Page 11 of Strictly Forbidden

Instead, I threw my head back, trying to regain control of my mind and headed for the door, throwing it open.

“Darling. There you are,” I said.

Zoe shoved a huge bag in my face, a grin popping on hers. “You’re in a good mood. For. A. Change. Have you started on the happy juice?”

Laughing, I took the bag from her along with the bottle of wine she’d brought. “Not yet. But soon. I’m happy because the book is expected to shoot to number one by tomorrow. Woo-hoo!”

“You bitch. You live the life of luxury. Meanwhile, we mere mortals bask in your glory.” She winked and closed the door behind her.

“Ha! You are a very prominent and respected attorney who can drive a foreign sports car, for God’s sake. You have nothing to complain about.”

“Okay, true. But you are in the stratosphere.” Zoe did a little dance, which always made me laugh. “Something smells good.”

“I made my famous brownies.”

“Who kidnapped my best friend replacing her with a clone?”

I stopped short just long enough she sucked in her breath.

“Shit. I’m a fucking bitch. I’m so sorry.”

“Oh, stop it. I’m not that sensitive.” Yep, I was. I placed the items on my counter and glanced in the bag. She’d purchased things for my support dog. “Oh, you are such a delight.” I pulled out the dog toys and sighed. “I haven’t gotten anything yet. I guess I just worried that it wouldn’t happen and I’d be disappointed.”

“Nonsense. It is happening. Max is doing very well in the program and with his handler.”

His handler. Lifting an eyebrow, I glanced in her direction as she slapped her hands over her mouth. Then I pointed my finger at her. “You told me you had no way of finding out anything about the pup lined up for me. You little liar.”

“Darling, I do have my connections all over this state.” She acted haughty, even rolling her eyes. She was such a drama queen.

“Uh-huh. You are one bad girl. Max, huh?”

“Yep. He’s part Golden and part German Shepherd.”

“Sounds… aggressive.”

“No, he’s acting more like his mother. The Golden.” She smiled and sashayed into the kitchen. “Drinks?”

“You bet. One dirty martini coming up, baby.” Max, huh? It was solid and easy to say. “You don’t happen to have a picture of him on you, do you?”

“No, that I wasn’t given. You’ll see him very soon.”

I headed for the drink shaker, adding the last necessary ingredient before putting in some ice and shaking. She gave me that look of hers, the one that indicated trouble. When she wagged her finger in front of my face, I sensed it was all about my lack of a sex life. I knew the girl far too well.

“So, that guy you met a couple weeks ago. Did you ever talk to him again? He sounded yummy to me and God knows you’ve become a nun. I think a hot night of sex is exactly what you need.”

Exhaling, I glared at her. “If you mean the guy I almost ran into with my car in the parking lot of my psychiatrist’s office, then, um, no. I doubt that’s the best place to meet a hot guy unless you want a nutcase.”

“Does that make you a nutcase?”

I tossed a kitchen towel at her. “You know exactly what I mean.”

“Baby girl, nestled in the same small building as your shrink is a wealth management firm. Did you ever stop and think maybe, just maybe the guy was there to meet with his financial advisor and is fabulously wealthy?” Zoe was grinning because she was right.

And I hated her for it.

“No, I did not, thank you very much. My odds are never that good. Besides, while he did invite me out for a drink, he had those crazy eyes. You know the ones I mean.”

“Oh, yes. You’re an expert in crazy.”

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