Page 28 of Pretty Lies

“Guess I’m a little late, huh? Sorry. Thought you said noon, boss.”

There was no possible way for her father to know the true reason why the color drained from Della’s cheeks when she dared to glance over her shoulder at the new presence. Cory Rossi, that was. The man she hooked up with in the club two weeks earlier. His gaze darted to hers, a raging blue so bright with recognition that she could tell two things: one, today he was sober; two, he remembered who she was.

She wouldn’t lie. He looked good standing there. Real good. Black on black with hair slicked back; denim and leather added to his already edgy, alluring vibe. He screamed trouble in more ways than one.

“I did say noon, but my wife changed her mind about joining a friend, and she still wanted to see the kids. I didn’t think it mattered when you showed up—the end result would be the same, Cory. Give my daughter the chance to calm down and see things rationally, and I’m sure you two will have plenty of time to get to know one another considering how much you’ll be working together for the next little while as we handle this problem.”

Jesus.

Her heart thundered.

Cory arched a brow.

That made her heart stutter.

Della did the only thing she could. “I need a minute.”

Her tone suggested she was still pissed. It was way more than that.

As she stood, J’s hand flicked up with two things for her to take. A cigarette, and a lighter. Her brother knew her damn well, and like everyone else at the table and in the room—including Cory when she passed him by—said nothing as she left.

Sometimes, people just needed a second to get it together. Della wasn’t an exception to the rule.