Wow. Vicki looked even hotter than she did the night April had met her at the bar. She was sitting in the corner, lounging lazily on a chair, her legs crossed. She wore tight leather pants and a matching jacket, with a loose black top underneath and heeled leather boots. She wouldn’t have looked out of place on the cover of a high-end fashion magazine.
Vicki sat alone, a martini glass in her hand. There was this empty zone of space around her as if no one dared to approach her. But more than one woman in the crowd was looking Vicki’s way, eying her with either jealousy or adoration. Vicki didn’t pay them any mind.
She tossed back the last of her drink, placed the glass on the table, and sat back, scanning the room idly. Almost immediately, Vicki’s eyes fell on April.
Shit. There was no turning back now.
Summoning all her strength, April marched purposefully toward Vicki. As she approached, Vicki’s lips curved up into a smile, one that seemed to say, I knew you’d come. But April hadn’t come for Vicki. This was purely about the library.
“Hi April,” Vicki said.
“Don’t ‘Hi April’ me.” April put her hands on her hips. “I’ve been trying to get hold of you all week!”
Vicki stretched her arm out over the back of the chair. “Miss me that much, did you?”
April scowled. “You said you’d contact me. About the library, I mean.”
“I did say that. But I’ve been busy.”
“Busy? So busy that you couldn’t even send a single email?”
“I was out of town dealing with a work emergency. I wouldn’t have been able to meet with you anyway.”
“You could have told me that instead of leaving me in the dark,” April said. “I guess the library isn’t high enough on your list of priorities.”
“Look.” Vicki stood up to face April. “I didn’t forget. I wasn’t ignoring you. I’ve simply had my hands full all week.”
“Are you sure that’s why?” April asked. “It wasn’t because you found out that the woman you slept with is the same one standing in the way of your development project and you didn’t want to face me?”
“Although it was quite a surprise, I don’t let business get in the way of pleasure,” Vicki said.
April let out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t have time for your games.”
“I mean it. And I’m being honest. I was always going to meet with the head of the library. Public opposition to this project is high, so it’s somethin
g Oasis needs to address. But I haven’t had a spare moment for the past week.”
“You weren’t too busy to come here tonight,” April said.
“That’s because I told you I’d be here,” Vicki replied. “I came here for you.”
April felt a twinge of desire at Vicki’s words. Her stupid, traitorous body. “You didn’t seriously expect me to come here after everything that’s happened?”
“You’re here, aren’t you? You came here for me too.”
“Yes, but… No! I came here because you’ve been dodging my calls and emails. I decided I needed to find you and speak to you in person.”
“I’m very glad you did, April.” April’s name seemed to roll off Vicki’s tongue.
“Don’t use your seductive bullshit on me,” April said. “I saw through that smile of yours the moment we met. And I came here because I wanted to talk to you about the library. That’s it.”
“Really?” Vicki asked. “So this has nothing to do with the other night and how incredible it was?”
Heat rose through April’s body. “No, it doesn’t. I came here to try to see if we could work together to come up with a solution for the library. But it’s clear that your mind is only on one thing.”
“Can you blame me? You’re not the only one who enjoyed the other night.”
“Dammit, Vicki, can’t you take this seriously?”