Page 57 of Sweet Revenge
When she woke wrapped around him, when he made love to her, when he remembered exactly how she took her coffee or the way she liked her eggs, it unpacked a little more. Each moment was excruciatingly beautiful, knowing it was only temporary, that she still couldn’t have it.
He had his life and she had hers, and eventually they’d have to get back to them. They were different now, going in different directions. Like everything else in her life, this was a fleeting stop before she moved on to something else. Except the thought of moving on had never bothered her before.
She caught the approach of one of the bridal consultants out of the corner of her eye and turned just as the woman stopped beside her.
“Can’t go wrong with Lazaro. When is the happy day?”
Evie smiled. It’s come and gone. “I’m actually here for the Kelly bridal party? For her final fitting?”
“Oh, of course. The bride isn’t here yet, but her sister is.” She led Evie to the back of the shop and into a separate seating area set up in front of a huge tri-fold mirror. “Can I get you something to drink? Sparkling water? Coffee? Champagne?”
“Ah, no, thank you.”
“Oh, come on,” Reagan said from behind them. “If you can’t day drink champagne at a bridal shop, when can you?”
“I should have known you’d be the one with champagne in her hand. You always were the troublemaker.”
Evie joined Reagan on the couch, studying Maura’s little sister. She’d been a wild child in school, and it had surprised Evie to learn that the Reagan who’d always bucked authority ended up working for PPD.
“No crimes to solve today?”
“It’s my day off. Which means when I’m done with this, I’ll be solving crimes for the family instead.”
Evie cocked her head at Reagan’s tone. “You enjoy it. Working for both sides.”
“Is that a question?” Reagan sipped her champagne, studying Evie over the rim. “No, I don’t suppose it is. Yes, I enjoy it.”
“Doesn’t it get…confusing…working on both sides of the law?”
Reagan shrugged. “I like to think of it more like keeping my conscience clear. The more guys I help the city put in jail, the fewer Hail Marys I need to say for keeping some guys out. It’s called balance.”
Evie chuckled.
“Maura’s glad you’re back, you know. She doesn’t know how to show it. I think a part of her doesn’t want to be because of how you hurt her, but she’s glad. Deep down inside, she’s glad to see you again.”
Evie didn’t get a chance to answer before the curtain separating the seating area from the rest of the shop parted, and Maura entered, followed by her mother, Cait, and two women Evie didn’t recognize.
“Evie,” Alice Kelly said, moving to wrap Evie in a tight hug. “You’re a sight for sore eyes and as beautiful as ever. I’m so happy you’re here.”
Alice cupped Evie’s face in her hands and pressed a kiss to her forehead the way she had when they were children, releasing her with a smile.
“Reagan Anne Kelly, why are you drinking champagne at two in the afternoon?”
Reagan downed the rest of the flute before her mother could take it away from her and grinned. “Because I’m not working today. Not officially anyway. I’m indulging a little, mother. So sue me. Besides, if the shop didn’t want people to drink champagne at this hour, they shouldn’t offer you champagne.”
“Evie,” Maura said, drawing her amused grin away from Alice and Reagan’s exchange. “This is Becca and Trish. We work together at the hospital.”
“Are you ER nurses too?” Evie asked, noting Maura’s surprise at Evie’s mention of her job.
“I am,” Rebecca replied with a kind smile.
“I work in L&D. Labor and delivery,” Trish said. “How do you know Maura?”
“Evie is a childhood friend.”
Evie’s heart squeezed at Maura’s use of the word is and not was. That seemed like progress.
“Ok, you guys sit there, and I’m going to go try on this dress. If it doesn’t fit, we revolt.”
