“That’s okay. You can practice here.”
Emotion welled in Billie’s throat. Another thing Debra had mastered in the short time they’d known one another. How to make Billie feel. How to draw something so rare from her. She offered comfort without ever reaching, and it was the most disarming thing Billie had encountered in years.
She sipped her whiskey, holding onto the burn as it worked its way down her throat. She would takeanythingshe recognised right now.
Her phone started to vibrate on the coffee table, but Billie let it ring off. It would be Nina, it often was, but Billie wasn’t engaging in any sort of conversation with her this evening. She had enough going through her mind without adding Nina into the mix.
Debra tilted her head. “You’re not going to answer?”
“It can wait.” Billie lifted a shoulder. “It won’t be anything pressing.”
“But itcouldbe.”
“It’s Nina. It never is.”
Debra lifted a brow. “Your assistant?”
“Yes.” Billie reached forward and turned her phone over so it was face down. “She hasn’t quite mastered the concept of boundaries.”
“Maybe she just wants to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.”
Billie felt Debra’s eyes on her. “Are you?”
The question was simple, but it landed like a full-blown strike.
Billie lifted her glass, this time pretending to study the amber liquid sloshing around in it.
Her phone started to ring again. It took everything within Billie not to answer and remind Nina of the relationship they had. Usually, she would be working through various punishments in her mind after constant calls that went unanswered, but the thought of being with Nina like that, of edging her only to deny her until Billie decided she deserved relief, made her stomach turn.
Debra shook her head and laughed. “She’s persistent.”
Billie clenched her jaw. HowdareNina continuously interrupt her evening? “She’ll tire herself out.”
Only she didn’t, and the constant vibration wasreallybeginning to get under Billie’s skin.
“Billie, I think you should take it.”
“If I do, it’ll only encourage her.”
Debra sighed. “Or maybe she’ll stop.”
Billie blew out a frustrated breath, set her glass down, and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You’re as bad as she is.” She stood, snatched her phone up, and muttered, “Fine. But I’m not staying on.”
She slipped into the kitchen and moved to the furthest point. She had no idea what Nina was calling for, and she had no idea what her own response would be. The last thing she needed was for Debra to assume something was happening between themwhen it wasn’t. As for their…arrangement at work, Billie would cross that bridge with Debra when they came to it.
She pressed the phone to her ear. “Nina.”
“You weren’t answering.”
The relief in Nina’s voice was too obvious to miss, but Billie didn’t appreciate being hounded out of hours. “I’m aware.”
“I thought something had happened.”
“Yes, it did.” Billie braced a hand against the kitchen counter. “You interrupted my evening.”
Nina paused, and then… “Are you with someone?”
