When Nora reaches for her wine glass, I take another step back and brace myself. I also shoot my mom a warning look. Last time Nora had a glass of red wine in her hand, The Cobra took it from her and threw it in my face.
Nora tosses the liquid down her throat before setting the glass back on the table. She picks up a cloth napkin and daintily dabs her lips. She clears her throat and then looks my mom and me in the eyes. "Former best friend. After seven years of blackmailing me, I can finally say I'm free of that awful woman." Nora makes a face that so horrifying it's comical. If she screws up her mouth any tighter, she's sure to pop a stitch. "It cost me my twenty-three year marriage, but Christina, I don't blame you for your hesitation." She clasps my shoulder. "I wouldn't want to be friends with anyone who associates with that snake in the grass, either."
I look down at her hand on me, at those long, gaudy hot pink fingernails with rhinestone flowers on every tip. I imagine those little flowers are poisonous, and she's burning my flesh.
When I jerk out of her grip, I think I see a flash of venom in her gaze, but it's quickly gone. Even though she's smiling at me, her eyes are eerily empty. Maybe she's not The Cobra's friend anymore, but I still don't trust her. After all, what kind of a woman would be friends with that snake in the first place?
"Nora, do you mind if I speak to my daughter alone?"
Nora smiles at my mom as she smooths a hand over her hair helmet. "Of course not. I need to use the powder room, anyway." She sweeps out of the room with her exaggerated swagger, her "I'm not really drunk, but a washed up runway model" walk.
I scowl as she leaves.
I turn to my mom with a pleading gaze. "Mom, don't trust her. She's just like The Cobra. Just like her."
Mom's got this sheepish look as she flashes a half-hearted smile. "I've already given her a deposit."
"You what?"
Mom heaves a sigh and then falls into her chair. "Christina, Nora Richards is the premiere wedding planner in all of south Texas. Her reach extends from San Antonio to Houston. Every socialite knows her—and uses her. Just think what she can do for our business."
I pull up a chair and search her gaze, looking for any sign of hope. My heart sinks when she looks away. I am not using Nora Richards as my wedding planner. Hell, no!
"She's a two-faced whore." I try my best to keep my tone even. I don't want to upset her.
Mom's face falls, before she casts her gaze down and toys with the edge of her napkin. "She's already booked Domingo Designs for three weddings in February and four in March."
I clench my hands. "Shit."
Mom leans toward me and grabs my arm. "Christina, you heard her say they're not friends anymore. Your adoptive mother must have ruined this woman's marriage. I don't know all of the details, but she said her husband filed for divorce after she admitted to an affair that happened twenty years ago."
I roll my eyes. "I don't buy her story. She's probably had more affairs than that."
"Well, whatever happened, I bet Vivian knew and was blackmailing her."
"So Nora finally came clean," I say dryly.
Mom nods. "Who knows what Nora's had to do to keep that snake quiet?"
Knowing my sick and twisted adoptive mother, Nora was paying her off, and she was probably tired of financing The Cobra's collagen injections. I almost want to feel sorry for Nora, but how can I trust someone who was friends with The Cobra? Then I remember up until a few months ago, Karri was supposedly my best friend. I wonder if people have judged me because of my association with Karri? If only I could turn off that little voice in my head screaming "Don't do it!" when I think about handing over the most important day of my life to Nora Richards.
I square my shoulders as I sharpen my gaze. "I still don't trust her with my wedding."
"Sweetheart." Mom pats my hand and drops her voice to a soft whisper like she's trying to soothe a crying child. "Do you think Nora would risk her company's reputation and sabotage your wedding? Do you think she'd risk the lawsuit? Because believe me, I'd sue that woman into oblivion if she ruined my little girl's special day."
My mom smiles at me with the sweetest, most angelic expression, and damn me, but the wider her smile, the more my heart softens.
As much as I hate to admit it, I know she's right that we could use Nora as a connection to boost our new business. Nora's got an in to all of the richest clients in south Texas. The more I mull this over, the more my heart sinks and my stomach sours. Yeah, we probably need to play nice with Nora. I just wish we didn't have to use her for my wedding.
Chapter Eight
Christina
I'm feeling a little better after our lunch together. Nora thinks she can book the wedding at a San Antonio hotel on The Riverwalk. Andrés and I took our first vacation together there, so the beautiful landmark holds a special place in my heart. The more I think about having my wedding on the river, the more I think it will be absolutely perfect.