Page 101 of Darling Obsession

“Wow.” Nicole gazes up at the antique chandelier. “Megan will die. She says Harlan is sooooo secretive. I think she literallythinks he lives in a cave in the mountains somewhere. That’s what Jameson keeps telling her.”

“Well, now you can set her straight,” I say lightly. I’ve already gleaned how private Harlan is. But I’d rather my friends didn’t think he was some kind of reclusive freak.

I invited Dani over so she could see for herself that I’m okay here. But now I’m nervous. What if Harlan gets upset that I invited people over when he wasn’t here?

“And why do we need reinforcements?” I inquire as Carlisle closes the front door behind us.

“I’m really not sure yet,” Dani says, looking me over. “An intervention? An extraction? Blink twice if you need us to bust you out of here.”

“I think I’d just let him hold me prisoner.” Nicole runs a hand along the banister and gazes up the stairs. “It’s so big, you could live here and not even see him if you didn’t want to.”

“I’m fine, you guys, really.” I glance at Carlisle, who’s standing by politely, holding the tote bag Dani handed to him like he’s some kind of coat tree while she looks around. “No one’s holding me hostage. And I don’t need an intervention. I promise, this will all make sense when you see the kitchen.”

The truth is, I’m kind of hoping baking in his kitchen will mean that I actuallydoget to see more of Harlan.

But if I’m barely admitting it to myself, I’m definitely not saying it out loud.

Chapter 17

Quinn

After two rounds of mimosas, I’m already worrying ninety percent less about what Harlan will think of this as I float on an inflated popsicle in the pool, wearing the outrageously slutty bikini Dani brought for me, along with a cropped T-shirt. She’s floating on a sprinkled donut next to me. Nicole is flopped on a rainbow floatie, and the three of us have formed a floating island, arms and legs flung over one another’s floaties to hold us together.

Nicole also has one leg flopped onto the side of the pool, next to the tray with what’s left of the charcuterie board and our latest mimosa pitcher, anchoring us.

“I thought you were insane when you said bikini,” Nicole says lazily as she basks in her bikini and a cropped sweatshirt, her wild brown curls spilling over into the water. “But this is actually amazing.”

“Ditto,” Dani says, downing her mimosa.

It’s the first week of October, which means cool, but the sun is blazing and the pool is heated, and it’s actually quite nice. I could laze here all day.

“Who wants a refill?” Nicole offers, and I hold up my plastic champagne cup.

Because how badly have I needed a break like this?

Badly.

I even turned off the oven after I pulled out my perfectly cooked vanilla cake. I cut it into cubes and piled them into a bowl, which sits next to the mimosa pitcher. I can bake more later.

“Okay, ladies,” Dani says. “Before we get too comfortable here?—”

“Too late,” Nicole says, passing us our refills.

“Let’s just remember why we’re here,” Dani goes on. “Which is to get the goods on Harlan Vance. The man who just gave Quinna freaking kitchen.”

“He didn’t give me a kitchen, Lorraine,” I say. “Jeez, my mom said the exact same thing. You can’tgivesomeone a kitchen in your house. It’s his house. I’m just baking in it.”

“And you’re not defensive about him at all,” she observes.

”Well, we can also talk about that guy you’ve been seeing. Shit. What’s his name?”

“Exactly,” Dani says. “I’m currently in the blocking-him phase. Hence the song.”

Nicole brought her waterproof portable speaker, and when we rock-paper-scissored for it, Dani won the right to pick the music. Sabrina Carpenter’s now singing about how much better life is without some bitch. I think the bitch is a guy.

“Oh. I’m sorry it didn’t work out,” I offer.

“I’m not. And don’t think you can avoid this. It’s high time we discussed this Harlan guy, and decide if he’s worth the fuss.”

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