Page 18 of Red Hot Harmony

“I’m working.”

“I can see that.”

“Renn is going to report to my mother.”

“So?” I shrugged. “Did you change your mind and want nothing to do with me now?” It was a bad idea to bring someone like me to a suburban event, let alone a wedding anniversary party. I didn’t blend in well with regular folks.

“No, I didn’t change my mind.” Camille rested her palms on my chest, studying me. Her finger trailed along my collarbone. “I just didn’t expect to see you here with everything going on.”

“Ah, fuck everything.”

“You really mean that?”

“I do.” There was a noise behind me, footsteps approaching.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, sweets.” Harper’s voice entered the lounge. “But you never told me about tonight and I need to know ASAP because it’s either that or pizza with Michelle.” He waved his phone at us.

I took a step back, putting respectable distance between myself and Camille.

“What time did you say?” she asked, a crinkle in her forehead told me she was seriously considering something.

“He usually leaves for work around eight.” Harper paused, then added, “So...late?”

“What’s this about?” I prodded, sensing a conspiracy.

“We’re getting Tallulah back,” he stated, his chin lifting defiantly.

“How?”

“Apparently, breaking and entering,” Camille said.

“Didn’t your ex steal her from you?” I’d heard the story about the cat’s kidnapping more than once and the thought that someone would try to take my dog enraged me.

Harper nodded. “That’s exactly what happened. And we’re going to steal her back.”

“We just haven’t finalized our plan.” Camille didn’t sound enthusiastic. “We still need to come up with a reasonable distraction that’ll keep Lucas busy while Harper is inside the house.”

An idea was already forming in my mind. “Is that the ex who likes my solos?”

“Yes,” the two confirmed in unison.

I looked down at Snowflake, who was cozying up to the couch now. “I believe I can provide a good distraction.”

“Really?” Harper stared at me with a look of surprise.

“Absolutely. Where and when do we meet?”

3 Camille

The last thing I expected from Dante was to volunteer to assist Harper and me on our mission. Without a doubt, it was a dangerous operation, the risk of getting caught high. The consequences... No, I didn’t even want to think about the consequences.

Yet later that evening, his Camaro showed up outside Harper’s condo complex, just as we all agreed.

We waited in my best friend’s living room while he tried to get his fancy wood lamp working. Evidently, something had gone wrong the other day and it was now only dispersing light from three of the cracks. Needless to say, he was upset.

“Does it have a warranty?” I asked as I watched him peeking into the dark slats while he laid the slab on the rib and rolled it over several times.

“I emailed the guy last night. There should be. Yes.”

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