“You know, tell us about yourself. All we know so far is that you’re a kick-ass designer working as a design assistant, and you’re from Josh’s hometown,” Mia said.
Riley furrowed her brow. “You know where I’m from?”
“Of course. We know where you worked, about your awards; we even know that you dislike Cruella as much as we do,” Mia said.
Do you know I’m sleeping with Josh? “I don’t dislike her. She’s okay; she’s just trying to move up.” And using all the wrong tactics.
“Speaking of moving up, did you guys hear about her and JB?” Simone asked.
Mia’s eyes opened wide. “No, please don’t tell me he gave in to that snark.”
Riley bristled.
“No, but I hear she tried…again. Wella—the night cleaning woman—told Chantal she saw Claudia storm out of his office late one night looking pissed and flustered,” Simone explained.
“She deserves to be fired, if you ask me,” Mia said.
“Sexual harassment, that’s what it is. And JB can do so much better,” Simone said.
Riley swallowed the urge to tell them about her relationship with Josh. She gulped down her drink. They clearly liked him enough to want him to be with a good person, but was she that person in their eyes, or would she be seen just as Claudia was—a career climber using sex to get to the top?
“I hear he is.” Mia sipped her drink, her eyes on Riley.
Riley froze. Does she know? “Really?” she managed. The waitress brought another round of drinks, and Riley took another gulp to numb the pinch that was slowly creeping across the back of her neck.
“That’s what I hear, too,” Simone said. “He’s got a woman stashed away somewhere. All I can say is that I hope she’s not bitchy and backhanded. The guy’s loaded, and Jesus, I wouldn’t kick that body out of bed for eating crackers.”
Riley choked on her drink, coughing and fanning her face. “Sorry, sorry,” she said, catching her breath. “Went down the wrong tube or something.”
“Drink some more. It’ll help.” Simone pushed Riley’s drink toward her. “Anyway, I always thought Mia would hook up with JB.” She flashed a half smile and nudged Mia’s arm, then flagged the waitress for another round.
“Please.” Mia rolled her eyes. “I’m an excellent assistant, and he values that, but there’s nothing more to it. He’s like an older brother to me more than anything else. Don’t get me wrong. I’d do him if he asked, but I’d never pursue him. I like bad boys. You know that, Simone. Besides, he doesn’t even take home those gorgeous, airheaded, easy-lay models he dates. I think Mr. B. is pretty picky, if you ask me. How about you, Riley? Have a boyfriend?”
OhGodohGodohGod. Yes, and you’d do him. Shitshitshit. She finished her drink and said, “Are you guys hungry? Want to get an appetizer?”
“Oh, we are so much more clever than your Colorado friends, chickadee. Spill it,” Simone said.
“Now, now. She’s new to the city. Don’t pressure her. She has morals and values, and—”
“Oh my God, really? I’m not some dumb hick, you know,” Riley said. She accepted another drink from the waitress and took a sip.
“I didn’t mean that,” Mia said. She touched Riley’s arm. “Really, hon. I was just joshin’ with you.”
Joshin’? Shit. “Okay, yes, I have a boyfriend, and he’s great. I mean, we haven’t been seeing each other that long, but he’s…” She shook her head, thinking of the ways she could describe Josh: caring, loving, sensuous, gorgeous, smart, funny, an incredible lover. Instead she took the safe route. “He’s pretty great.”
“Does Mr. Great have a name?” Simone asked. She finished her drink and flagged the waitress down again.
Mia grabbed her arm. “Slow down there, woman. I can’t drink as much as you.”
“You don’t have to. I’ll drink yours,” Simone said with a wink.
Riley was glad the conversation had turned away from Josh before she had to come up with a fake name for him. “Did you guys like the gown I designed, or did it pretty much suck?”
“You’re kidding, right?” Mia gave her a stern look.
“No, I really want to know.” Anything to get away from the subject of Josh.
“It was about the most original wedding gown I’d ever seen,” Mia said.
“I’d even consider getting married if I had that gown,” Simone quipped.
Riley let out a relieved sigh. “Oh, thank God. I thought ya’ll were just being kind in the meeting.”
“We all were not just being kind,” Simone teased. “Especially Cruella. Did you see the scowl on her face when she saw your design? I thought claws were going to come shooting out from the ends of her fingers. Seriously. What’s up her butt with you? I see how she’s hot and cold with you. Any idea why?”
Because I’m sleeping with Josh? Riley shrugged. “Don’t ask me. I just do what I’m told.” The buzz of the alcohol was beginning to settle in. She looked around the bar through the haze of alcohol, spying a dance floor she hadn’t seen earlier. She began swaying to the music in her seat. She closed her eyes and imagined Josh there beside her. Oh, what she wouldn’t do to make that come true.
“Okay, it’s time.” Simone said.
Riley’s eyes shot open. “What?”
Simone and Mia climbed from the booth and pulled Riley along with them.
“Dancing. It gets rid of all the bullshit. Come on, country girl.” Simone tugged her along, and before Riley could protest, she was between Mia and Simone in the middle of the dance floor.
The more they danced, the fuller the dance floor became, until the three of them were practically squished together. Riley had a definite buzz. She could barely hear past the music. She hummed to the beat, enjoying herself without care of who saw her, and it felt damn good.
Mia tugged her arm. “Come on,” she said, and dragged her back to the booth. “Get your stuff.”
“Why? What’s happened?”
Mia showed her the screen of her cell phone. Riley squinted, pulled back, then drew in close again, trying to focus, but she was beyond focusing. “What does it say?”
Simone pulled her phone from her purse. “Me too. Shit. I wonder what went down.”
Riley scrambled through her purse, fumbling with her phone to read the sole text message. When she did, she was even more confused. Mia peered over her shoulder, and Riley shoved her phone back in her purse.
“We’ve got to go to the office. Did you get a nine-one-one text from Josh?” Mia asked.
Riley shook her head, wondering how Mia’s eyes could look so clear when she felt so light-headed.
“Are you okay to get home on your own?” Simone asked, slipping into her coat.
“Of course,” Riley said. “Why are you going to the office?”
“Dunno. But when JB texts nine-one-one, we go. See you tomorrow at the show? I’m sure Claudia will have some excuse not to show up.” Mia threw money on the table, then draped her purse over her shoulder and looped her arm into Simone’s. “Hey, cowgirl, great to hang with you. We’ll fill you in tomorrow if there’s anything worth sharing.”
Simone shoved two twenties into Riley’s hand, then kissed her cheek. “You’re so cute when you’re shnockered. Be safe.”
“Thanks. I had a great time.” Riley watched them hurry out of the bar before taking out her phone and rereading the text from Josh.
We need 2 talk. Home later than expected. J.
Chapter Twenty-Six
RILEY SHIVERED AS she walked into Josh’s apartment. It was almost one o’clock in the morning and she was still a little light-headed from the alcohol. She’d sobered up a bit on the cab ride over, stewing about what could have happened and worrying about whether someone had caught wind of their relationship. Maybe that wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. Maybe it would be for the best, especially after tonight. It would be easier to fess up to dating Josh right away to Mia and Simone rather than letting the lies linger between them. If someone found out, wouldn’t he have called me first?
She set her purse down on the table by the door, peeked into the empty living room and dining room, then headed for the kitchen, which was also empty. She walked quietly across the hall to the master bedroom, hoping Josh was there. The bed was empty. She pulled off her heels and flopped onto the bed.
What the hell is going on? She smoothed the comforter, thinking about their lovemaking and smiling at the thought. Yes, maybe it would be for the best if our relationship was exposed. She hated sneaking around and lying, and although they weren’t being as careful outside of work, she still felt like a thief on parole. She’d seen pictures of Josh in the rag mags over the years and on the cover of the larger publications when his career first began to flourish, and she remembered how her heart had skipped a beat, breathing new life into the crush she’d worked so hard to tamp down. Each time she’d catch sight of one of those articles, she’d buy the magazine and look at it when she was alone at night. Then she’d force those feelings back into the confines of some well deep within her mind. Someplace where they wouldn’t render her unable to think straight, as they had when they’d reconnected. Maybe now he wasn’t quite as much of a reader draw as he once was. Maybe he was overreacting. After all, why would the media care if he was dating her? She was talking herself in circles again. She knew the answer to the relentless question. It wasn’t the media he was worried about. If they took his picture, it would be happenstance, a space filler in some useless magazine in the About Town section. It was Claudia catching wind of that picture that worried him.