Page 5 of Indiscretion

“Because I can’t let a woman get in the car in the middle of nowhere with a stranger, not knowing where she’s going.”

“Because I’m a woman? So it would be okay if I were a man?”

Another trick question. I sighed. “Just let me drive you.”

She stared at her phone for a long time before turning it to face me. “Oh my God. It says there areno Ubersin the area. How can that be?”

“We’re in bumfuck Michigan in the middle of the night.” I nodded at the door again. “Come on. Let me just take you.”

“I don’t even know your name.”

“Dawson.”

“First name or last?”

“First.”

“Interesting.”

“Thrilling. Can we go now?”

She ignored me. “I’m Naomi.”

I nodded. “Great. Now that we’rebesties, how about we hit the road? I’m awake at the moment, but eventually I’m going to crash. It’s been a long-ass day.”

Naomi chewed her lip. “Fine. But let me get my jewelry first.”

“You need to put onjewelryto go to the emergency room?”

“Not wear it, but take it with me for safekeeping. I realized when I got here that there’s no safe, and I brought my mom’s diamond pendant and matching earrings. She passed away, and they mean a lot to me.”

I pointed my eyes down to the little rat, still humping away. “Can’t Gumby protect it?”

Naomi frowned. “Don’t poke fun at my dog. He’s amazing.”

“Why the hell did you bring diamonds to a cabin in the woods anyway?”

“I’m going to a wedding.”

“What wedding?”

“My friend Lily’s. Why?”

Oh fuck.Naomi…her damn name wasNaomi. “What’s your last name?”

“Heart.”

I closed my eyes. This was really the day that kept on giving.

“You went to law school with Lily and Ben, right?”

“Yes. How did you know that?”

“Because I’m going to the same wedding. Ben is my buddy—been friends since we were kids, even went to undergrad together. Lily mentioned you to me recently. She said you three went to the University of Michigan together, and you’d just moved to New York. I believe her exact words were, ‘I’d introduce you, but you two would hate each other.’”

Chapter 2

NAOMI

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