Page 72 of Brazen Deceits

“Rewind. I thought you were in Chicago with Walker?”

“I was, but Sunday was his birthday, so RJ drove out to help celebrate. Oh, and to bring me a fake ID.”

Emma tugs her braid. “How have I missed so much?”

“It doesn’t feel real, so I guess I haven’t said much about it.”

“You made out with RJ while celebrating Walker’s birthday?”

I shrug. “He was totally into it. In fact, he was directing it.”

Emma blinks, one hand on her bottom lip. “Clara, was that as hot as I imagine?”

I chew on my lip, nodding. It was hot. So hot that I might have used that night a few times to get myself off this week.It’s not like anyone else is helping in that department right now.

Emma takes a few breaths. “Damn, Clara. The closest I’ve ever gotten to anything like that was that one party where I made out with both Nate and Lana—but they were like, almost two hours apart.”

I giggle, remembering her giddy grin at the end of that night. “What ever happened with Lana?” I ask, slightly chagrined that I never followed up on that.

Emma glares at the door. “We hooked up a few times, but she was looking for something more serious and I, well, I wasn’t.”

“Nothing wrong with having some adventures,” I say, wondering how we switched roles. I’m the one who needs encouragement to try new things, and Emma’s the one who needs to be held back. This conversation has totally shifted our dynamic.

I reach across and take her hand, and she shakes out of it. “Sorry. That was a messy breakup. Back to you and your issues. Trips wants to meet? And maybe hash out this sexy mess you’ve found yourself in?”

I squeeze her hand, letting her know that I’m here if she wants to share exactly how messy that breakup was.

My phone buzzes, and I groan. Emma snags the phone off the coffee table. “It’s Trips again.”

Holding my hand out for the phone, I flop back onto the couch.

Please

My heart stutters. Did Trips just ask nicely? I mean, not actually, but nicely for him?

Typing and deleting, I finally settle on the answer he’s looking for. I can deal with the rest later.

I’m at Emma’s studying. Should I meet you somewhere?

Be there in 10

I roll my eyes. Emma raises an eyebrow. “Is that happy exasperation?”

Nabbing my book from the coffee table, I shove it into my backpack. “I think I’m done studying for the night.”

Emma glares at her textbook. “I wish I could say the same.”

I laugh. “Are you still planning on taking over your dad’s clinic? Are you sure sick cows are your calling?”

She smirks. “You’re forgetting the baby cows. And baby horses, and baby barn cats and baby farm dogs. I’ll get all the cutest fur babies.”

“I’ll have to come visit you when you’re a hotshot vet and give all those fur babies cuddles.”

“Yeah, between taking down the bad guys, FBI babe.” Emma winks.

I chew my lip, zipping the last of my stuff into my bag. “Of course.”

Emma pulls her textbook back into her lap. “Unless you’ve decided against the FBI?”

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