Page 22 of Reckless Harmony

“That has nothing to do with it,” he said.

“Bullshit,” she snapped. “It has everything to do with it. You’ve already insulted me enough today. Don’t insult me further by pretending it doesn’t.”

She left the gym, and Stark muttered a curse. Christ, what was it about Rayna Abrams that got under his skin and made him act so fucking childish?

CHAPTER 10

“Ray-Ray, are you even listening to me?”

Rayna turned and smiled at the woman standing in her kitchen. “Of course I am.”

“She isn’t,” Arianna said to Emma. “Right?”

“She’s a little zoned out.” Emma studied a notepad in front of her, her fingers absently tracing the port wine birthmark on her left cheek.

“She’s in, like, another universe tonight,” Arianna said.

Rayna wanted to argue, but Arianna was right - she was distracted. She gave the pretty woman a faint smile. “Sorry, Arianna.”

While she and Emma had been best friends since they were kids, her friendship with Arianna was relatively new and, Rayna supposed, a little unconventional. She’d met the twenty-year-old influencer and makeup artist at a volunteer event, and despite their differences, they had become friends.

Or, as Emma liked to say, Arianna had imprinted on Rayna like a baby duck.

Either way, she genuinely liked Arianna and enjoyed her company. And while Arianna was occasionally self-absorbed, she never hesitated to help Rayna with volunteer events for the rescue.

“It’s, like, fine,” Arianna said. “But I really thought Zuri was going to strangle you tonight.”

Rayna grimaced as Emma made a sound of agreement. She would have to apologize to her events coordinator asap. Zuri went above and beyond when it came to fundraisers, and this bachelor/bachelorette fundraiser was a huge undertaking.

Zuri had left about ten minutes ago, and while Rayna hadn’t gotten the sense that she was frustrated with her, she wasn’t risking the chance. She would apologize on her knees if necessary.

You know who else would like you on your knees?

She gritted her teeth, cursing her inner thoughts and her vivid imagination. Stark was not attracted to her, and just because she caught him checking out her ass earlier today didn’t mean he wanted a damn blow job from her. Besides, the polyester pants she wore to work didn’t do a thing for her ass, so even if he was checking it out, it didn’t -

“Rayna!” Arianna’s voice was full of exasperation, and Rayna tossed every single Stark thought out of her head with a concentrated effort. “What is going on with you tonight?”

“Nothing, just a weird day at work,” Rayna said.

Arianna shuddered. “How many toilets did you have to plunge?”

“None,” Rayna said. “But it was busy and…”

“And what?” Arianna sat down beside Emma.

When Rayna didn’t reply, Emma said, “And she had to go to a call at her mortal enemy’s workplace.”

“Ooh!” Arianna immediately perked up. “You saw Isaac Stark? He’s so dreamy. I saw him at the coffee shop the other day, and he was totally checking me out.”

“He’s way too old for you,” Rayna said. “If he was checking you out, then that makes him a pervert.”

Arianna gave her a pout. “Okay, fine, he didn’t even glance at me, but why do you have to ruin my hot guy fantasy, Ray-Ray?”

“Because he’s an asshole, and I don’t want you in his orbit,” Rayna said. “Stay away from him, honey.”

“Sure,” Arianna said. “So, are you grumpy because you had to plunge his toilet, and it was super gross?”

“My job isn’t just plunging toilets,” Rayna said.

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