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She chuckled. “I’d much rather hear about you. You’re the one with the exciting life traveling the world. Getting to meet so many new people. Though you’re pretty cozy with your bandmates and especially Cooper, so maybe you don’t care about that. He’s a pretty piece of candy, isn’t he?”
I gripped the side of the sink hard enough to nearly break my short nails. “He’s a lethal one. He used to be in the Rangers. Takes zero bullshit.”
“Oh, is that so? I never would have guessed that talking to him.”
“He’s different with civilians. Especially starry-eyed fangirl types.” It was a screw I didn’t turn often, because I wasn’t the sort to flaunt my status.
But if this chick wanted to play, I’d play.
She didn’t rise to the bait. “I’m sure he deals with that a lot. You think you can drag yourself away from him for an hour to have lunch? Maybe longer if we get talking.” She laughed. “Girl talk can get carried away.”
“I just bet.” I fisted my hand and tapped it against my forehead to keep from swinging at something.
I was not violent by nature. Crying was my usual response when I got overwhelmed, as much as it irritated me. But this fake bitch was tweaking my last nerve.
And now a question was hammering at the back of my mind. If this wasn’t the real Priscilla Jones—and I had a strong suspicion she was not—what had happened to the real one? Was she out there living her life, blissfully unaware? Or worse, did this woman know she wouldn’t be called out for being Priscilla because she knew the real one would never sound the alarm?
“So, how’s tomorrow? Lunch at The Continental Tearoom?”
“I’ve never been there.”
“You’ll love it. Hey, I hate to ask this, but maybe just us, huh?”
“You already asked if I could drag myself away for an hour.”
“Yeah, but I know how it is with new relationships.”
I reached up to rub my throat. She knew entirely too much.
And she wasn’t finished talking.
“Not that I’d mind getting to know your guy a little better, but you know how men interrupt the flow when it’s us girls.” Her low, intimate laugh set my teeth on edge.
“Sure. Sounds fun,” I agreed, despite knowing I didn’t have a chance in hell of meeting her alone.
I had Cole to think about, and then there was Cooper. Once I told him about this clandestine meeting, he’d attach himself to me—after he got done yelling and calling Lila and Noah and God knows who else for backup. But I’d just have to make him see why he couldn’t do that.
I flexed my fingers. And I wasn’t above using my God-given talents in certain areas to convince him either.
“Great. I’ll see you at noon?”
I closed my eyes. “Definitely. Bye.” I hung up and held the phone to my chest.
A knock came at the bathroom door. “You in there, babe?”
“Yes, I’m in here,” I called to Cooper. I couldn’t quite catch my breath. “Just a sec.”
I had to play it cool with him. Somehow. At least until I found the words to tell him this in a way that wouldn’t make him go postal.
I didn’t think that way existed, but I was the woman who dreamed about finding rainbows. I’d keep hope alive here too. Besides, if I carefully explained my reasoning, he’d see why I’d done what I had.
He had to.
Two hours later over wine and a hastily thrown together pizza, I swiftly realized I’d been wrong.
Forget a hand job to make this go down easier. I didn’t think even a tit fuck followed by anal would do the trick.
He set down his half empty wine glass and stared at me across the darkened patio. It was a breezy, warm night, and we’d decided to eat outside beside the pool.
