Customers are already arriving at Dusk’s opening night—a night that could decide our fate. We weren’t sure how many of our old customers would believe the gas-leak story we fed the press. We suspected most would presume something more nefarious went on. Which is why we were curious if they would return, considering the danger they could be in. But, so far, things are looking good. Hopefully, I’ll feel the same way a few hours from now.
* * *
“Gentlemen.” Scarlet appears next to the table I’ve been sitting at for the last half an hour or so.
“Darling, don’t you look ravishing. That dusty pink looks wonderful on you.” Jonathan gives her an appreciative once over.
“Thank you!” she exclaims, twirling once so she can soak up all the admiration.
My sexy, mad pixie.
Even if he wasn’t exclusively interested in men, I would still feel the same pride at that compliment. She looks good enough to eat in that pink, flowy dress that just about touches her knees. The fabric hugs her waist and breasts so damn nicely.
“I need to come over to your shop soon. I heard a rumor that you brought someinterestingpieces in.” Scarlet wiggles her brows.
“Please do. I see you’re enjoying decorating your new home.”
She laughs, and that melodious sound strokes behind my ribs.
“I am! We installed Tabitha today,” Scarlet says. “You must come see her.”
“Tabitha?” Cillian asks from his seat next to Jonathan. These two are getting along surprisingly well since the business partnership we facilitated for them.
“My triceratops,” she says with a wide grin.
Cillian frowns, lips parted as he shoots me a look like he wants to ask if she’s being for real. I nod at him, quirking my lips.
“Scarlet, I must say, you’re slowly becoming my favorite customer. You keep me on my toes with youruniquetastes.” Jonathan chuckles. “And yes, I would love to. I’ll come by for coffee this weekend.”
“It’s a date!” She claps her hands, then turns to me. “Can I borrow you, please?”
“Gentlemen.” I nod toward the table, then rise and follow the kitten.
“I wanted to wait until we got home,” she tells me over her shoulder as she leads me toward our secure back rooms, “but I can’t wait anymore.”
“What is it, love?”
She grabs my hand and pulls me through the corridor, steps rushing as she heads toward the nearest door and tugs me inside. But I don’t get to ask why I’m in here, because a door slams shut at the end of the corridor and Scarlet flinches.
“Don’t you need to go back to your new girlfriend?”
We exchange curious looks and lean in to peek through the cracked door.
“Are those Lulu and Madds?” she asks, noticing the tall, blonde woman.
“Mhm.”
“Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?”Maddox mutters on a deep rumble.
“It’s not your damn business, that’s why!”
Maddox steps into her space, his intense, shadowed gaze boring into her.
“Is it just me, or do these two—?”
“Want to kill each other?”
“That’s definitely not the direction I was going in.”