Love Hard by Nalini Singh

Author:Nalini Singh [Singh, Nalini]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TKA Distribution

19

Ice Cream

Juliet was still second-guessing herself when she punched in the door code of the exclusive waterfront apartment. She’d had dinner delivered to her office, sharing the meal with Kalia after the photographer swung by to show her images from a catalog shoot she’d done on Saturday. The other woman had offered to get compromising photos of Reid so Juliet could blackmail him into silence.

“Because you know that fuckwit compromises himself all the time,” Kalia had muttered over her chicken satay. “It’ll be a cinch.”

Juliet was seriously considering the offer. What use was it being a good person if a man like Reid could wreck your life on a whim? She’d said as much to Kalia, who’d nodded in agreement, her face the picture of sweetness while her dark brown eyes held pure vengeance.

Of mixed Vietnamese and Indian descent, Kalia might be tiny and soft-looking, but she knew how to hold a grudge—especially on behalf of her friends. Also, she competed in mixed martial arts as a hobby and could probably break Reid in half.

Click.

The red light on the panel went green to indicate the door was now unlocked.

Stepping inside, she locked the door behind herself, then put down the overnight bag she always had in the boot of her car. Every so often, Iris needed her to put out a fire and Juliet had to get on a plane on short notice. It was easier to keep a set of necessities and a couple of changes of clothes ready to go rather than rushing around to pack on the day.

The light switch beside the door was slightly illuminated to stand out in the dark, and she soon had the living area bathed in light. The entire back wall was glass. Water gleamed dark and silken beyond, what looked like a party boat festooned with lights floating some distance out. The islands of the Hauraki Gulf were visible as dark silhouettes against the night sky.

Her phone rang in her hand.

Glancing down, she frowned at the unknown number. This was her fiercely guarded private line. The call ended, but she got the ping for a voice mail not long afterward. When she checked, she felt her eyes widen.

Frantically exiting voice mail, she returned the call. “Alison,” she said. “I’m so sorry I didn’t pick up. I thought you might be a reporter.”

“I understand, honey. I saw the dark side of the media when Gabriel had his injury—they were like parasites wanting to suck my boy dry when he was already hurting.”

Juliet had never heard Alison sound so harsh. “Thank you for calling,” she said, not quite sure what to do with the attention. Ísa’s message had been surprise enough.

“I wanted to make sure you were doing okay.” A warm tone that wrapped around Juliet like a blanket. “You’re going to our apartment, yes?”

“I just stepped inside. It’s beautiful.”

“I’m not sure if there’s any fresh milk in the fridge,” Alison said, “but I always keep a packet of long-life milk in the pantry as an emergency backup.

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