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"Britt, how are you?"
"I'm fine." What I really am is torn. I don't want to talk to her and can't decide whether to give her short, cryptic answers or rub it in her face that I'm doing rather well.
"I heard through the grapevine that you recently returned from a trip to Europe."
"I did."
"Did you have fun?"
"I did."
Lacey exhales a deep breath. "Would you stop it? I know you're still mad at me, and I'm sorry, all right? I didn't plan on getting together with Troy. It just happened. Besides, he's the one who solicited me. So, can you please give me a break and let us go back to being friends."
He solicited her?I know that's a big fat lie. Lacey and I have been friends since we were teenagers. I know damn well who solicited who.
I ignore her plea to rekindle our friendship and decide to screw with her instead. "So, how's Aaron doing?" I'm dying inside as I wait for her to take the bait. I'd run into Aaron earlier in the week at a deli, and he'd filled me in on their relationship status.
"I wouldn't know," she snaps. "Aaron filed for a divorce and moved out."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe you'll get a nice settlement. After all, Aaron makes tons of money."
"Aaron made me sign a prenup. I get nothing if I have an affair. But you already knew that. Now you're purposely being a bitch."
"Now, why would I do that?" The corner of my lip curls, betraying my attempt at looking innocent.
"Lacey," Dane says, sliding up next to me with a glass of wine in each hand. "I see you've met my girlfriend."
I jerk my head toward him in shock, my blood pressure shooting through the roof. When and where the fuck did he meet Lacey?
"Britt, is your girlfriend?" she says incredulously. She shoots a glance at me, then looks back at Dane. Her face darkens, and her mouth hangs open, making her look ridiculous.
Dane studies me briefly, and I can tell he knows I'm pissed. It's hard for me not to be since Lacey's incredulous tone and expression indicate she's miffed he's with me or believes I'm beneath his standard.
He smiles at Lacey, his voice cool and calm when he says, "The one and only, and the love of my life. I flew in from London to see if I could steal her away for a luscious weekend."
"How…sweet," Lacey says, appearing to force the words out.
"You'll have to excuse us. Britt and I need to get back to our table." Dane takes my arm and casually leads me away. "What the hell was that all about?" he asks as soon as we're out of earshot.
"That was my best friend. Now ex-friend and the mother of evil."
"Is she—"
"Yep, she sure is," I blurt, not letting him finish. "She's the sleazy bitch who slept with Troy." I peek at him out of the corner of my eye. "And I'd love to know how you met her."
"She introduced herself when I was getting a glass of wine earlier. I told her I needed to find my girlfriend and left. That's when I went up to the gallery and found you."
I stare at him for a minute, then I giggle, unable to help myself. The whole thing was kind of funny, and I adored how Dane put me on a pedestal, rubbing our relationship in Lacey's face.
"Feel better?" Dane asks, seeming to read my mind.
"That's a whopping yes."
"Good."
We reach our table and quietly take our seats to avoid disturbing the man speaking. I'm seated next to Katherine, and Dane is to my right. Romeo beams at us while Katherine looks amused.
Another speaker comes to the stage, and I valiantly try to listen to the man. But I fail big-time, unable to focus. All I can think about is Dane and how much I'm dying to straddle his lap. I can feel the familiar tug in my midsection as I picture our bodies glistening with sweat while I grind against him. The images flooding my mind are so provocative I'm soon holding my breath and wiggling in my chair.
