Page 89 of Wicked Heat

“No, no. Just, well, I mean, you’re good, right? You’re going to get the money in time to meet that bullshit deadline?”

“Absolutely.”

“And he’s…”

“What?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’re being insanely cryptic, Ar.”

“I know. Sorry. I just… I just want to know you’re okay. That your, um, arrangement is working out. I mean, I’m assuming you agreed to the, um, terms?”

I grimace as I glance sideways to Ash. “It’s working out great.”

“Good. That’s great. And you’ll get the money in time?”

“Of course. I mean, Anne’s his sister, remember?” Ash glances my way. I shrug.

“She clears her throat, and I can’t help but feel like there’s something she’s not telling me.

“Come on, Aria. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Honest.”

“You’re weirding me out.”

“O.M.G.,” she says. “It’s no big. I mean, I just saw some of the pictures. You two in Vegas.”

“I told you that we’re heading to Austin. And trust me when I say the photos weren’t our idea.”

“Where are you, anyway?”

“In the car. On some highway.”

“Driving?”

“Ash is driving. Are you sure nothing’s going on? You’re freaking me out.”

“No, no, no,” she says. “I don’t mean to, really. Sorry. I’m glad everything’s on track. Really. I just called because I have gossip.”

I wait for her to go on, and when she doesn’t, I prod. “Well? Lay it on me? We’re still a ways from the hotel.”

Beside me, Ash mouths, what?

I shrug, then tap the mute button. “I think she’s worried we’re doing exactly the kind of thing we’ve been doing.”

“Me taking unfair sexual advantage of your situation?”

I grin, loving that we’re so much on the same page we can joke about it. “Pretty much.”

“Keep her on pins and needles,” he says, and I flash a thumbs-up as I unmute my phone. “Sorry, Ar,” I say. “We hit a dead zone. I missed all of that.”

“You remember that guy Kari was hot for?”

“The surfer dude? Marty something?”

“Martin Street,” she says, and yes.”