Page 12 of Phoenix Rising

"Nah, my old lady said she'd treat me to breakfast before my shift." She kissed Josephine on the top of her head.

"Call me old again. I dare you," Josephine hissed.

Ember laughed at Josephine’s distress. "See ya, Chief Mom!"

Ember steered Josephine to their car, her hand on her ass and whispered something in her ear.

Becky envied the easy intimacy they had and the obvious sexual connection.

Becky shut the car door and rubbed her hands over her face.

Fucked up foreplay, huh?

She didn't realize her attraction to the doctor was so obvious. She hoped it was only apparent to her daughter and friend and not to her coworkers. God, had she gotten fucking turned on in front of the mayor?

Maybe there was something wrong with her. She has been trapped behind a desk for too long. Hasn't had sex since who knows when, and a pretty woman with an attitude problem walks in and makes her go absolutely nuts.

Becky bit her lip, thinking about when she had asked Dr. Everett for a meeting. Had she been flustered? Lucinda’s blush had given her away. Dr. Everett couldn't hide it with that pale skin of hers. Had she not expected Becky to be so interested in her? She wanted to know how the doctor would look if Becky were to corner her and unravel every perfect thread she had used to wind herself so tightly. Would she fall apart in her hands? Orwould Dr. Everett fight her every chance she got like the brat she was?

Becky blew out a shaky sigh. This woman was going to be a problem for her. She didn't even know if Dr. Everett was into women, and Becky was already daydreaming about her. She needed to stay focused on the job and not on getting her pussy wet.

But she wondered...

No. Nope. Cut that shit out, Becks. You're only acting like this because she's a pretty, new face.

She pulled out of the parking lot, hoping she could leave all thoughts of Lucinda Everett locked in City Hall.

But even Becky knew she was lying to herself.

4

LUCINDA

That couldn't have gone worse.Lucinda ran her hand through her hair as she sat in rush-hour traffic. Or whatever Phoenix Ridge's version of rush hour was. It was mostly just following the same line of people from the suburbs to the city.

After her disastrous city council meeting, Lucinda had to go straight to the hospital, but that morning had put her in a sour mood. Even her beautiful office couldn't lift her spirits.

Chief Thompson had made her look inexperienced up there. She was a respected pillar of this community, and she had dragged Lucinda through the mud on her first day. She had been prepared, but she had never been challenged so aggressivelybefore. She was used to being the smartest in the room; it had always been that way. Now she felt like she was in for a rude awakening.

Lucinda had met countless people and been in several meetings all afternoon. And because of this morning, she felt she had been lacking the entire day. Pain flared behind her eyes as she squinted against the setting sun. A migraine was exactly what she needed.

Lucinda groaned. All she wanted was a frozen pizza, a large glass of wine, and a bath.

BEEP! BEEP!

Lucinda looked to her right to see what all the noise was about. A woman in the next car over was pointing at Lucinda's car and mouthing something.

"Oh no," Lucinda whined.

She gave the woman a thumbs-up before pulling off in an abandoned gas station. If she had a flat tire, she was going to lose her mind.

Lucinda parked and prayed it was just going to be a missing gas cap or a seat belt hanging outside of the door. But unfortunately, she was indeed met with a deflated tire. She blew out a strangled breath, trying to keep her composure. Of course she had no idea how to change a tire. Not that herdad had never offered to teach her, but she was always worried about more important things. "Alright, this is fine." She opened her car door to look through her purse. "I just need to call a tow truck, and everything will be fine."

Except her phone had just died.

"Shit!" She stomped the ground. "I'm cursed. I have to be fucking cursed!"

She leaned her forehead against the side of her car in defeat. She guessed she could walk home. Lucinda glanced down at her nude pumps, which were now smudged with dirt. If this were London with public transportation and sidewalks, she could get home but no, America had an obsession with roads and parking lots. Her poor shoes couldn't handle that. She could hitchhike, but she was convinced that she would most likely be kidnapped and murdered. But after the day she had been having, maybe being murdered was the best option.

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