Page 50 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

“Pushy? You?” Marnie rolled her eyes.

Loriana reveled in the temerity of the act. “I think you might, dare I say it, enjoy yourself tonight.”

And just like she’d flipped a switch, Marnie’s grin dropped. “I…” She glanced out the window where Mitch stood.

He gazed toward Second Avenue and the bus passing. As if sensing their attention, he turned. He tilted his head in question.

Loriana waved, plastering on a huge smile. Then she held up one finger as if asking him for just one moment.

He waved back and returned his attention to the street.

Marnie sighed. “I’m trying, Loriana.”

“I know you are.”I’m a heel.“Look, I’m sorry I said anything. I just thought you were loosening up.”

“There are…” Marnie swallowed. “There are reasons for the vigilance, Loriana. I’ve never explained—”

“And you don’t have to.”

“—but there’s stuff you don’t know.”

Well, duh.“You don’t have to tell me, Marnie. That’s a given. It’s none of my business.”

The look of relief on her employee’s face intensified Loriana’s guilt. “But I’d like to think if circumstances changed—for whatever reason—that you’d feel comfortable sharing with me.”

Marnie’s green eyes remained unblinking. “If I could… I promise you’d be the one.”

Loriana flashed back to Marnie’s tête-à-tête with Seth. She’d bet her last dollar that the cop knew. How much was debatable, but she was sure he knew more than she did. And that shouldn’t rankle, but it did. She offered a smile. “That’s all I can ask for. Now, I think we’ve made that beautiful man wait long enough.”

“I think…” Marnie buttoned her coat. “I think he likes you.” Her gaze narrowed. “And I know you like him.”

“He’s a nice guy.”

“You’re flirting with him.”

She shouldn’t have been surprised—Marnie was an observant woman—but Loriana was still caught off-guard. “I thought I was being subtle.”

Marnie guffawed. “You don’t know the meaning of the word.” Then, as if stunned by her impudence, she pressed her fingers to her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“You know you’re free to say whatever you want.” Truthfully, she preferred when Marnie said what was on her mind. Those moments didn’t happen nearly enough.

She grabbed her knapsack while Marnie grabbed her purse. They passed the circulation desk and headed out the door with a last wave to Carly.

Johanna was still helping Jari. In other words—all was well.

Mitch’s grin was wide when he greeted the women. He held up his phone. “I checked the menu. I think there are at least ten different things I’d be interested in trying.”

Loriana linked her arm in his as they, as a group, descended the stairs to the parking lot. “Like what?”

“Deep-fried pickles to start.”

“Oh, Lord.” She shuddered. “Well, you can share with Marnie.”

The younger woman flashed a tentative smile at Mitch as she disarmed her car alarm. “We can split the appetizer.”

“Which means I still have to select a main course.”

“Well, you can ask my opinion on different items while we drive over. I can say pretty confidently I’ve eaten everything on their menu.”

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