Of all the ridiculous accusations! She rolled to the edge of the bed and jumped to her feet, grabbing her dress with one hand and reaching for her shoes with the other.
“For your information, this is victory sweat, not tears. Because I win. And winners don’t cry.”
She swiped at her face, ignoring the slick of moisture. It was hard to execute a quality stomp barefoot, but Jean gave it her best shot, pausing only to point at Charlie in case he planned to follow. “Don’t even think about it.”
Chapter 30
This time, Charlie didn’t do as he was told.
He had to stop for pants, but the second he was decent he took off at a run.
“Jean!”
She spun to face him, barely slowing as she speed walked backward. Curving her fingers into fangs, she hissed at him before shaking her wrist to rattle her bracelets. Whipping around again, Jean broke into a run.
Charlie started to give chase, faltering when one of Adriana’s roadies wolf-whistled at him. He couldn’t go charging after her barefoot and shirtless, not with every booze bigwig from here to Tokyo on the premises. If he could wave a wand and send them all home, he would do it without a second thought. He needed time alone with Jean to explain, and none of these people were helping.
On second thought, if he had access to magic, Charlie would zap the two of them back to their cottage, before everything got twisted and confusing.
“Uh, Charlie?” Mugsy had emerged from her workshop, followed by Emma Koenig. “What’s going on? Did you find the snake?”
“Not exactly.”
She frowned at his bare chest. “Did you try to catch it with your shirt?”
“That’s sort of a long story. But I do have some other exciting news.”
“About snakes?” she asked, with a certain fatalism.
“No, this is about people. One person in particular. Although technically she’s been two people, but not anymore.”
Mugsy blinked at him. “You lost me, buddy.”
“It’s Jean. She’s here!”
“Where?” Mugsy was already digging out her phone. “I’ll get security.”
He touched her shoulder. “She’s been here all along. You’ve seen her! It’sEve.”
“The girl you met in Hawaii is Sockless Tommy’s niece?”
“No, Jean is Jean. Eve was more of a character she was playing.”
“You mean she was in disguise?” Emma asked.
“Sort of.” Maybe he should have rehearsed this part. Or at least put on a shirt, so he’d know what to do with his arms.
“Sheisthe girl I saw that night.” Mugsy’s frown intensified. “And you knew who she was all along. Why didn’t you say something, Charlie?”
“Because I was happy to see her.” And I didn’t want you to scare her off, he silently added.
“She must have followed you here,” Mugsy said, piecing it together. “Hoping for another score.”
Emma Koenig gave her a significant look. “The past has a way of returning.”
“You mean people make choices. All by themselves, without asking permission.” For some reason, Mugsy sounded defensive. “It doesn’t mean we have to repeat the same mistakes.”
“It wasn’t a mistake,” Charlie assured her. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
