Page 52 of Reckless Harmony

“I’m not,” she said. “Just curious.”

Emma stared her down, and Rayna sighed. “Maybe a little jealous. But only because I haven’t been laid in so long, and Stark is stupidly good looking, and, Em, I honestly don’t know why he’s even attracted to me. I am so not his type.”

Emma hesitated, and Rayna said, “Just say it, Emmy.”

“This isn’t a dig against you because you are stunningly gorgeous, but it’s true that you’re not his usual type. Again, Stark doesn’t share anything personal at the office, but he has brought dates to office functions on occasion, and Lucas says they’re…”

“They’re what?” Rayna asked.

“Basically models with perfect hair and makeup and expensive clothes, and they’re always lawyers or doctors or executive types.”

Rayna glanced at her stained leggings and ripped t-shirt. “Colour me surprised. He has expensive taste in everything else. Why wouldn’t that include his girlfriends? Hell, just one of his suits probably costs more than my entire wardrobe. I sincerely doubt Stark has even stepped foot in a Walmart his entire life.”

“Probably not,” Emma agreed before checking her phone. “I better go. I have some errands to run before I head home, and I want to be at the store early tomorrow since I’m leaving early to help with the fundraiser.”

“Thanks, Emmy. I really appreciate everything you’ve done to help with this.”

“Anytime.” Emma winced when the second kitten barreled into the room and climbed her leg to perch on her knee. “Haven’t found a foster home for these kittens yet, huh?”

“No,” Rayna sighed. “Foster homes are in short supply right now. But we’ll have information about fostering at the fundraiser tomorrow, and I’m hoping we get some interest.”

“Before I go…” Emma made a face.

“Uh oh,” Rayna said.

“Do you know who Paula Plink and Denise Macklin are?”

Rayna nodded. “Retired nurses and two of the biggest gossips in town.”

“They’re also members of Harmony Falls Evangelical Church.”

Rayna grimaced. “The one led by that asshole, the Reverend Newood or something?”

“Norwood,” Emma said, “and yeah, that’s the one. They were in the store the other day, and I overheard them talking about the good reverend planning a protest.”

“Okay,” Rayna said. “What does that have to do with me?”

“He’s planning on protesting the fundraiser,” Emma said.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Rayna groaned.

“I wish I were,” Emma said. “It might not happen. You know what gossips they are. It could just be a rumour.”

“Yeah, but if they attend that church, then they probably have first-hand knowledge of it, right?” Rayna said.

“Yeah,” Emma said. “Sorry, honey.”

“It’s fine,” Rayna said with a sigh. “It’s a free country, and people are allowed to protest whatever they want. I don’t get why they are, though. It’s just people bidding for a date with someone they find attractive. It’s not a live sex show, for God’s sake.”

She rubbed Bea’s stomach when the beagle lay at her feet and rolled to her back. “I shouldn’t be surprised, though. I was called to a job at his church, and I tried to convince the secretary, Nola, to be a bachelorette. I didn’t know she was the pastor’s daughter. He overheard me and blew a gasket. Went on and on about how I was trying to whore out his daughter.”

“What an asshole. If Paula and Denise are to be believed, he’s also upset about the,” Emma made finger quotes, “rampant homosexuality you’re promoting at the fundraiser.”

“Of course he is,” Rayna said in annoyance. “Never mind that out of sixteen bachelors and bachelorettes, we have two bachelors and one bachelorette who are gay. I wouldn’t really call that rampant.”

“He’s a terrible person,” Emma said. “Everyone knows it. You know my grandma is the most devout Christian ever, right?”

“Yep,” Rayna said.

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