Page 58 of Greed

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

Abby

I waveat Nyssa as soon as I see her enter the coffee shop.

“There she is!” she calls out over the bustle of the early morning New Yorkers in search of their first hit of caffeine on this Monday morning. “Someone is getting some sweet loving!”

A few giggles fill the air around me, but I ignore them all to wag a finger at my friend. “Shush.”

I’m in her arms the instant she’s close enough to tug me into a hug. She smells as great as she looks. I know she’s wearing one of the scents that Carrie developed since my sister gave Nyssa a bottle to test out a few months ago before the fragrance hit store shelves.

The dark blue skirt and blazer she has on scream corporate executive. Nyssa is a district manager for Ella Kara. It’s a clothing brand that falls under the umbrella of the Foster Enterprises empire.

I applied for a job in their legal department when I was fresh out of law school, but before I could land an interview, I was offered a position at Thorsen & Associates.

Nyssa was disappointed that we wouldn’t be working for the same organization, but I was secretly relieved since our friendship is solid the way it is.

I turn toward the growing line of people waiting to place their orders. “Do you know what you want?”

“All the details.” She nudges my side with her elbow. “What’s his name?”

“What are you talking about?” I play dumb. “Is it my dress? You should recognize it as an Ella Kara original. I’m pretty sure Sophia Wolf designed this number.”

After dropping the name of Nyssa’s favorite designer and co-worker, I spin in a circle to show off my red and blue patterned dress.

“Very funny,” my friend scoffs. “Although, that dress does you all kinds of favors. Your breasts look amazing.”

A brown-haired man carrying a briefcase clears his throat as he brushes past us.

I shake my head. “He heard you say that.”

“He agrees with me,” she calls after the man. “He’s just too much of a gentleman to say it out loud.”

The guy glances over his shoulder to flash us a smile. “What she said.”

I bow my chin but don’t take it as far as thanking him verbally for the compliment.

“You look different.” Nyssa motions for me to join her as she heads toward the line of people. “You’ve been having sex.”

Is it that obvious?

I silently shrug a shoulder as I gaze up at the menu that details all of the café’s offerings. I don’t need to do that since I’ll order the same thing I always do.

“Abby?”

I glance to the left at Nyssa’s face. “What?”

“I know you don’t like discussing sex after what happened with Seth.” She sighs. “I shouldn’t have said his name.”

“It’s fine,” I reassure her. “Seth is my ex-husband, emphasis on the ex. He’s part of my past, and you’re right. Intimacy is a touchy subject for me now, and that’s not a pun.”

A grin tugs at the corners of her lips. “It kind of is a pun, and it’s a good one.”

I can’t help but smile. “I am seeing someone, and I like him, but there’s nothing to tell.”

She studies my face. “I can’t tell if you’re lying or not. You are a damn good lawyer, Abby Duvall.”

I laugh. “I’m having fun. Isn’t that all that matters?”

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