Page 48 of A Real Good Bad Thing

DIAMOND GOODIES

Ruby

“Come see all the goodies,” Willow said, clasping my arm and whisking me toward the back of the house, where the party noise originated. “Have you heard of Just For Her?”

I blushed. Of course I’d heard of the premiere sex-toy company. I owned a few of their products too.

“Yes. I’m familiar with them,” I said dryly.

We reached the living room, where a dozen or so women were laughing and drinking and checking out sex toys of every style and color. This was not what I’d imagined when Jake had said coming here could be dangerous. Itwasa risk…to my psyche.

I took a deep breath, remembering that I was behind enemy lines and I needed to make the most of it. This was my chance to learn everything I could. Keep my eyes and ears open.

“Willow, look! This one has ten speeds, and it simulates a tongue,” a bleached blonde shouted to the hostess. Her forehead had been Botoxed so smooth that it appeared to have been ironed on.

“That’s one of the best-selling models,” said an authoritative-sounding brunette with cat-eye glasses. She must have been the sex-toy representative. “It will last up to ten hours before recharging.”

“Oh, that sounds amazing,” Willow purred in that sultry voice. “I should try that with my sweetie.”

Sweetie?

AKA Eli?

Ew.

“Is that champagne?” I pointed to a random bottle on the coffee table, desperate for a change of topic. “I’m parched.”

“Someone get this woman a champagne,” shouted the blonde, pointing at me.

The next second I had a glass of bubbly in my hand, and the one after that, I’d downed the beverage. I hadn’t planned to drink, but my stepfather had inadvertently—I hoped—invited me to a sex-toy party, so down the hatch.

“I’m Bianca,” said the bleached blonde, patting the seat beside her. “You’re Eli’s daughter, right?”

“Stepdaughter,” I corrected as I took the seat.

The server swooped in and deposited a fresh tray of appetizers on the coffee table. Willow went straight for the olives, with fingers like a pelican’s beak, and popped one into her mouth.

“Tell us everything,” Bianca said to me, cooing. “He talks about you all the time.”

A chorus of women agreed, and Willow nodded. “He was so excited to see you earlier this week at Tristan’s.”

So excited that he invited me to dinner then didn’t show?But I didn’t say that. It wouldn’t garner any trust or info from this group, and I needed both. While the rest of the women oohed and aahed as they stroked pearl-filled rabbits and dual-action toys, I played my part. “I was so happy to see him too.” I sounded believably euphoric thanks to the champagne on an empty stomach. I turned to Willow and smiled like we were best of friends. “It sounds like you’re both having the time of your lives here.”

Willow placed her hand on her heart. “Oh, we are.”

I imitated her happy sigh. “I can only imagine. You have the club, and Eli told me about all your charitable work.” Then, I took a leap. Champagne courage and all. “And of course, the property you’re investing in too.”

Eli had said nothing of the sort. But I wanted to prove I was a worthy partner. To dig up some details all on my own.

Willow’s eyes lit up and she crossed her fingers. “I’m praying the deal goes through. When it does, I’ll be able to expand my gallery and showcase even more world-class art.”

“That sounds fantastic!” I declared. Imitating her was easier with some champagne in my system. Jake would be impressed. Sexy, smart, hands-off Jake.

“Yes. I do hope so. I’ve sold several paintings recently from an artist named Lynx. He has such a brilliant concept of what the world can be.”

“How so?” I asked.

“He believes in simplicity. That the world and its challenges can be reduced to geometric shapes. Eli and Isoagree with him. He’s on a retreat in California to meditate on his newest series.”

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