Page 274 of The Spider Queen
I gulped.
“We’re going to find you an amazing costume.” She took a sip of her wine and then set her glass down on a coaster. “You know what? Screw the wine, Stella. Leave it.”
Herron dragged me out of the apartment and into the elevator. When we were on the sidewalk, she lifted her hand to hail a yellow cab. One came almost immediately. She reached for the door and gestured for me to get in.
“Bangin’ costume that will hopefully get you banged,” she stage-whispered.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re kidding, right? And can we not talk about it in front of the cabbie?”
Herron shrugged and then opened her mouth like she was going to speak. I quickly placed my palm over her lips. “I’m going to this party because I was invited—and apparently you don’t say no to the Campbells.” I pinned her with a stare. “If I remove my hand, will you promise not to talk about my love life?”
She nodded.
After a brief pause, I finally lifted my hand.
Herron looked out the window and sighed. “It’s an easy promise to keep, Stella, because you don’t have a love life.”
Chapter 5
“What are you wearing?” Herron teased, her voice pitched low and husky.
I laughed. “At the moment? Ripped jeans and a threadbare wife beater—I’m in the workroom of the shop, so don’t worry. It’s not really public.”
“You scared me there for a moment.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be boarding the plane instead of ridiculing me for my fashion choices?”
“Who was ridiculing?” she asked. “We’ve boarded. I’m currently sipping on a glass of champagne, and I’m ready for an in-flight movie.”
There was a low rumble of conversation and some murmuring, and then Herron said, “Blaze says hi.”
“Hi, Blaze,” I said dutifully.
“I better jump off here. But I’m serious, Stella. I want a picture of you in your costume.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She made a noise of disgust. “No ‘ma’am,’ for the love of God. I’m not old.”
“Yes,Madame.”
“That’s better. Everything is better in French.Où sont les toilettes?See what I mean?”
“Ah, yeah,” I said with a snort.
“How was my accent?”
“Nearly perfect.”
“Hmmm. I think you might be lying to me. Oh well.”
“Have fun, yeah?” I said. “Eat a chocolate croissant for me.”
“I’ll eat many. And Stella?”
“Yeah?”
“Have fun tonight. Or try to, anyway.”
