Page 52 of Shark’s Edge

“What?”

She blinked big Bambi eyes. My giggles replaced the chokes.

“Crying clits usually aren’t the best side dish for a plate of unanswered questions.”

“A plate? Girl, you’re working on a whole damn platter by now.”

“Agreed.” My laughter faded. “Especially after getting tossed out of the manor like I’d crossed some sacred line of the emperor’s.”

“He tossed you out? Seriously?”

“Not literally. And it wasn’t like I was little Olivia Twist and he threw me into the snow with a starving belly.”

“Fine.” She stuck out a rebellious pout. “But I’ll bet he brought the ice all the same.”

“Dammit.” This time, she’d struck the nail so perfectly on the head, all I could do was hand over the point. “I hate it when you’re right.” I smacked my flat hand on the stainless worktop.

Rio rushed over, yanking me into a fierce hug. “Ohhh, Abs. Sometimes I hate it too.”

“No you don’t.” I hugged back, and we snickered together.

“I’d gloat, but unlike your favorite customer of the day, I’m not about kicking people when they’re most vulnerable.”

“I’m not vulnerable. I’m pissed.”

“There’s a difference?”

“Right now there is.”

“Which would normally earn you my full vote of support. But since ripping up the contract with his company is off the table—”

“Wait.”

Her whiskey golds nearly became fireworks. “You mean you will rip up the contract?”

“I mean that there’s another way. At least I hope so.”

“Well, you’ve already used the ice-out option.”

“More than aware of that.” I folded my arms with determination. “No ice this time.”

She perked her head back up. Her gaze was twice as brilliant. “Blowtorches instead?”

“Right idea.” I half laughed it. “But wrong execution.”

“My inner pyromaniac is open to options.”

“Tell me you’re kidding.”

“Why don’t I tell you ‘no comment’?” She averted my stare by inspecting her cuticles.

For the sake of my sanity, I decided she was just going thick on the sarcasm. “Maybe turning up the heat is the ideal answer here.”

She amped the mischief in her grin. “Go on.”

I rocked my head back on my shoulders before doing the same with my weight distribution, appearing like a satisfied designer watching my creation head down the runway. “It’s really quite simple. I’m going to kill him with kindness.”

The extreme kindness Olympic trials would be calling any second. I just knew it.