“And how are you feeling about tomorrow and finally getting rid of that car?”
“I’m excited to have that piece ofthe lawyerout of my life. Woody is convinced bidding will blow the reserve price out of the water. She even thinks some celebrities are quietly interested in it. We’ll see. I’m just happy that the sale of that car will close the chapter of my life.”
“And on that sour note,” Rosie motioned in the direction of Lori’s hip, “how’s your new tattoo feeling?”
Lori sucked in her breath. “Sore. I’d forgotten how painful the original one was, and that was just an initial. With all the line work and detailing of the heather and the wings of the butterfly…” She gave an exaggerated shudder. “It was two hours of pain and tears I won’t forget.”
“You won’t be in a hurry to get matching tattoos with Gabe then? If she’s got any virgin skin left.” She held up her hand when Lori’s eyes lit up. “I don’t want to know.”
“Would you want to know about Shay’s tattoo?”
Rosie raised her eyebrows, remembering every inch of Shay’s beautiful skin, untouched by an artist’s needles but severely scarred on her left shoulder from the lightning strike she barely survived. “Why would she get one now?”
“Relax. Gabe said she changed her mind.” Lori wiggled her eyebrows. “Skillful avoidance of my question, by the way, but it’s not like I’m going to forget I asked, is it?”
“Of course you won’t… Fine. I haven’t seen Shay, but I got a text from her yesterday asking about my plans for the auction.”
Lori gave a low whistle. “Ooh, she asked you on a date.”
“Nothing that formal,” Rosie said. “More of an inquiry as to my availability to celebrate with her when the auction is over. She did say she’d pick me up if I didn’t want to play third wheel to you and Gabe.”
“Romantic,” Lori said, deadpan.
“I accepted. You two are sickeningly sweet and simultaneously exploding with hormones. It can be a bit much in a small space like the inside of a car.”
Lori tapped Rosie’s arm and grinned. “I’m not apologizing for finally discovering the joys of love and sex.”
“And you should know that I would never ask you to. I just don’t need to be exposed to it.”
“You make it sound like a virus.”
“That’s what Shay thinks it is. I get the impression that their little circle of friends expected to live their years out bachelor-style, and none of them want to get caught up in a long-term relationship.”
“Does that work for you with Shay?”
Rosie held out her hands. “She’s a stunning woman. I’ll take whatever she’s prepared to give for as long as I can get it. We’ve agreed to be friends with benefits, and that’s fine with me right now.”
Lori didn’t look convinced. “Will it be fine with you in a few weeks or months?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. But I’m not sabotaging the chance to have fabulous sex with a gorgeous goddess like Shay on the off chance that my feelings might get involved where they’re not wanted.” She glanced at her phone and tapped the screen with her fingernail. “I’m sorry, I have to go. I pushed a meeting back thirty minutes to come for lunch on the proviso that I’d meet him at his office instead of our HQ, and his building is across town.” She began to pull her wallet from her purse.
“I’ll get this. I dragged you out here. The least I can do is pay.”
They got up, and Lori enveloped Rosie in another glorious hug. What she would have given to have had these as a child. But she had them now, so she soaked it in and embraced Lori hard.
“Call me anytime, okay?” Lori said when they finally parted. “I’m here for you.”
“I will.” Rosie walked away with Lori’s last words adding to the comfort of her hug. They were words she’d never heard from her mom’s mouth, and she probably never would. She hit the button for the elevator and did a little shake, as if that might loosen her mom’s grip on her thoughts right now. She scoffed at herself. It had never worked before; why would it work now? Instead, she’d continue to do what she’d told Lori she was doing: filling her hours with work. She flicked through her messagesto find a new one had come in from Shay during lunch.
Do you want a late-night visitor?
?
Since she’d broached the possibility of tying Shay to her bed, she’d had some wicked fantasy dreams and was eager to turn them into reality. She stared at her screen impatiently astyping…appeared beneath Shay’s name.
Rosie took that as the green light. If anything could take her mind off her concern for her mom, it was a few hours with Shay under her hands.
CHAPTER 7
