Aura throws her gaze toward the ceiling.
I laugh, because honestly, given my own recent track record, I’m not in a position to judge anybody’s taste in hot men with suspicious energy.
“That’s fair,” I say. “My current situation is hardly a glowing example of caution and restraint.”
“Exactly,” Clio says, pointing at me like I’ve just made her case for her.
Aura glances between us. “You are both exhausting.”
“Correct,” Clio says cheerfully.
I lean closer as Aura flips to another photo, and, wow, no. The man somehow gets worse. And so much better. There’s one where he’s sitting in shadow with his head tipped back and just enough of his throat showing to make the whole thing feel like a trap.
“Oh, what did he actually say?” I ask, because now I’m invested, and that’s on all of us.
Aura and I both turn to Clio.
Clio tries to shrink into her chair and somehow still looks pleased with herself. “He’s… intense. But he doesn’t say much. We’ve just been texting. It’s not a big deal.”
Aura lets out a laugh. “The more she says it’s not a big deal, the bigger the deal it is.”
Clio points at her with a sly grin. “That’s slander.”
I glance at Clio. “Did he say somethingnormalintense orserial-killer-hotintense?”
Clio bites back a smile. “Annoyingly, the second one.”
Aura shoves the phone at me again. “Situation.”
“If it’s dark and sexy, I want details,” I insist, needing all the tea.
Aura points at me. “See? This is why I can’t be the only responsible one here.”
Clio laughs, then gives in with a sigh. “Fine. He said…” She glances down at her phone, and her whole face flusters and blushes. “Okay, it was hot. Like… offensively hot.”
“Well?” I press. “Read it.”
She bites her lip, half embarrassed, half thrilled. “I might not survive telling you. But if you—” Before she can finish, there’s a sharp rap on the glass at the front of the shop.
“Early,” Clio says, standing. “I knew it.”
“No, not yet,” I answer immediately, a bit too loudly, my gaze never leaving Clio’s.
“In a sec,” Aura screams out.
“Read it,” I say.
Clio bites back a smile, glances at the screen again, and then finally says, “He wrote…We should stream together, pretty girl. You in that tiny skirt, perched right where I want you, trying to keep that sweet face while I make it very HARD for you.”
Aura slaps a hand over her mouth.
I just stare at Clio. “Oh, that is so fucking hot.”
“Deeply hot,” Aura adds.
Another knock hits the glass.
Clio presses her lips together, failing miserably to hide her smile. “Okay, now I have to open the door.” She’s on her feet and runs to the front door, while Aura raises her eyebrows at me, nodding, and I laugh as she walks away.
