Page 75 of The Reluctant Roommate

Serena didn’t move, but her gaze shifted away.

So she’d made her at least a little uncomfortable.Good.She turned away. She was done. Serena was not worth another thought. Except…

“We’re going,” Morgan said.

“Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out. See you never again.” Serena picked up her phone.

“We won’t. And, Serena…” Heidi turned back to face her and waited until Serena looked up. “Thanks very much for the gift.” She nodded at the phone. She had enough time to see Serena’s startled expression and then the panic that blanketed her face as she stabbed at the phone screen.

Heidi turned on her heel and stalked back to the front door, followed by Morgan. As the door closed behind them, Serena’s scream of rage followed them.

As they walked down the path, a young Black woman in smart office wear and snow boots was opening the gate. She stood aside to let them pass.

“Hi, Lacey,” Heidi said. “Serena’s not in a great mood. And if I can give you a tip: Keep your cell phone on you at all times. Don’t let her anywhere near it, and log out of anything important every single time. Especially your banking app. I hope you have a pleasant evening.”

Lacey’s mouth dropped open. “Do I know you?”

“No,” Morgan said. “If she can find the words, I’m sure Serena will explain.” She took Heidi’s hand, and together, they walked down the street, back to their car.

“Let’s get out of here,” Morgan said. “I don’t want her to see what we’re driving.”

A quick U-turn and they were soon back on the main street.

“I can’t believe we just did that.” Heidi flung her arms in the air, hitting the car roof. “It was like a bank heist but without the guns.” She snorted a laugh, and then the laughter rolled out of her in an unstoppable wave. “Her face when she realized what we meant about the banking app. I wish I’d had a camera.”

“Her horrified stare will live in my mind forever.” Morgan rested a hand on Heidi’s thigh.

“And we tipped off Lacey.” Heidi’s shoulders shook with laughter. “How perfect is that? You were fabulous. So cool and calm.”

“Youwere amazing. Remembering Serena’s passcode. Facing up to her like that. Justice was done. And in a way that she can’t come back at you without incriminating herself.”

“We got lucky.” Heidi’s leg bounced up and down. “Honestly, there are three things I need right now. A big scream of relief. An enormous premium margarita. And a big orgasm.”

“I think all of those can be arranged.” The glance Morgan shot her was pure sex, sultry and wicked.

Heidi shivered in anticipation. “Oh, and I think we’ve earned a fabulous dinner, which is on me. After all, now I can afford it.” She pulled out her cell phone and opened her banking app. “I use the same bank as Serena—the money’s there already.” She nibbled her lower lip. “I guess she can try and dispute the transaction, but she’ll hopefully get the same response that I did—that she initiated it herself when logged in to her account.”

They drove back to the motel, and Morgan parked the car at the rear out of immediate sight, and then they walked the short distance to town to find somewhere for dinner.

Heidi gripped Morgan’s hand. Her stomach kept jumping, and even her fingertips tingled with relief. They’d done it. A most unlikely heist, with Morgan as a most unlikely partner-in-crime.

She drew them to a stop and turned into Morgan’s arms. “You were so cool and calm. You don’t need to be a financial adviser—you could advise people on successful heists.”

Morgan laughed. “I don’t see that one being repeated.”

“I hope not. But I’m so glad you were there.” She kissed her, and it was a few minutes before they resumed walking.

Chapter 34

When the Margaritas Are Not As Spicy As What Comes After

A restaurant that promisedthe finest steak in Colorado above ten thousand feetdrew them in. Heidi asked for a quiet table, and they were shown to a booth away from the main traffic area. They both ordered spicy margaritas.

Heidi held up her glass in a toast. “To Serena. Who did the right thing in the end, even if she didn’t mean to.” The glow of financial security warmed her as much as the margarita.

Morgan clinked glasses. “To all those good folk who never change their passcodes.”

Heidi licked the salt from her glass and took a sip, watching, fascinated, as Morgan did the same. Her tongue, swiping so delicately around the rim of her glass, was doing strange things to her body. She took another mouthful of her margarita and stared at the tip of Morgan’s tongue as she lapped salt. The memory from the morning surfaced, of Morgan’s tongue and how it had flicked Heidi’s nipple, then stroked between her legs.