Page 105 of Twisted Knight

“Actually, it is,” Victoria says.

“Jesus, Rowan. Sleep with the man. Enjoy him,” Caroline says. “If you so happen to get a leg up on Rhett while you’re at it, so be it.”

“So long as that leg up is because it’s up on Holden’s shoulders,” Sloane says and snorts.

“True. So true,” Caroline continues. “The leg up on Rhett isn’t the reason you’re doing it, so it’s a moot point. Besides, Rhett wouldn’t hesitate if the shoe were on the other foot.”

“But you have to keep it on the down-low. No more scenes in bar bathrooms,” Victoria says.

“And just make sure you part ways amicably,” Sloane adds. “There’s nothing worse than office tension with an ex. Knowing what the other looks like naked can either be super hot or completely devastating when it comes to an office spat.”

“Wow. Your suggestion to sleep with him just keeps sounding better and better by the second,” I say sarcastically and lift my glass of wine to our waiter, asking for another.

“The sex’ll be worth it. I promise.”

If they only knew how right they were …

THIRTY-TWO

Rowan

The sex’ll be worth it. I promise.

Caroline’s words are on repeat in my mind as I head up my pathway with Winnie from her evening walk.

“Excuse me. Are you Miss Rothschild?”

I yelp at the man’s voice walking out of the shadows on my porch. I immediately jump and start walking backward cautiously, glancing over my shoulder to see if any neighbors are out and about should I need help.

He must realize what I’m thinking because he puts his hands up, a package in one. “I’m just delivering something. A delivery man. I’m not here to hurt you.”

I look up and down the block. Am I being served over something I have no idea about? People don’t knock on doors at this time of night for nothing.

“Should I be worried if I am her?” I ask.

He laughs. “Only if you don’t want this.” He holds the package out to me. “This is for you.”

I eye it and him cautiously. What he’s offering most definitely does not look like legal documents.

“Oh. Thanks. I think.” I take the package and make a show of holding it up to my ear. “No ticking. I guess that’s a good sign.”

“Bombs these days don’t tick. So I wouldn’t exactly base it on that,” he teases.

“Gee. Thanks.” I stare at him. “Do I need to sign something saying it was delivered?”

He smiles. “No. Not this time. It’s a personal delivery.”

I stare at him as he nods and jogs down my front path, leaving me to look at a box about six inches by six inches in size and wrapped in blue.

“What the hell is this, Win?” I ask her as we unlock the front door and go inside.

Within seconds, the sound of her lapping up water accompanies the sound of me tearing the paper off the box, curiosity owning me.

Inside the big box is a smaller box with a mini card on top. I open the card and stare at the words written there. “Time to change the dress.” The five words float vaguely through my mind, registering but not in the way that I can place where they’re from.

But when I open the next box, a black velvet case, to find a set of stunning sapphire pendant earrings inside, the context slams into me like a battering ram.

“And I’d opt for sapphires over rubies when it comes to you. They’re powerful. Regal. Confident.”