Page 41 of Sweet Ruin

“Then I’d say you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.”

“I guess you’re right.” Another calming exhale. “Who did you say you were again?”

“I didn’t. Feel free to take a guess.”

“A cousin?”

“Definitely not.”

“Some aunt’s new boyfriend?”

“God forbid.”

“Are you a caterer?”

That makes me bark out a laugh. “The pay is not quite enough to tempt me into that line of work.”

Her frown is audible. “Then are you even supposed to be here?”

“Not even remotely.”

“Great,” she says. “So you’re a stranger who broke into my mother’s house and now, you know all my business.”

“I didn’t break in. I walked right through the front door. In fact, a nice woman told me I was handsome the second I arrived.”

The woman in the pantry giggles. “That had to be Aunt Sherry.”

“If you say so.”

“She’d let a serial killer in if he complimented her earrings.”

“Then she’s an excellent host.”

She laughs again, and seems almost surprised by it. “I shouldn’t be talking to you,” she accuses.

“Probably not.”

“You’re not going to leave, are you?”

“And miss the show? I wouldn’t dream of it.”

She sighs. “Shit. Well. Alright. I guess I should get going. Do me a favor and don’t tell anybody I was in here,” she says. “It really undercuts the whole ‘vengeful bitch’ thing I’m going for.”

“I’ve heard men beg in five languages. You were braver than any of them.”

“That is the strangest compliment I’ve ever gotten.”

“You’ll get used to me.”

“Will I? Someone’s confident.”

“You have no idea how right you are.”

She fidgets for another moment, taken aback by this stranger in the pantry, I’m sure.

“Okay. Well.” She clears her throat. “Thank you for humoring my practice run, I guess. Any notes for me before I go?”

“None whatsoever.” I step a bit closer and inhale her scent. Flour and sweat. It’s strange, but intoxicating. “I like your voice.”