She made a wee huffing sound at my hesitation, and I scowled. I would not be made to feel bad about not pursuing something with this woman. We both knew what this was when we swiped right on the hookup app.
“Again, I can’t believe how early you get up.” She hurried to change the subject.
I frowned. “It’s seven. Don’t you have work?”
“Aye, at nine. I work at an accountancy firm. But, I mean, you were up at five thirty.”
Not really sure what to say to that, I was saved from an inane answer at the sight of Beth Carmichael coming out of her flat.
My pulse jumped. In irritation, of course.
Baird hadn’t shut up about Beth since the day I moved in. I didn’t know if he’d developed a stupid crush or if he was only trying to wind me up.
I couldn’t believe my flat was in the same building as Beth’s, of all people. Aye, we’d been kids when we were friends … but she’d done damage at a time I was already pretty messed up. She’d left a mark. I hated that she’d left a mark.
Her tip-tilted eyes widened as she turned and saw us. “Uh, morning.”
Georgia waved her fingers in greeting while I glowered, mentally demanding she take the lift.
To my annoyance, Beth strolled toward us in a moronically tiny dress that made my skin suddenly roastin’ hot.
Okay, aye, it was July and we were having a hot summer, so the dress made sense.
It was also frying my brain.
It was a strappy, mini floral thing that would probably camouflage on my sofa. The cheek of her taking the piss out of me and then wearing that. I held back with Georgia to let Beth pass, and I tried and failed not to look at her long fucking legs as she strolled down the stairs in front of us.
Beth had always been tall.
Even at fifteen, she’d been a heartbreaker with all that long blond hair and those cat-shaped, pale blue eyes. She’d filled out since then, especially in the chest and arse department.
“I love your dress,” Georgia complimented Beth.
Beth glanced back at us and grinned. I felt that fluttery sensation in my gut, the one I usually got before a big game.
“Thanks.” Her cat eyes swept over Georgia. “I love yours too. And your handbag.”
“Aw, thanks. I got it for crazy cheap on this app where people sell their used designer stuff. I mean, this person hardly ever used this bag.”
“Seriously?” Beth waited on the next landing for Georgia. “What’s the app called?”
Georgia told her and then grasped at Beth’s wrist. “Oh my God, is this from Tiffany’s?”
I craned my neck to see what she was pointing at. A silver bracelet comprised of round beads and a small pink heart charm gleamed brightly around her wrist.
“It is. A gift from my parents for my twenty-first birthday.”
“So cute. I’ve always wanted something from Tiffany’s, but feel like itshouldbe a gift, you know?”
“Who’s to say you can’t buy yourself a gift?” Beth nudged Georgia as if they’d known each other forever. “You deserve to buy yourself a gift.”
“Do you think?”
“Oh, absolutely. These.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ears, and I peered down at her from behind them, swallowing hard at the sight of her long, smooth neck. She fingered her earlobe where a large diamond stud was accompanied by two smaller silver studs. “I bought these for myself the first year my company made a profit.”
“You own your own company?” Georgia gaped in awe as we reached the ground floor. “What do you do?”
“I run a social media management company. Social Queens. I’m the CEO.”
