Page 27 of Stunner (Whiskey Dolls 3)

“That ruby red one?”

“Yeah.”

“You think maybe it got lost when you were moving out of Jackson’s house and back into your condo?”

I tried to remember back to the last time I’d seen it and where. “No, because I’ve used it since then. I swear I brought it with me a few days ago when I worked and left it in the drawer. The cosmetic company discontinued it, so I had to hunt it down online. Paid three times what the damn thing was worth.”

She gave me a sympathetic look, understanding like only a woman could, the hassle of losing a favorite lipstick. “You canborrow mine for tonight if you need to. I know it’s not the exact color, but it’ll do in a pinch.”

“Thanks.” I took the tube from her and leaned closer to the mirror, tracing my lips with the bold color. I could only hope that someone on the internet had another brand-new tube. I finished the final touches on my stage makeup and leaned back, studying my reflection as I gave my hair a pat to tame the fly-aways.

“So, when do you get to pick up the little guy and finally bring him home with you?” Sloane asked as we waited backstage for our number to start.

It had been a week and half since Triumph got hit by that truck, and Owen was so happy with how well he was doing, I’d just gotten the okay this morning to finally bring him home. “I pick him up from Owen tomorrow,” I said with a smile. “I bought him a nice memory foam dog bed, a snazzy new collar, and more toys than I can count. I can't wait to finally bring him home with me.”

“Aw. You’re going to spoil him rotten.”

I let out a snort. “Oh, absolutely. But it won’t just be me. Mom’s beside herself that I’m finally getting a pet, and she’s been designing collars and tags with crystals and gemstones.”

Her lips pulled tight. “Yikes.”

“Yeah, they’re hideous,” I lamented. “Worse than that chunky pendant she gave me for my thirtieth birthday.”

“Dear Lord, that thing was so ugly it gave me nightmares.”

“Hey, you weren’t the one who had to wear the damn thing. But I figure I’ll just put them on him whenever she’s around, then hide them in a drawer the rest of the time.”

“Smart.” Sloane buckled the strap of her pencil-thin heel around her ankle and stood so she could twist and turn in front of the mirror, check her costume from all angles. “I’m glad you’re finally getting to bring him home, but it’s too bad you won’t get to see Dr. Sexy McAnimal Lover every day.”

A heavy sigh built up in my chest, bursting past my lips before I could stop it, and my best friend sure as hell didn’t miss it.

“What was that about?”

The only thing I could think to do was play dumb. “What was what about?” I squeaked.

She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “You just sighed.”

I turned back to my mirror and pretended to touch up my stage makeup. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just breathing.”

“Oh, bullshit,” she said on a laugh, drawing the attention of the other girls around us.

“What’s going on?” Delanie, the sweetest, soft-spoken one out of all of us, asked.

Sloane pointed an accusing finger at me. “She just sighed when I mentioned Owen.”

“The sexy vet?” Charlotte asked, leaning back from her makeup station to hear better.

“I was just breathing!” I insisted loudly.

“Nuh-uh. You sighed. And it wasn’t an annoyed sigh like the one you want to give me right now. It was a defeated sigh. Almost sad.”

“You’re being totally ridiculous,” I said with a slightly manic laugh. “It was just a sigh, that’s all. An involuntary expelling of air. Everyone does it.”

“What was the context of the sigh?” Marin asked. This was quickly getting out of hand.

“We were talking about her new puppy. I asked when she gets to take him home, and when she said tomorrow, I mentioned how it was a bummer she wouldn’t be able to see Owen Shield’s sexy behind every day anymore. Then she sighed like this.” She proceeded to sigh like a damsel from a Disney movie who was trapped on a balcony, waiting for PrinceCharming to show up and save her from the evil queen or stepmother or dragon or what-the-hell-ever.

“It didnotsound like that,” I objected vehemently.

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