Page 79

Charlotte froze mid-keystroke, gaze finally leaving her screen. “Aurora Rivers.”

Aurora spun in ever slowing rotations toward the desk. “How long had it been?”

Heat climbed up her throat, the answer ringing loud and clear in her head. Long enough that I almost forgot how good it could be.

Her mind betrayed her, summoning the image of Ali asleep in her bed, wrapped in morning light. She’d been all soft curves, smooth lines, freckles and inked skin that caught the light. She’d been kissed by fire. The streams of sunlight filtering through the bedroom windows had danced through gentle red waves, setting the strands aglow.

Charlotte had woken the morning after the group show to the weight of Ali’s head against her chest, an arm flung across her stomach, feet inevitably sticking out from under the covers. She’d tucked them back in two separate times only for Ali to huff, grumble in her sleep about being hot and kick them free again.

That night, half-asleep and unaware, Ali had murmured against her skin, “Want you.” It was the easiest thing to whisper her reply even without knowing with certainty those words were meant for her, “Want you too.”

“None of your business,” Charlotte said, schooling her tone as she went back to scanning the document. But memory clung like perfume… earth shattering in its goodness and perfect in its coalescence.

“Was it good at least?” Aurora asked, chin propped on her palm.

They had mastered each other’s bodies and learned to play them like well-practiced instruments, composing their own symphony long into the night.

Charlotte’s mouth twitched into a traitorous smirk. “Mind-blowing.”

Aurora groaned, forehead thunking against the desk. “God, I’m jealous.”

Charlotte’s brows shot together. “Aren’t you married?”

“Yes,” Aurora sighed. “But it hasn’t exactly been romantic since I had Waverly. Things are… off.”

Charlotte’s voice softened. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well.” She straightened in her chair, fingers lacing neatly in her lap, the lavender and pink ensemble too girly for Charlotte’s taste, but it fit Aurora to a T. “Anyway, I came to tell you that you’re taking next week off.”

Charlotte blinked. “Hilarious.” She clicked over to her calendar, her stomach tightening at the sight of the empty grid. “Where are all my meetings?”

“Taken care of.”

Her temper flared white-hot, forming a searing ball in her chest that threatened to shoot out past her lips.

Breathe. You rule your emotions. They don’t rule you.

“What the hell possessed you to clear my schedule?”

Never mind.

“Sasha called.”

Her hands stilled. “Sasha Pryce does not dictate my schedule or how I run my business.”

Aurora continued as though she hadn’t heard the warning in her tone. “She asked me to see if I could find a way to clear your schedule. Imani helped me shuffle things around. She mentioned⁠—”

Charlotte’s pulse spiked, irritation overtaking concern as she got to her feet. “You don’t just reorganize my schedule in the middle of an acquisition without consulting me first.”

Aurora didn’t even blink. “You’ll thank me later?”

Charlotte was already out the door, heels striking the floor like percussion, the singed edges of her temper smoldering under the control that was ripped from beneath her.

Her fingers twitched. Years ago, she might have hurled a paperweight. Thanks to therapy, it was easier to resist the urge to unleash destruction. She dragged in deep breaths, exhaling through her mouth, repeating until her thoughts weren’t quite so venomous.

Imani sat behind her desk, eyes fixed on one of multiple monitors.

She halted in front of Imani’s desk, shoving the sleeves of her blazer up her arms, dragging in one final breath. Imani wouldn’t approve something like this and risk setting her off without cause. She was a good friend. The best really.