“I’m definitely killing him.”
“Emily,” Cari said mildly. “No one’s killing anyone. Haven’t we suffered through enough of that?”
“I’ll make it look like an accident,” usually sweet Emily promised.
That pulled a reluctant laugh from Julia.
Gaby set down her cup. “Your situation with Leland isn’t that different from mine with Rhys.”
She knew some of their story, but not all of it. Interest piqued, Julia asked, “How so?”
“He couldn’t let go of his past,” Gaby continued. “And when he found out I was undercover, he lumped me in with it.”
Cari frowned. “Is that what’s going on with Leland? Nick says he doesn’t know.”
Julia shook his head. “He never said. Only that his job is dangerous, and he doesn’t do permanent.”
She snorted. “If that were true, I wouldn’t be with Nick.”
“Or me with Alec.”
“The same for me with Rhys, or him with me for that matter, since we have the same risky job.” Gaby frowned. “There has to be more to it.”
“What difference does it make? Bottom line, he’s stubbornly against commitment, and I will not beg.” She sniffed. “I doubt that would work, anyway.”
“Sometimes it does,” Gaby said, a little wistful smile tipping up her lips.
Cari’s brows lifted. “Sounds like you have experience.”
“Do tell,” Emily echoed immediately.
Gaby shot them both a look and told Julia, “Ignore them.”
“I’m not ignoring that,” Cari said.
Gaby turned and faced Julia. “My point is, Rhys was avoiding me and stubbornly refusing to listen, but then we were assigned to work together.” She glanced at Cari. “Devil’s doing, by the way.”
“Of course it was. Nick would deny it to his last breath, but he’s the best matchmaker we have.”
“I’d have to agree. Forced to be together, talk to each other, rely on and trust one another, Rhys and I were able to get past… well… his past.”
“Forced proximity,” Emily sighed. “My favorite kind of romance novel.”
Gaby looked at her. “You have time to read?”
She frowned. “Running my business and being a newlywed? No. I should have said it used to be.”
“Unfortunately, my life isn’t a romance novel,” Julia put in.
“I get it,” Cari said gently. “But you won’t get him back by staying away.”
“Who says I want him back?”
All three of them looked at her. Then, almost in unison, rolled their eyes.
Julia exhaled. “Okay. Fine. I do. But I’m only half the equation.”
“Are you dead set on not returning to the club?” Cari asked her.
