Page 46 of Someone to Tempt
Her answers sound rehearsed, podium ready, and with every syllable, I’m more convinced I’m not getting the whole story. She’s hiding something. But then, so am I.
You could cut the tension between us with a machete and I don’t want that. I want tonight to be easy and fun, so move on to a less charged topic.
“Tell me about the book club that has you signing up for dance classes and belting out karaoke favorites. Is everyone taking part in this bucket list challenge?”
“Yes,” she says, her shoulders visibly relaxing. “We take turns picking something personal to us. It was inspired by the bookThe Year of Losing Itby an author named Kristen Quinn. Sloane had us read it last spring, right before she told us about the cancer diagnosis.”
“I saw Sloane at the bookstore the other day. She’s as sweet as ever. Told me she’s getting ready to head to Nashville for another round of treatment.”
“What were you doing in a bookstore?” Iris taps an elegant finger against her lips, pretending to study me.
“I can read. Picture books are about my speed.”
She frowns. “Why don’t you defend yourself against the jabs I throw your way? As much as I hate to admit it, we both know there’s more to you than you let people see.”
“People see what they want to,” I tell her, knowing how true that is.
She shakes her head. “Sometimes. But it feels like this whole bucket list challenge has made me come face to face with parts of myself that have been easier to ignore. For example, I’m prickly.”
Rather than agree, I point out, “You have friends who care about you.”
“Because of Sloane. She’s the reason I’m part of the book club. She chose us. We’re not the most obvious choice on paper for a friend group, but somehow it works. She made it work.”
“Who isn’t giving herself enough credit now?” I ask, changing lanes to take the exit onto I-25 toward downtown Denver, the lights of the skyline welcoming us into the city.
“Nick was the social twin,” she says instead of answering. “My brother could charm his way out of almost any situation.”
“Charm his way into the heart of anyone he meets,” I add.
Her smile holds a trace of sadness. “He was different the last time I saw him. More subdued.”
“That might not be a bad thing in Nick’s case.”
I don’t want this night to get derailed by talk of her troubled brother, my wayward friend. But I can’t escape the fact that Nick is as much the impetus behind so much of what I’ve done and want to do as Mikey is.
“Tell me about some of the other bucket list activities.”
“I’m only the second person to take the challenge,” she says. “Sadie Hart, a Skylark native, was the first. Her mom died when she was in college, so she came home to raise her little sister.”
“Let me guess. She wanted more adventure in her life.”
“In a manner of speaking. Her bucket list item was losing her virginity.”
“Wow. That’s a big deal.”
“I’m not a virgin,” she says when I raise a brow.
“Duly noted.” I choke out a laugh. “How do you pick the books?”
“We take turns. Usually, we meet at the bookstore, but whoever picks the book is the unofficial host. It’s me this month.”
“Another dead president biography on tap?”
“We’re reading the latest by Spencer Charles.”
I jerk on the steering wheel, and Iris lets out a little gasp. “What’s the matter?”
“Debris on the highway,” I say, forcing my voice to be steady. What the hell am I supposed to say to that? “Why Spencer Charles?”
