Page 38 of Rekindle My Heart

They raised their glasses in a toast. Kate’s face turned stoic. “Erica, you will be the most beautiful, smart, confident woman there tonight.”

“Starting those affirmations, are we?” Amy asked.

“Damn straight, we are.”

Amy nodded and raised her glass. “Here, here. A Jane Bond.”

Erica giggled. “Thanks.”

They slammed the rest of their drinks, and Kate started removing the curlers from Erica’s hair. She fingered through it, did some twisting of pieces, and clipped a few of the sides up. Then she picked up an industrial-sized can of spray and doused Erica’s hair again. She sprayed. And sprayed.

Erica coughed. She only had seconds before her lungs collapsed from the fumes.

“Okay, I can’t go if I’m dead.” Erica waved her hand in front of her face, trying to disperse the spray.

“Time to wiggle your ass into that sexy dress.” Kate shooed her off as she packed up the hair products.

Once in the dress and mile-high shoes, Erica teetered back into the living room where Amy and Kate were waiting.

“Wow, girl. You’re gonna knock their socks off.”

“Gorgeous. I see why Daniels is ga-ga over you.” Amy’s expression was reserved.

“Now I see the resemblance.” Kate held up a photo Erica kept on her mantle. One of Sarah and her at prom.

“You went to Ashwood High?” Erica squinted, trying to remember the other woman, but she couldn’t.

“I transferred in my junior year. I remembered Sarah. She was in my biology class.”

Remorse coated her throat and weighed heavy on her chest. She never knew how to respond when someone mentioned her sister in passing.

What did you think of her? Did you like her? The questions sat on the tip of her tongue and died as she gulped them down. Silly thoughts, everyone loved Sarah. Everyone?

“I should let Karma out, then get going.” Her fur baby trotted in from his nap on the guest room bed. Please don’t drool on this dress.

Amy picked up her duffle bag. “Wait, I have the perfect accessories.” She pulled out a case and opened it. A necklace with a single ruby pendant sat nestled in custom foam, not the fabric cases from the jewelry store.

“Is that real?” Erica’s voice rose.

“Real tech. There is a tiny high-res camera in the setting.” She opened another box. “This one has a tiny microphone and wire.”

Erica eyed the accessories. “I thought I was just listening and mingling?”

“You will be. Trey and I will be in the van outside listening and watching.”

A part of her was relieved at the thought that someone else would be hearing the chit-chat in case she missed something. But another part of her cringed at the thought of them hearing her fumble through the small talk. Or the camera.

“What if I have to use the restroom?” She gulped.

“You can turn off the mic and cover the camera.”

I’m gonna throw up.Maybe it was the alcohol? She looked at the tiny camera… or not.

“Not sure I need this. We don’t even know if any of the corruption leaders are going to be there,” Erica said as Amy strapped the microphone between her breasts.

“Yeah, but if you walk up and listen, we never know what you’ll pick up for conversation. It can’t hurt to gather intel.”

Erica knew she was right, but it did nothing to calm the tsunami whirling in her gut. Wired for video and sound. Holy shit. How did she end up in this situation? Daniels. “Will Ryan be wearing a wire too?”