Page 64 of Nocere

"Good." She swatted my rear and I let out a squeak. "Let's go say hi to our friends and get some dinner."

I chuckled when she took my hand, and led me inside.

Music played under the voices of dozens of people. Sam squeezed my hand as we joined the fray in the house. In the living room, Stella, Alice, Vee, and Scarlett sat together on the sofa chatting while devouring plates filled with food. At the table, Eve, Ciara, Cin, Grace, and Alex spoke in animated tones while consuming copious amounts of alcohol. Mixed in smaller groups, Billie and Mira joined a few women that I didn't recognize, and another batch of folks hung around on the back patio lit with torches and candles. Food trays lined the tables in the dining room and kitchen.

Ainsley appeared from the hall, and her whole face lit up when she saw us. Jordan bustled out behind her and walked right into her.

"Babe! What the heck?" Jordan huffed and caught her beer before it spilled.

"Look who's here!" Ainsley squealed as she bounced over and hugged me.

"Hi, Ainsley." I laughed as I hugged her then caught Jordan in with us when she joined the hug party.

"Hooray!" she shouted then hooted before kissing my cheek. "Sami, this was all you, wasn't it?"

"I'll take some of the credit for Rosie's appearance, but the rest is all her." Sam grinned and hugged them when they turned on her.

"C'mon, sweet girl. Let's get you fed and watered." Ainsley took my hand and dragged me toward the kitchen. I laughed and looked to Sam to make sure she followed. Of course she did, and Jordan joined us.

Most of the women waved and greeted us when Ainsley led us through the crowd. Pockets of people here and there returned our gestures, and their smiles accompanied it.

"How many cops are here?" asked Samirah when she accepted a glass of wine from Jordan.

"About as many hair stylists," answered Jordan. "Billie is FBI and Eve is a detective. Dax is a marshal. The rest of the lot are retired, disabled, or career changers."

"Well, at least no one will successfully rob us, threaten, harass, or menace us in their presence." Samirah lifted her wine before taking a sip.

"Even if they did, there are a bunch of doctors, too, who will save our lives," I said when Ainsley offered me a glass as well.

"Except me. I'll find out how they killed you," chirped Ainsley, her smile menacing at best.

Jordan laughed, then grabbed her around the neck. "She's kidding."

"No, she isn't. If any of us died, she'd figure out how for sure," I said, chuckling at them.

Samirah grinned and slipped her arm around my waist. She pressed her lips to my temple briefly, before starting suddenly. I looked up at her with a furrowed brow only to see her staring over behind our friends. Jordan and Ainsley turned as well. A tall woman with brown curly hair and a gear belt hanging from her sharp hips talked idly with Billie and a few other women I didn't know. She wore black-on-black jeans and a blouse that screamed federal agent, just like Billie.

"Who's that?" I asked, glancing between them.

"That's Caroline," answered Jordan. "We went balls to the walls and invited everyone tonight."

Samirah pulled me closer to her, a content smile curving her lips as she watched the woman. An extremely fair woman with light blonde hair appeared beside her. She held a carrot between her lips and smiled at the taller women before taking a bite. Caroline reached up to stroke the blonde woman's cheek with her knuckle, before leaning forward to place a sweet kiss on her forehead. The gesture reminded me of Samirah, and I returned my attention to her.

"You know her?" I asked, and Sam met my gaze.

"I do."

"I think I've seen the blonde woman before," I said, glancing to Jordan who nodded.

"That's Nora. She comes to the salon."

"Oh. That makes sense."

"So how do you know her, Sami? Is she on your chart?" Ainsley perked up. "Jordy, we need to add Sami to the chart."

Jordan laughed and wagged her brows at us. "Oh, yeah. We need to get this chart updated. Rosie needs a few new lines."

"I do not." I swatted her arm and they all laughed.

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