Page 70 of Bonds of Shame, Bonds of Lust

I looked at my watch. A little early, but I left anyway. I used to wish I had more interesting things to share with Janice. Be careful what you wish for.

I arrived first and caught myself rearranging the sugar packets and stopped. I had arranged them by size. They were all the same size.

The door swung open. Janice came in like she'd been shot out of a cannon, red coat, dark hair everywhere, already unwinding her scarf with one hand and waving at the server with the other, grinning at someone's dog through the window as she passed it. She spotted me, crossed the room, kissed my cheek with a loud smack, and dropped into the chair across from me like she'd been aiming for it from the parking lot.

"Okay." She picked up the menu she never needed. "I need you to tell me good news, because my nine o'clock cried for forty-five minutes and my ten o'clock—" She set the menu down and shuddered. "You know what, you deal with children. Cute, cuddly, grateful children who draw pictures for you." She pointed. "I deal with—" Another shudder. She laughed. "Never mind. Tell me about the board meeting. How'd it go? Did you murder anyone?"

"It went well." I wrapped both hands around my mug. "Mostly."

Janice's eyes sharpened. "Mostly?"

"The data persuaded them. Allison thinks Derek's considering funding a priority element. It's movement." I paused. "And I may have said something to him. In front of the board."

She put her latte down. "What did you say?"

"He made a dismissive comment. And I told him I wasn't there to entertain him."

The sound Janice made wasn't quite a laugh. She pressed both hands flat on the table.

"You said that. To Derek Harrington. In front of his board." She was grinning now. "Lacey Anne Bonds. Kick ass! You're my hero!"

"He told them to let me finish."

Janice sat back and looked at the ceiling like a woman receiving very good news. "Of course he did. Of course he did." She looked back at me, eyes bright. "So, you insulted the man whose checkbook you need, and now he's probably going to fund your suite." She shook her head slowly. "He's such a weird bastard, but only you, Lacey. Only you." She pointed. "This is what I've been telling you for years. Stop managing everyone. Just be yourself." Then, slightly wicked. "Apparently, yourself is extremely effective."

I laughed despite myself. "It wasn't a strategy."

"The best things never are. So, what happens next?" she asked. "With the funding."

"Allison's handling the follow-up," I said.

The words were out before I'd realized it. True, technically. Not complete. There was a dinner I hadn't mentioned, with a man I couldn't stop turning over.

Janice topped up her latte even though it didn't need it.

"Right," she said easily.

Suddenly she grabbed my hand. "I'm so excited for the day after tomorrow, Lacey!" She did the "EEEE!" thing. "I can't wait! I can't wait to show you off to the girls, and to have you all to myself on the cruise! It's going to be so fun!"

I grinned. "Me too!"

I needed a relaxing few days.

30 - FLIGHT

Lacey

We caught a flight together Wednesday morning. The cruise was four days and three nights. I wanted to tell Janice about the things Ricardo and I had done. They seemed exciting, strange, and impossible, and for once I had stories of my own.

But Ricardo had begged me not to tell her. So I didn't. But I was a woman who didn't keep secrets from Janice. The fact that there was now an entire region of my life I was hiding from her felt like wearing a coat I hadn't bought.

But I had plenty of other things to tell.

We were forty minutes into a two-hour flight. Janice had paid extra for first class. She hadn't asked. I hadn't complained. I could barely pay my bills at this point. I had a vodka tonic. Janice had a champagne. Janice always had champagne at altitude.

"I had lunch with my dad and met Carol," I said.

Janice turned more fully. "Oh God. I forgot that happened. How was Carol?"