Page 32 of Guilty as Sin
“All right,” she said aloud. “That’s creepy.” Which must be how Jace had felt. Creepy, and threatened. This was why cops didn’t go around giving out their cell-phone numbers. Unfortunately, she had Lily’s phone now, and who knew how many people had her number? The grocery store. The gym. The library. Lily’s doctor and dentist. Her bank. Hailey, of course. Whoever else. And now Jace. Brett Hunter, maybe?
And everybody who worked at all those places. If she changed the number, Lily would have to give everybody the new one, so what would be the point? No anonymity at all, not in a town this small.
Phone numbers could be traced, but she’d bet this one was a burner. Nobody would be stupid enough to send a threat from their own cell phone, and thiswasa threat. She knew it. She felt exposed, like she was sitting with her back to the door, the nape of her neck prickling.
Do one thing. Do the next thing.She called her sister.
“Hey,” Lily said. “How’s it going?”
“Good. Fine. All set to do Day Two at the store all by myself. Getting ready now.”
She’d tried for chirpy, but of course Lily saw through it. “What happened?”
“Nothinghappened. Everything’s just fine.” She punched the speaker button, tossed the phone on the bed, untied the apron, and pulled the shirt over her head. She smelled like goat. She hadn’t even thought of that.
Tough guys always seemed to want soft women. Perfumed women. Women like Lily. But Jace hadn’t kissed her while she’d been being Lily.
Except that he had.
“What?” Lily said again. “What did you do?”
Paige sat on the bed, unhooked her bra, pulled off her socks, then wriggled out of her leggings. She wasn’t going to tell Lily about the text. She’d stick to the other part. “I might have kissed somebody. But don’t worry, I made him think I—you—were damaged. So you’re safe. Just, you know, damaged.”
“Do not tell me,” Lily said, the alarm coming through loud and clear. “You kissed Brett Hunter.”
“What? No. Of course not. Why would I do that? I thought we didn’t like Brett Hunter. And by the way—does he have your phone number?”
“I think so. Yes. Early on, when I didn’t realize why he’d asked for it. He doesn’t call, though. He comes by. Like he thinks it’s harder to say ‘no’ in person. Which, of course, it is. And if it isn’t him… Oh. Oh, no.” The dread in Lily’s voice wouldn’t have been overblown if Paige had sold her into marriage to Bigfoot.
“Sorry. I did. I kissed the hairy scowler. Except that he shaved, and let me tell you, he’s no Brett Hunter.”
“I’m going to have to sleep with this guy, aren’t I?” Lily said. “Or break up with him. Paige. Hescaresme.”
“Nope. First, you don’thaveto sleep with anybody. And second, I told you. I explained that I’m too damaged.” Paige gathered up the clothes, went to the bathroom, and stuffed them in the hamper. Being Lily came with a lot of laundry. “How about you? Relaxing?”
“Well, that’s what I called about. And I amnotthat damaged. What are you making me out to be? I’m never going to be able to show my face again, am I?”
“Sorry. I had to think of something. But go ahead and explain the relaxing.” She pulled out her toothbrush—the one thing that was actually hers—and started the grooming process.
Lily sighed. “OK. I’m ignoring the hit to my reputation. I’m thinking of going somewhere for a few days.”
“Sounds good,” Paige said around the toothbrush. “Where?”
“Sea Ranch. It’s north. On the ocean.”
Paige spat out her toothpaste. “I know where it is.”
“I found a condo I could rent. No internet, and my phone won’t even work most of the time. Not being reachable at all—it’s… it sounds peaceful. What do you think?”
“I think you should go.” Paige pulled down the four bottles that made up Lily’s facial cleansing regimen. Washing your face was apparently not nearly good enough. “You moved on too fast from Antonio, you think? Complicated your life too much?”
“Maybe. Or maybe I just want to be lazy, even after our vacation.”
“Nope. Nobody who wants to be lazy would get goats. Not to mention chickens. Not to mention running a business. Or having so many clothes. Your life iscomplicated.”
Lily laughed. “All right. I’m going. Back in San Francisco on Thursday. I’ll know you’re at the meeting, but I won’t be able to do anything about it, so I’ll have to go for a walk instead.”
“Sounds perfect.”
