TEMPTING AND DISTRACTING
RIPLEY
The next night, I go to Bridget’s house to get ready. Haven’s with Tabitha and the publicist doing an interview, and since my house is packed with the crew, I head to my friend’s place a couple miles away.
Bridget’s bungalow has a bright-red door, matching her usual red lipstick. As I knock, Banks gestures to an Adirondack chair on the deck.
“I’ll wait here.” He’s carrying his tablet with a couple of sheets of paper sticking out of the case.
“You can come inside,” I say as Bridget swings open the door.
“Nah. I like it here,” he says.
“You’re not a dog,” Bridget says to him.
“Hey, I’d never leave my dog on the porch,” I protest.
“That’s true. You let Hudson sleep in the bed,” Banks deadpans as he takes the seat.
“Where else would a dog sleep?” Chloe calls from inside.
“Fair point.”
I follow my friends inside, and the second the door snicks shut, Chloe grabs my wrist. “So is this like a date for you and him?”
I scoff. “It’s a girls’ night out. He’s just my bodyguard for the evening.”
But not for much longer.
Bridget snorts, flicking her chestnut waves. “You can drop the act with us. We know he’s notjustanything.”
My insides swirl with a giddiness I may never get over. I don’t ever want to. “As a matter of fact, we’re going to see each other when the job ends.”
Chloe holds out a hand toward Bridget, rubbing her thumb against two fingers, the sign forpay up.
Bridget does the same to her. “You pay up.”
“No, you,” Chloe insists.
“You bet on this?” I ask.
“Yes. But we both bet you would get together with him, so we had to bet when you’d tell us. I predicted now,” Bridget says.
“I picked tonight,” Chloe says with a frown.
“Wow. Glad I’m so predictable,” I say as we head to Bridget’s bedroom. “But I do need to tell Haven.” I haven’t yet. She’s been busy every day with the shoot and the publicity.
I guess I also haven’t said anything because I feel the need to protect Banks. What if Haven accidentally lets it slip in front of Wanda or the other security team members? I don’t want to get my guy in trouble. Telling Chloe and Bridget is different. They don’t work with Banks’s co-workers or employees.
There’s time. There will definitely be time.
I focus instead on getting ready, sliding into a pair of jeans and a strappy tank that reveals a hint of my stomach.
Chloe declares it perfect as she wiggles into a purple dress. “What do you think?”
“It’s perfection too.”
Bridget pulls on a pair of vegan leather shorts with a sexy black top and cute little boots.
