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“Nova, honey! Good gracious, what a delightful surprise.” She reached down and grabbed one of my fallen bags, handing it to me. “This is fate, isn’t now? I’m just in town visiting a special someone.”
“Oh, that’s great.” There was a slight awkwardness between us and I couldn’t tell if it was because of me or her. The last time I had seen her, I’d been convinced she was trying to hook up with Ryzen, but now I could care less about that. “Well, gotta run, ice cream’s melting. Let’s do lunch next time you’re in town.”
She checked her watch and then grabbed my elbow, turning me in the opposite direction. “Oh, don’t be silly now. I’ve got hours before I have to be there. Let’s get a drink. I saw a big city bar just down this block.”
Crap. “Really, I should—”
“No offense, honey, but you look like you need a drink. Let’s go.” She grabbed my ice cream bag and marched down the street. I had no choice other than to follow her. No way I was giving up that mint chocolate tonight.
We grabbed a table near the back of the bar, and she ordered drinks for us. The awkwardness soon melted away as we chatted, and I remembered why I had liked her so much when I first met her. She was real genuine when she spoke and soon enough we were laughing like a couple of hyenas.
I wiped the tears from my eyes. “Too funny. Your grandma is hilarious.”
The server brought us over two beers, and we looked at her with raised eyebrows. “From the gentlemen over there.” She nodded her head in the bar’s direction, where two older men grinned ear from ear.
“Oh, Lord, these city men have some moves, now don’t they?” Iva giggled and gave them a thumbs-up. “I shouldn’t encourage them. Not when I’m seeing my beau so soon.”
“Beau? Oh, like a boyfriend? I didn’t realize you had one. He lives in the city?” I nodded at the men who’d sent the beer and clinked glasses with her. The cold sensation going down my throat was exactly what I needed to feel at that moment.
“Well”—she looked over her left shoulder, then her right—“it’s new. I just met him recently. Granddaddy doesn’t know. He would be so angry. But I can’t help it. He makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the world.” She took a sip of her beer, her eyes glossing over. “I’ve never had this kind of chemistry with someone before. It’s just so amazing, Nova.”
I sighed and put my hand over my heart. “I’m so happy for you, Iva, that’s great news.” I held my beer up again and we cheered. The alcohol was really kicking in, since I hadn’t eaten all day. “Why would Mr. Covington be upset? Wouldn’t he want you to be happy?”
She giggled and leaned her elbows on the table. “He’s kind of a bad boy. Granddaddy would not approve, I already know.”
“How did you meet?” I reached for a slice of pizza, taking the biggest bite I could.
“We met at the fundraising event.” Her cheeks grew red. “He doesn’t want me to tell anyone. He’s secretive.”
I scoffed and chewed on the melty cheese. I knew how that went. “Wait, do I know him? From the fundraiser.” The way she was smiling and giggling had me morbidly curious now. Oh, my God, it was one of the SNM triplets, wasn’t it? I’d known those guys were kinky when I met them.
“Well, I shouldn’t say. But hell, we’re girlfriends and you can keep a secret.” She clinked her glass against mine for the millionth time and threw back the rest of her drink, snorting when some ran down her chin. Was that what they did in Texas? Every time you drank, you cheered someone? I shook my head and laughed along with her.
“You know him. Grandma said you did the treasure hunt with him. Cian, Cian Blackwood. But don’t tell nobody now, Nova, I don’t want Granddaddy getting all pissy with me so close to his retirement.”
My pizza slice froze halfway to my mouth. It felt like my heart was trying to claw its way up my throat and out. The pizza got stuck, and I went into a coughing fit. Iva reached over and patted me on the back, like that was going to frickin’ dislodge any stuck pizza.
I wheezed through it, and grabbed the glass of beer to clear my throat. “I’m sorry. Did you say you’re dating Cian Blackwood?” She had to be lying. This was some cruel joke someone was playing on me. There was absolutely no way.
“Oh, more than dating, honey. We are madly in love, absolutely taken with each other. I thought things were moving too fast, but he insisted it was destiny.” She chuckled and shook her head. “It’s so crazy and happened so quick. He begged me to come see him as soon as possible, so here I am in good ol’ Chicago to see my man.”
“Cian? Cian Blackwood? The one I went on the treasure hunt with?” My jaw clenched, and I contemplated hitting her over the head with my glass of beer.
“Oh, don’t look so shocked, honey. You’re not the only who can bag a big hottie like Ryzen Goodacre. And let me tell you, Cian is hot to trot. The best sex I’ve ever had.” She leaned over the table and held her hand close to her mouth. “He’s got this scorpion tattoo on his chest, and it drives him wild when I drag my nails over it.” She made a claw with her hand and mouthed,Meow. She cackled and signaled the server for another round of beers.
I saw nothing but red. It was like one of those post-apocalyptic dreams you have where the zombies were chasing you through a medical lab, and that red light was flashing over and over, and you just wanted to scream and escape. But you couldn’t. They always got you.
My breath escaped me, and I squeezed my eyes shut. I was such a fool. How could I have let this happen? The noise in the bar was suddenly amplified by a thousand percent and I rushed to the bathroom.
Cian had been lying the whole entire time, and I’d fallen for it. Just like he’d known I would. It was just like he had said—I was just a little mouse in a den of snakes.
And I had fallen into the trap of the most dangerous one.
Chapter Eighteen
I lay in bed for almost the entire day.
Last night, after spending ten minutes in the bathroom trying not to hyperventilate, Iva had come and checked on me. I’d told her I wasn’t feeling well, and she’d left me alone with a promise to call me later.
