Triana understood what her friend was trying to say, but at the end of the day, she didn’t care about the money. If there was even a minuscule chance of finding the person who killed her father, she’d pay any price.
They worked in silence for a while, and as much as Triana tried to prevent it, her mind went to that dark place it tended to go whenever she thought about how much she missed her father and how much she hated the person who’d taken him away.
Kim tossed her blond curls over her shoulder and turned to her, one hand on her hip. “All right, enough of this depressing stuff. I’m not going to let you get into a funk over this. Time to change the subject.”
“Okay.” Triana pasted on a smile for her friend’s benefit. “What do you suggest we talk about to lighten the mood?”
Kim grinned, her green eyes dancing. “Why don’t we talk about Remy and the way you two were getting down and dirty last night?”
Triana laughed. If Kim had been looking for a topic that would brighten her mood, she’d definitely picked a good one. It was impossible to think about Remy and not smile.
“We weren’t getting down and dirty last night,” she insisted as she put the last doll in place. “We were just dancing.”
Kim gave her a dubious look. “Please. There were some wicked-hot sparks flying off you guys. I thought you and Remy might burst into flames right there on the dance floor. You sure there was never anything between the two of you in high school?”
“No, there was never anything between us, but I always wished there had been,” Triana said, unable to keep the wistful tone out of her voice. “Man, did I have a serious crush on him back then.”
Her friend’s lips curved. “I can definitely see why. The guy is a hunk.”
“He’s definitely a hunk, all right—and then some.”
Triana smiled, remembering the feel of all those muscles under her fingers as they danced…and kissed. She’d been so aroused after Remy had left her mother’s shop last night, it had taken almost an hour for her body to return to normal. Just thinking about those kisses had her tummy quivering all over again.
“How the heck did you let a guy like that get away in high school?” Kim asked. “Especially since it’s obvious he’s completely enamored with you.”
A warm blush crept into her cheeks at the thought of Remy being attracted to her. “That’s the funny part,” she admitted. “Remy wasn’t like this in high school. I mean, he was definitely hot, but nothing like he is now. It’s hard to even stand beside him without getting turned on.”
“Damn,” Kim breathed. “If you got turned on simply from standing beside him, I can only imagine what it was like when you guys were dancing. I’m surprised you didn’t orgasm right there in the club.”
Triana stifled a moan, then threw a quick glance at the back room to make sure her mother was still in there before giving Kim a grin. “Me too.”
“When are you seeing him again?” Kim arched a brow. “You are seeing him again, right?”
Triana laughed. “Duh! Of course I am. We’re going out tonight.” Crap, the other day she’d promised Kim they’d go see a movie tonight. How the heck could she have forgotten that? “Oh God. I completely forgot you and I had plans. I’ll call Remy and tell him we need to do dinner another night.”
“Don’t you dare!” Kim said. “Remy’s only in town for the week. I know you think I’m falling apart since Shawn dumped me, but I’m fine. Really.”
Triana wasn’t sure she believed her friend. The jerk formerly known as Shawn had dumped Kim on the same night she’d expected him to pop the question. Any woman would have been thrown for a loop after that.
“Kim, you and Shawn dated for four years,” she said gently. “You have every right to be down.”
“I was for a while,” Kim admitted. “Worse, I was down on myself because I thought the whole breakup was my fault. But after we left the club last night, Zane told me something that put everything into perspective.”
“What’s that?”
“He pointed out that Shawn walking out had nothing to do with me,” she said. “It was one hundred percent about Shawn and his inability to grow up and accept our future together. Zane made me realize I wasn’t the reason Shawn left. Shawn threw away what we had because he’s an immature coward.”
Triana knew there was a reason she’d felt good about leaving Kim in Zane’s company. Then something Kim said earlier caught her attention.
“So…wait a second. You and Zane left the club together?”
Kim’s smile was dreamy. “Yeah. We walked around the Quarter until four o’clock in the morning, talking…and making out a little. We could have easily ended up in bed, but we didn’t. It was fun hanging out with a guy who’s so comfortable in his own skin that there’s no reason to rush anything.”
The comfortable way Kim implied there could have been sex surprised Triana a little. She didn’t expect Kim to even be interested in jumping into bed with a guy so soon after breaking up with Shawn.
“Are you planning to sleep with Zane?”
Kim shrugged. “Maybe. If it feels right. Is there any reason I shouldn’t? We’re two consenting adults with no other commitments. As much as I cared about Shawn, and still do, he left me. I don’t even know where he is right now. And Zane isn’t seeing anyone at the moment.” She straightened a voodoo doll. “We talked honestly about it last night. If we sleep together, it will be plain and simple, no-strings sex with no expectations. I’m thinking at this point in my life that might be the very best thing for me.” She smiled. “I’d be lying if I said the idea of a little rebound sex with someone as perfect as Zane isn’t awfully tempting.”
