coffee, too. It’s the least I can do since I’m the one asking for help.”

He laughed softly. “You know I’m always here for you.”

“I know and I appreciate it so much,” Cece said. After they ended the call, she slipped the phone back into her pocket. Her steps were lighter as she finished the walk home.

Whatever game Darcy Lane thought she was playing, there was a curve ball coming her way.