“Or the car wash?” I shrug. “Or the mechanic. The mechanic may have fucked his receptionist in the back seat of the car just today.”

Chloe twists her lips. “Maybe.”

“I don’t know, but don’t just assume the worst until we have proof.”

“Oh, get off it,” Chloe snaps. “Coming from you, that’s a joke. Why don’t you give Henley the same forgiveness?”

“Henley?” Rebecca frowns as she looks between us. “You’re on with Henley?”

My eyes widen at Chloe. You did not just say that.

“I mean . . . what I was saying . . .” Chloe trips over her words as she tries to cover up her mistake.

“Chloe,” I snap. It’s too late now. “I went on a date with Henley a few years ago, and I didn’t know he lived here when I bought the house.”

Rebecca’s eyes widen. “What happened?”

“We had the best night ever, and then he ghosted me with his burner phone.”

Her eyes widen as she puts the pieces together. “Oh . . . fuck, that means . . . he liked you.”

“And now Taryn is out there rubbing her big boobs all over him, and I’m totally screwed because I still think he’s gorgeous when, in fact, he is actually a fucking asshole.”

She rolls her eyes into her drink. “Amen.”

“Listen, on to more important things,” Chloe interrupts. “Can someone just think of a plan to make Blake Grayson fall in love with me? I cannot date one more mediocre man.”

We all fall silent, lost in our own thoughts as we drink our wine.

“What are you going to do?” I eventually ask Rebecca.

“Keep my eyes and ears open, I guess. If something is going on, he’ll catch himself out. They always do.”

I put my hand over hers. “I’m sorry.”

She exhales. “Not as sorry as he’s going to be if I find something out.”

“I’m choosing to think innocent until proven guilty.” I smile hopefully.

She squeezes my hand. “Let’s hope.”

I look at my reflection in the mirror. “How much is it?” I pray as I wait for her reply.

“Four hundred and twenty.”

Fuck.

I puff air into my cheeks. I’m trying on formal gowns in a boutique. This one is a deep red; the top is like a corset with boning and the bottom a flowing skirt.

It is sensational.

“What look are you going for?” the shop assistant asks.

“I want to knock someone’s socks off.”

She smiles as she looks me up and down. “Then you have to buy this one.”

“I didn’t want to spend this much money.”

“You can’t fake quality, dear. You’ll have this for years. It’s timeless.”

“True.”

“And this may be the only chance you get to knock him dead.”

“Also true.”

“And if you wear something else, are you going to be kicking yourself that you didn’t buy this one?”

“Probably.”

She shrugs. “I think you’ve answered all your own questions.”

Damn it. Why did I come into this shop when I knew it had over-the-top prices?

If I buy it, then it will put me back another week with my renovations.

New lamps or a possible night with Henley James . . . hmm.

It’s a tough decision.

Lamps . . . Henley . . . lamps . . . Henley.

I twist my lips as I stare at my reflection.

Fuck it. You only live once. “I’ll take it.”

Saturday afternoon and I am rushing around like a madwoman. Chloe is coming over to stay with Barry after she finishes work. I have my bag packed and ready to roll. We are checking into the hotel early and getting ready there. My nerves are at an all-time high. My phone rings.

Henley

Why is he calling me? Don’t tell me he’s canceling. “Hello?”

“Hi.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Are you ready?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Any chance you could sneak over here?”

“What?”

“If Carol sees me pick you up, we will never hear the end of it. But if you sneak over here, she will be none the wiser.”

“Um.” I think for a moment. “Yeah, okay. But I have my overnight bag.”

“Throw it over the back fence.”

“You want me to climb the fence?” I gasp.

“Can you?”

“No.”

“Too high? I thought you were an elite athlete.”

“I am, and boxing is my specialty, Henley.”

He chuckles. “Okay, throw your bag over the back fence, and then sneak around to the front.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. Trust me on this. Neighborhood watch is alive and well.”

“We went out two weeks ago, and she didn’t see us.”

“She was out when we went to the wedding.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I asked her what she was doing the day before.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine, come out back now.” I hang up and take my bag out to the backyard, and Henley’s arm comes over. I pass my bag over to him.

“Fuck, what have you got in here? It weighs a ton.”

“A body bag,” I whisper. “To dispose of the evidence.”

“What evidence would that be?”

“A body.”

“Mine?”

“Who else’s would it be?”

“I told you not to get any ideas,” he replies. “Now sneak around to the front.”

“Yes.”

“Are you coming now?”

“Yes.”

“Hurry up.”

“Henley,” I snap. “Shut up.”

I go inside and lock my house up. Then I walk out the back door and around to the side gate. I look left and right, and I slip behind the bushes and sneak into Henley’s yard.

Hmm, not bad. Stealth mode at its very best. Those bushes come in handy.

I run around to his backyard and slip through the side gate. Voilà . . . I did it.

I’m in.

Henley is waiting at the back door. “Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in.” He smirks.

“Reason five hundred why I bought a body bag,” I mutter as I walk past him.

And suddenly, I’m inside his house, his personal space. My eyes look around in awe. It’s modern, gorgeous, and totally spotless. It sort of has a European feel: lots of marble and white walls. Textured furnishings and abstract art.

“Wow.” I smile as I look around. “Henley, it’s beautiful.”

“Thanks.” His eyes linger on my face, and I get the feeling he wants to say something else.

It’s there between us; the electric current is back. It’s actually more like lightning, but whatever.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach. “What have you got in store for me tonight?”

“Lots of things.”

And I already know from the look in his eye what lots of things means.

At least I hope I do.

“Let’s get there and get ready,” he says. “We can have a cocktail or two before we have to go.”

I smile. “Sounds like a plan.”

He leads me out to his garage, and he unlocks his Range Rover.

We climb into the car, and the garage door begins to go up. He begins to reverse.

“Fuck, duck down,” he splutters.