Page 6 of Dirty Plans

As resident tech nut, Anna created an app for the four of us to communicate during the week about the books we’re reading. But as far as I’m aware, there’s no website or anything that would house directions. Each of us has been specifically recruited by Tasia at one point or another.

The woman nods but doesn’t elaborate, so we all just stare at her as we try to process.

Vivian clears her throat and stands up. “Well, hi. I’m Vivian.” She thrusts her hand out across the spans of the coffee table.

“Carlie,” the newbie says, her smile broadening. She steps into the room with her arm outstretched.

Before she can make contact with Vivian, her knee bumps the coffee table, and the four glasses of wine clatter together.

Without dropping her phone, Anna presses a foot to the other side of the table, stabilizing it before it becomes a disaster.

Carlie pulls back. “Shit. Sorry.” She shakes her head and her cheeks turn a bright shade of pink.

“No big deal. Hardly a spill,” Tasia say with a shrug of her shoulder. She gives Anna a pointed stare, then turns toward the break room. “I’ll go grab a towel and another glass.”

With her hands by her sides, Carlie appears frozen to her spot.

I shake out my surprise and stand. “Hi, I’m Lily.” I opt for a wave. Seems safest at this point.

Her grin is back, melting some of the ice in the room. “Hi.”

I twist slightly and raise my hand toward the loveseat. “You met Viv, and the lady running to the back is Tasia. This is Anna.”

Anna tips her chin but doesn’t say anything. I’ve known her long enough to know that she has a perverse need to watch people squirm.

Carlie nods, her smile plastered on her face like she’s too scared to drop it.

“So…” I begin, turning back to her. “You found us online?”

Her gaze drops onto the table. “Well, not exactly.”

Anna snickers and crosses her arms over her torso. Her phone is still clenched in her right hand.

Carlie clears her throat. “I—I’m not super social. Bet you couldn’t tell, right?”

I smile and hold out a fist. “Introverts for the win.”

She fist-bumps me and continues, “I was searching for book groups in the area and I was coming up empty.”

Anna’s eyebrow twitches. “There are tons of book groups in Duluth.”

“Yeah, no—I meantromance-relatedbook groups,” Carlie clarifies.

“You meansmut-related,” Vivian corrects, a wicked grin appearing on her face. She wiggles her eyebrows for effect.

Carlie smiles and nods.

“Did any of you bitches lock the door yet?” Tasia asks as she enters the room with a towel and another wine glass. When no one answers, she rolls her eyes. “Vivian, can you take care of it?”

Another attempt at retaliation.

Smooth, Tash.Smooth.

“Why me?” Vivian complains.

“It’s either that or clean up.” She tosses the towel in her face.

Vivian groans and drops the towel to the table. Without even verbalizing her decision, she gets up and walks through the bookstore.

---