Page 750 of Hell Hath No Fury
INTO THE FLAMES
SKYE WARREN
CHAPTER ONE
Kennedy James lifted the paper grocery bag from the passenger seat. It was heavy, laden with a bottle of wine, expensive cheeses—even candles to set the mood. There was a new season of her favorite dating show on Netflix to binge.
She had everything for a romantic Valentine’s Day evening.
Except someone to share it with.
She was determined to enjoy herself anyway. Or, at the very least, drink herself into oblivion. She crossed the driveway to meet up with her tenant, Annie, at the dual-headed mailbox that divided the duplex.
Annie spied the bag, where flowers peeked over the jagged recycled-paper edge. “Ooh, a hot date tonight?”
Her face heated. Yeah, she was definitely going to drink. “Nah, just me and Netflix. What do I need a date for when I have Dating without Borders?”
“You tell it, sister. Hey, maybe I can come over and we can have a girls’ night.”
She paused, uncertain. “Oh no, did you and Dan break up?”
Annie was a fun thirty-something, who had been dating a hot guy in his late twenties. Dan’s abs were amazing, which Kennedy wasn’t ashamed to say she’d noticed when he mowed the small patch of grass for them. They were clearly crazy about each other. If the rhythmic knocking through the wall every night didn’t give it away, the googly eyes and irrepressible smiles when they were together would.
Kennedy hoped they hadn’t split. They gave her hope for herself.
Annie looked confused. “No, we’re better than ever. He’s coming over later, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I hang with you for a couple of hours.”
“I figured you’d have plans. You know, Valentine’s Day?”
Her mouth fell open in shock. “No.”
“Afraid so. I worked at a greeting card company for six years. This is like our holy day. I couldn’t forget it if I tried.” And boy, she had tried. Being alone was never fun for her. Being alone on Valentine’s made her want to set fire to every heart-covered scrap of paper in her apartment.
Which was a lot.
Her passion for stationery went way back. The whisper-thin vellum and the heavyweight cardstock, the creamy pearlescents and the bright foils. Stamps and paper punches and ribbon embellishments. She had been the only girl in her class who skipped school to scrapbook.
Working for the greeting card company was supposed to fulfill her dream, but she had spent most of her time looking at sales graphs and recycling slogans from five years ago.My life is empty without you.
Depressing.
The duplex building had been a gift from her grandmother before she passed, made more meaningful by the opportunity it provided. Kennedy rented out the other side, and the modest income allowed her to quit her job and start her own business: wedding invitations.
Annie looked horrified. “I can’t believe I forgot. Things have been crazy at work lately. It must have slipped my mind. How could it have slipped my mind?”
She was a high-powered financial trader. She could afford to live in someplace way nicer than this, but she said it kept her grounded. Kennedy was just happy the rent was always on time and paid in full.
“Dan will understand,” she said. She hoped so, anyway, for Annie’s sake.
She groaned. “He’s coming over in thirty minutes. What am I going to do?”
“Here.” Kennedy picked up the bouquet, the cellophane crinkling. “You got him flowers.”
Annie bit her lip. “They’re your flowers.”
“What am I going to do, sprinkle petals on my own sheets? You take them, and I’m sure I can whip up a card for you.”
“You’re my savior.”
