"No," Anke said, coming up beside me and wrapping an arm around my neck as if we were old friends and she didn't scam me out of my life savings and tank my credit score. Willow glared at her. I longed to ask Anke what she was doing in the restaurant yesterday evening. I wished I could remember who that man was.
"She has a hot date," Anke said. "Mace had me clear his schedule."
"He didn't say anything to me about it," I replied.
"Stop playing coy," Tara snapped, setting down the box she was carrying. "You came in here, flirted with Mace, and took advantage of him. You don't care about him at all."
"Of course I care about him!" Her words hurt. She made me sound like Anke, like I was just using Mace.
"When he finds out what you did, he's going to drop you," Tara sneered.
"And you're going to be there to pick up the pieces,right?" Willow said, rolling her eyes. "Josie's ten times the woman you are, and Mace sees it."
Tara glowered and looked me up and down. "Ten is an overestimate, but she's definitely twice my size." Tara shoved the box under one of the tables, grabbed her bag, and left.
"She's just being mean," Willow assured me. "You're curvy. Guys like that. It's more to grab onto."
My phone buzzed.
"That's him, isn't it?" Anke asked. She had watched the whole exchange between me and Tara in bemusement. I looked at the screen. Marnie had sent me the contact info of the FBI agent on the case and told me to contact him about Anke.
I still couldn't quite believe she was back. She was like a hurricane or a tornado. I didn't even know where to begin to fight her. It seemed like I just had to curl up in a ball and let her pass over me then pick up the pieces later.
My phone buzzed again. This time it was Mace.
Mace:I want to thank you for your help
Josie:Publicly or privately?
Mace:Both
He sent me a picture of himself, cropped at the neck. The bulge was prominent through his boxer briefs.
Josie:Is that a chocolate bunny in your pants or are you excited to see me?
Mace:Very excited
"Ooh," Anke said, peering over my shoulder. "He wants you. Well done." She blew me a kiss. "I have my own Svensson to wrangle."
"Ugh," Willow said after Anke left. "She's such a snake. You need to talk to the FBI about her. She should be in jail. You heard what Marnie said."
"I know I will, just, it's too much to think about," I fretted. "I want to have one nice evening with Mace."
"I don't think he'll hate you or think less of you when he finds out," Willow said. "Everyone makes mistakes."
"But it's such a stupid one," I countered. "And I feel like I'm making an even bigger one by letting her just hang around here."
"Keep your enemies close," Willow stated. "Now you can tell the FBI exactly where she is when it's time for her to be arrested."
But I was afraid of what Mace would think. He was so perfect. If I was organized enough to make a spreadsheet of my top qualities for a man, he would check every box. Thoughtful, cared about family, employed. Also did I mention smoking hot?
Mace was waiting for me in the lobby bar when I came down from my hotel room. The light lit the burnished bronze of his hair. He looked every bit like a suave billionaire. His suit was perfectly tailored to accentuate the sharp lines of his torso and back. He finished his drink, tipped the bartender, and sauntered over to me, an easy smile on his face.
"Reveling in your success today, Mr. Big Shot CEO?" I teased him.
He rubbed his jaw then leaned in to kiss me. "You're the one who should be basking in the glory of your awesomeness," he replied. "This seriously would not have happened without you." He leaned down to kiss me again. "I had Anke make reservations at this place called Salt House. She said it was fairly new but had good reviews."
I tensed up at the mention of Anke. To FBI or not to FBI—that was the question.
