Page 14

With an affectionate roll of her eyes, she muttered, “Always so practical.”

We tucked in with full plates and red wine. Maribel set her elbows on the fancy wood of their dining table and laced her fingers in full interrogation mode. “Alright. Enough about us. I’ve waited long enough. Spill. What happened today?”

I’d known that question was coming and had already prepared in my head, so I took a deep breath and described my day at the Henley distillery. I remained completely calm…because it was a normal day. Completely normal. Totally normal. When I finished, I was rather proud that I hadn’t tripped over any of the parts that made my heart pound.

Afterward, Maribel wiggled her eyebrows. “Did you want to push him down and ravish him on the desk?”

My mouth went dry around a bite of chicken.

Ravi set his utensils down, mouth pinched. “I dislike the turn of this conversation.”

“Prude,” Maribel said. Whatever fitness class she’d taught that evening had left her curly hair frizzed, and a strappy red sports bra shone through a sheer workout tank. She turned caffeinated and penetrating brown eyes on me, and the pendant light above us suddenly took on the air of a torture interview—single lightbulb swinging. “Seriously. Talk, lady.”

I sipped my wine, then set it on its coaster to protect the wood of Ravi’s dining table. He built it a couple of years ago when his custom woodworking side gig turned into his full-time gig. Protecting his hard work was paramount.

“I don’t know why you’d think that,” I said.

“Oh, come on.” Maribel brandished a fork at me. “You may have had everyone else fooled, but I saw how you looked at him back in high school. Did you have a secret relationship? You can tell me.”

We’d had this conversation a dozen times before, but Maribel was insistent I’d left things out.

I hadn’t. It was a one-sided, pathetic crush—humiliating at best.

“No.” I punctuated the word with an aggressive knife swipe through my chicken. “We barely knew each other. You’re seeing things that aren’t there, Mari. As usual.”

Maribel narrowed her eyes, sure she could glean the truth if she only looked long enough. I trained my gaze on the stainless steel fridge behind her. Finally, she shrugged and stuffed some chicken into her mouth.

Ravi, clearly grasping for a change of subject, took the opportunity to ask, “So, are you going to take the job?”

“I kind of have to. No other options. At least, not until I hear about the city job. And I’ll keep looking for other opportunities.”

Black lashes fanned over his cheek as he lowered his gaze to his plate. He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Then shook his head and picked up his fork.

“What?” I suppressed a cringe at my shrill tone.

“It’s just—” He glanced at Maribel and lowered his voice. “Are you sure working with Cam Shepherd is good for you?”

“Ha! I knew it,” Maribel said around a mouthful of penne. Triumphant brown eyes turned to me. “Did you tell him what you won’t tell me?”

I ignored her to address Ravi. “I thought you liked him now?”

Since Ravi was neither popular nor rich, Camden and Ravi rarely crossed paths in school—and when they did, Ravi wasn’t a fan. In the last few years, however, Camden had commissioned Ravi for some pieces at the Shepherd estate, and they’d struck up a friendly acquaintance.

“I mean, we’re not bros or anything.” Ravi shrugged. “He’s a decent guy. Easy to work with. Enjoys unique furniture. What’s to dislike?”

Maribel shot him a skeptical stare. “Last time you guys hung out, you started wearing your hair all swept back and tousled. Wasn’t a good look for you.”

Ravi’s betrayed expression tickled a laugh out of me. “That was a coincidence,” he said, scratching his beard.

“Mm-hmm. Sure.” Maribel went back to her dinner. “Just admit you have a man crush.”

“I do not have a man crush.”

“Didn’t you call him a gossip girl in high school?” I asked, still giggling.

“That’s right.” Maribel joined in my laughter. “What did you say to him at the cotillion ball? Something about buying some class?”

My laughter died at once. Ravi’s dark gaze lifted to mine. Was he also reliving that moment? That night, he held me as I cried in my cotillion dress, humiliated after overhearing Camden call me trailer trash. His rare temper snapped, and when Camden stumbled upon us, Ravi let loose.