“So I should use him for sex then dump him?” Ann felt a moment’s guilt. “Doesn’t that make me no better than him?”
“Pretty much.” Maya took a handful of peanuts, chewed some, then put the rest back. “Ugh. No salt.”
Riley shook her head. “Really, Maya.”
“Oh please. I washed my hands. Look, Ann, the guy did you wrong. Stop wussing out and take control of your life. Remember our talk a few days ago? You were all about being powerful and taking charge. What happened to that Ann?”
“Looks like Bloom kissed the fight out of her.” Riley looked sad.
“Oh stop.”
“Brought down by her own vagina. What a sad, sad story.” Maya wiped an imaginary tear.
Ann laughed. “My vagina, my enemy. God, you two are killing me. Okay, I’m still in this. I’ll bump him and dump him. Can’t say the thought of using him isn’t a thrill.”
Maya gave her a thumbs up. “There you go.”
“Just remember the dumping part,” Riley warned. “He’s a charmer. I remember that all too well. Just like those asshole Black cousins.”
Maya frowned. “Nothing charming about that lowdown blackmailer Dex. I’ll enjoy destroying him.”
Riley poked Ann in the shoulder. “See? That’s the attitude you should have. Quit playing nice. He’s not one of your second graders. Big bad Jack Bloom broke your heart into tiny pieces.”
Now Ann was confused. “You just told me he had no idea of the drama I was dealing with way back when.”
“Yeah, yeah. I was talking out of my ass.”
“She does that,” Maya piped in.
“I’m saying the guy will pull out all the stops to get what he wants. And he wants you.”
“He did call me ‘angel’.”
“Oh, low blow, digging up old pet names.” Maya glared.
“He’s smart. Manipulative.” Riley shook her head. “Sorry, I’m in an anti-man mood. Maybe it’s not the best time for me to chime in.”
“Why? What happened?” Now that she’d mentioned it, Riley did look a bit stressed.
“Anson popped into my shop today to say hi. That dickhead.”
“Oh, dueling oven mitts.” Maya laughed. Anson Black had a reputation as a successful restaurateur. “Did you hit him with a wooden spoon or what?”
“He bought the place next to mine.” A pause. “He’s opening up a ‘fine dining establishment’,” she added in air quotes.
Ann gaped. “Your arch enemy is moving right next to you?” Ann felt for her. “At least mine is only connected to me through Josh. If he lived or worked right next door, I’d lose my mind.”
Maya, the witch, laughed harder.
Riley swore. “Sure. Laugh it up. But I’m not the only one dealing with a Black. Dex is back in town and setting up shop too. At least Ann and I aren’t afraid to mix it up withourenemies.”
“Enemies?” Ann wondered at that. Jack was an opponent, sure. But an enemy? A bad guy? He’d done a bad thing, back when he’d been all of seventeen.Shut it, nice gal. For once in your life, be strong and stand up for yourself.Her stupid conscience kept trying to ruin her attempts at being bad.
“Yeah,enemies,” Maya emphasized. “As in, plural. We need to stick together, ladies. The Blacks are back, and Bloom is making a play. Let’s teach these guys that we are no one to mess with. Ann, he hurt you. He pays, end of story. Riley, Anson is an ass who’s moving in on your turf. Shut him down.”
Riley nodded, her lips tight.
“And I have an old score to settle with Dex, that little blackmailing jerk.” Maya stiffened. “That boy’s ass is mine. Ann, gotta go. I got an idea or two.”
