The best thing I ever did for my friendship department was sneak into the group home administrator’s office since she always had gourmet chocolate in a glass bowl. That day, Sasha had peeked up from a chapter book she was reading on the couch, and we’ve been close ever since.
She knows when I’m about to unravel at the seams. A ginger touch to my arm, a furrow to her brow; the signs are all there—she’safraid.
I tilt my head and meet her gaze. She shudders, and if I had a mirror, I would bet my smile looks more like a deranged clown from a murder circus.
“Yes.” The ‘s’ comes out too long, like a hiss.
Oh boy. Doubtless, Sasha senses the million shrieks about to burst from my throat like a banshee. Sasha is soft-spoken most days, but today the storm cloud must be shining out from my gray-blue eyes like a freak-of-nature hurricane is about to hit the boiling desert of Las Vegas any second.
“Um, are you okay? I’m sure he didn’t mean it. Right, kitty?” Sasha tickles the top of the orange cat’s head.
I glare at the little beast.I was nice to you, traitor.
The cat seems unbothered by my mental shouting match, and licks its paw, offers me a gurgly meow, then saunters away.
My broken lamp at his back.
“We can go get another one,” Sasha says, glancing at her watch. “Stores might still be open.”
“No.” I hold up a hand. I’m the one my boss sent to see this through. This massively important project for Haven Aesthetic Architecture. Carina Haven combined the science and logic of engineering and architecture with the creativity of interior design and artistic organization into one booming firm. As a junior designer, this project brings with it a commission that could cover rent for three months. “It’s fine. It’s totallyfine.”
It has to be. My eyes are gouging holes in the Italian wool rug. Not an hour ago my gut gurgled to move the small table with the porcelain vase. Should’ve listened.
Not a failure. A lesson. The lesson here is to listen to my stupid, bubbly gut!
“Hey, where am I putting this?” My brother, Drake, and Sasha’s fiancé, Hudson, stumble through the doorway together. They balance a beautiful chaise with pale blue fabric and silver threading.
“Perfect!” I shriek. Drake nearly stumbles, and Sasha jumps in surprise. “We’ll stick the chaise where the table went, forget the lamp, and we’ll put the little table in that empty space in the entryway. Perfect for a potted plant or something!”
“There she is,” Sasha says with a touch of pride.
“I feel like I missed something,” Drake says as he and Hudson put the chaise on the faux fur rug.
I’m quick to grab the dustpan and small hand broom, sweeping up the broken bits of porcelain. “A little accident.”
“I thought Avie was going to pop a blood vessel,” Sasha says, leaning into Hudson’s broad body. He grins at her and tucks a lock of her raven wing black hair behind her ear. Sasha kisses his cheek before going on. “She thinks because these guys are rich, they’ll scream at her for anything that’s not perfect.”
Drake frowns. “Yeah, that’d never happen. And you can tell Carina to lay off you. If this job was so important, the owner should be here.”
If Drake thinks my boss would descend from her penthouse palace to mingle with broken vases and dusting baseboards, he’s dreaming.
But I enjoy when he gets growly like this.
Drake Williams is many things: a smooth talker, charismatic, insecure in a lot of ways, and a wonderful father. But when it comes to the women in his life, aka Mom and me, he’s a protective beast.
I believe him when he says anyone who tried to get in my face would find themselves missing in the desert. Drake is a fire lieutenant with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, and Hudson is a white-collar crimes detective. No doubt between the two of them, they’ve met more than their fair share of shady people and could have help with it.
Sasha chuckles. “Don’t worry about that snobby Carina. Let’s get this done so we can get out of here.”
Right on cue, the blare of my phone alarm goes off. A warning we’re inching toward the deadline. Some people can simply look at a clock and know they’re running behind. I get distracted enough, it’s better to have alarms running my life.
A grin twists over my lips. “I appreciate you all coming to help. I plan to pay you back with the most epic bachelorette party, Sash.”
Sasha wiggles her shoulders. Every time I bring up her approaching wedding, it’s as if she can hardly keep her excitement tamed. The heat in Hudson’s stare when he looks at her gives off the same vibes.
Envy is there, but honestly, anyone would be envious of these two.
It doesn’t help that my work schedule is frantic enough the only people I have time to meet also work for Haven. James, one of the structural engineers, has taken me out a few times. He’s decent enough, but asks a lot of questions about the past that leaves me uncomfortable because he always gives that look of pity I hate so much.
