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Charlotte shook her head, lips curling at the edges. “This is Imani Hill, my CFO and best friend.”

“Oh! It’s wonderful to meet you.” Ali said, a searing flush spreading across her chest, creeping toward her neck. “Charlotte has mentioned you a lot!”

Imani’s lush lips painted a bold deep red pulled back into a grin.

“You mustn’t tell her such things, darling. It will go straight to her head,” Charlotte teased, hand moving to rest against her lower back.

Imani rolled her eyes.

“Are all your friends this attractive?” Ali blurted out.

Shoot me.

If it wouldn’t have made things more awkward, she would have clapped her hand over her mouth. Could the ground swallow her whole?

It was clear Imani identified as straight. Ali’s gaydar didn’t even budge. But confidence seeped from every pore, making Ali’s mouth go dry.

“Aren’t you a charmer?” Delight twinkled in her eyes as she reached out to smooth the collar of Ali’s viridian green blazer, expression a little too smug. Only the weight of Charlotte’s touch kept her brain from turning to mush. “But I’m her only friend.”

“So, technically yes?” Ali returned without missing a beat, finding her footing at last.

“I like you,” Imani admitted, warm eyes dancing with amusement.

“As do I,” Charlotte said leaning in to press an affectionate kiss to Ali’s cheek.

“Cute.” Imani gave them both a knowing look before walking away with long confident strides without so much as another word.

Ali blew out her cheeks, letting the air whoosh out before she asked, “What just happened?”

“Revenge,” Charlotte replied, fanning Ali’s cheeks in a vain attempt to help them cool. “Almost all her boy toys have hit on me.”

“So, justice really?”

“Oh yes, she will revel in this for some time. You’ve just made her entire year.”

Charlotte chuckled as she craned her neck in search of a waiter. But the sound of her amusement evaporated into nothing and her grip tightened.

Ali followed her gaze.

She was around Ali’s height in stilettos, golden blonde hair pinned up, accentuating her prominent cheekbones, and piercing eyes. This had to be Victoria. Her eyes swept the grounds. Ali knew she needed to act. Charlotte couldn’t get caught staring! Everyone knew about the unspoken post break up game and Ali intended for Charlotte to be the ultimate victor.

Leaning up on her tiptoes, she whispered in Charlotte’s ear. “Hey, I have a very important question.”

She didn’t.

Charlotte’s attention shifted and she tilted her head to better hear.

“What is your favorite color?” Ali whispered, dropping back down to her heels, toes wiggling inside black booties.

Charlotte snorted, blue eyes flitted across her face for a moment. Leaning down she murmured against Ali’s ear, breath brushing against her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Her pleasant perfume invaded her senses. Notes of honeysuckle, gardenia, jasmine… cedar-wood… caramel, and something citrusy. A rush of air expanded her lungs, filling Ali with sunbeams, warming her from the inside out. All cares and worries faded away when wrapped in such a heady scent.

“I’ve always been partial to blues, but at this moment I find umber quite appealing.”

Ali blinked, clearing her head, puzzled by the response. “That is an unusual choice… why umber?”

Charlotte took half a step closer. A good four inches taller in her heels at least.

“I find it under-appreciated. In the sun, it catches the light and often flecks of orange and specks of gold are illuminated. I find myself unable to look away, enraptured… completely captivated,” Charlotte explained, a smug expression forming as she held Ali’s stare.