Page 46 of Nothing to Fear

“Not really,” she said, unable to look Alice in the eye. What a question, and after what she’d said about Darroch. “Does that matter?”

“No,” Roxie said. “It’s surprising with Alice having so many options available. Have you met her boys?”

“Not all of them.”

“Me either, I don’t think it’s possible to have them all in the same room at the same time. The universe will implode or something.”

Not dissuaded, Alice seemed to enjoy the blonde. “The Cavendishs’ Christmas Ball is approaching.”

“Even if you got the others there, Tripp would never stay,” Roxie said. “I’d bet money on that.”

“You and Zairn have been invited for Christmas. We’ll all be present then,” Alice said. “Will you accept the invitation?”

“That’s up to Jane,” Roxie said and gestured at the table. “Do you want to take this upstairs? Z’s at work, he won’t be home for a couple of hours. Even if he shows, he’ll make himself scarce, or not, depending on your preference. We could persuade him to strip down to his loin cloth and feed us grapes…” Her chin jutted up at an angle, eyes on the ceiling, fingertips trailing down her throat. “Hmm, how would I persuade him to do that in company?”

Like it was something he did a lot in private?

“Z?”

“Zairn,” Alice said, “Lomond. Roxie’s fiancé.”

Ah, okay. “And his work is…?”

The amusement on Alice’s face flashed to Roxie for a moment. “Is the nightclub in the building.”

“Nightclub? Crimson?”

“Yeah, he’s Rouge’s Chief and Emperor. Do you like to party? You’re welcome any time,” Roxie said. “Just tell whoever’s on the door that Ballard said it’s okay.”

“Ballard?”

“Our Head of Security and Logistics. It’s safer to use his name. Use mine and Ballard’s people will follow you around all night. It’s harder to get up to mischief when they’re constantly monitoring you.”

Alice glanced at each woman. “Tripp could escort her, he spends more time in this building than he does any other. I’m surprised Zairn hasn’t evicted him.”

“Are you crazy? He might clean out our fridge on a regular basis, but his drinks bill keeps the lights on.” Roxie picked up her glass. “Upstairs?”

“I can’t… I shouldn’t,” she said. “I have work tomorrow.”

“Right,” Roxie said, “regular job. You’re with Breckenridge?”

“I work in the flagship store. On the members only floor.”

“Ah, members only, I heard, I like that. Shame I don’t do lingerie.”

“You don’t do lingerie?”

“Nope,” Roxie said and drank some wine.

“You wouldn’t need to,” Alice said, laying a hand on Roxie’s. “I’ve seen the way your man looks at you.”

“My friends once reminded me of the amount of time he spends at the gym. So rather than repay that effort with lace, I pay in head instead. Nice little rhyme there.”

“Roxie!” Alice exclaimed with a laugh in her voice.

“What? He’s okay with it.”

Alice laughing at—okay, she was mortified, but it put her talking about sex at the bake-off in a different context.

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