Page 21 of Casita Casanova
“We’ll see.” Danielle laughs, ducking out of the kitchen before I can swing at her.
Ari steps around the table and slides her arms around my waist, resting her head on my shoulder. When did she get so tall? “I’m not going to just forget about the fact that you want to sell the beach house.”
“I know, baby.” I wrap my arms around her shoulders, pulling her tighter against me.
“You haven’t thanked me for making that rental listing yet.”
I laugh into her hair. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”
“I don’t know what you’d dowithoutme.”
Closing my eyes, I press my nose into her hair and breathe her in. She has no idea how right she is.
Chapter Seven
Ridge
There’s a board meeting at Westcott & Son Investments this morning, and I should be there, running shit because that’s what I do.
Instead, I’mhere. On the Worst Coast.
When I step outside, a text from Beth pops up.
Bethany Biggs:Your driver is at the curb. Silver Honda.
“Silver what?” I look up and see it immediately, but quickly pretend I’m looking for someone else because what the hell? No way.
It’s one thing to ship me off. It’s another thing entirely to be forced to ride in that pussy magnet. What’s next? A public bus?
I shiver at the thought and dial Beth.
She answers quickly, a smile in her voice. “What’s wrong? Is your ride not there?”
“You’ve lost your mind. Call me a service.”
“Thatisa service. It’s called Lyft, and it’s quite popular.”
I glance at the silver car. The driver’s leaning against the hood, smoking a cigarette. I scowl in disgust. “He’ssmoking, Bethany.”
“You’ll be fine. It’s only an hour.”
“An hour!” My outburst draws a few stares, but as soon as I shoot them a glare, they look away. “Beth,whyare we not using a service?” I ask slowly, trying to stay calm. And then horror fills my veins with ice. “Oh my God, do they not evenhavethem in California?”
“Of course, they do.” She laughs. “But you don’t.”
“Why not?” I force through clenched teeth.
“I’ve frozen your accounts.”
My mouth drops open. “You what?” My fist grips the cell phone so tightly I’m afraid I might break it.
“You need to lay low. Blend in. Look normal.” She snorts and I want to reach through the phone. “If your Black Card is being scanned at every night club, strip club, and fucking Bergdorf’s, you’ll be spotted in no time. And then I can’t clean up your mess.”
“They probably don’t even have Bergdorf’s out here,” I grumble, turning around to look at the driver of my ride. I motion to him, even though it pains me to do so. “How will I eat, Beth? Or is starving to death part of my punishment?”
“You’re not being punished.”
“And yet…” I motion toward the silver Honda.
