Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 105868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Amka reached for her straw. “Or the people at EVE.”
“Good point. There’s so much we don’t know about that place,” May agreed.
“You’d think Damian would tell his brothers more than he has,” Amka said.
Ophelia shook her head. “They’re all pretty good at keeping secrets.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Amka muttered.
May rubbed her forehead. “You guys aren’t helping me.”
“Sorry,” Ophelia said immediately, straightening. “All right. Back to you. Take it slow.”
“That’s what you should do,” Amka agreed.
“Yeah. You should just date.” Ophelia tapped the edge of the table with one finger. “Get to know each other on a boyfriend–girlfriend level. Not on a ‘you’re stitching him up in Exam Room Two’ level.”
Amka’s eyes lit up. “That’s actually good advice.”
May chortled. “You two are not telling me to go slow. Seriously.”
Amka glanced down at her still-flat stomach and huffed a quiet laugh. “That’s a really good point. But still,” she added, lifting her gaze back to May, “if you have reservations, there’s no hurry. Ace is a great guy. He’s smart, funny, and tough in that Osprey way. I think you make a good pair.”
May folded her hands together on the table. “I can’t date a guy who gets in fights all the time and drinks that much.”
“Then talk to him about it,” Ophelia said. “That’s what grown adults do.”
May was about to answer when movement in her peripheral vision caught her attention.
“Excuse me, Dr. Smirnov?”
She looked up to see Ivy’s new beau. “Jack,” she said. “How’s the ankle?”
“Pretty good.” He stretched out his foot, twisting it one way and then the other. “It was just a little sprain, I guess.”
Peter stepped up next to him. “Hi, Dr. Smirnov. I’m sorry to interrupt your lunch, but it would mean the world if you’d consider doing just a couple of photos with the senator while we’re in town.”
“She’s going to say no.” The voice cut in with a combination of charm and what sounded like reluctant amusement.
May didn’t have to turn to know who had just arrived.
Kyle stepped forward and edged between his two staffers as if this were all mildly amusing. “I’m sorry about this, May. I know you don’t like having your picture taken.”
Amka blinked. “You don’t? We have tons of pictures together.”
“Well,” Kyle said lightly, “sometimes the lighting isn’t right.” There it was. That smooth slide of a comment. Not an insult. Not quite a compliment either. Just enough to suggest she was difficult without ever saying it.
“Who cares about lighting?” Ophelia said flatly. “Seriously, May, you’re one of the most photogenic women I’ve ever met in my life.”
May glanced at her friends. They’d caught it.
Kyle cleared his throat. “Of course she’s beautiful.” He shifted his attention fully to her. “I don’t suppose you’d consider going fishing with me. For old time’s sake. You did break my heart when you left without a word.”
The table went still.
May swallowed once, but she didn’t look away.
“Well, geez,” Amka drawled, setting her water down with deliberate care, “you must’ve been a real asshat for her to leave without saying a word.”
Ophelia looked Kyle up and down. “May’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. What did you do?”
Peter cleared his throat. “Okay. I can see this isn’t going to work out. Senator, why don’t we get some photos around town?”
“Yeah, sure,” Kyle said, though his gaze lingered on May a moment longer than necessary. “I’ll catch up with you later.” He turned and walked away.
Peter offered May an apologetic smile and followed. Jack hovered for a second, clearly uncomfortable. “This really isn’t going to work out, right?”
“No,” May said evenly.
“Okay.” He gulped. “Tell Ivy I’ll see her at Sam’s just after dinner. We can hangout for a little while. Thanks.” He turned and followed the other two out.
The door swung shut behind them, and the regular noise of the diner filled back in. Plates clattered. Gus barked orders from the kitchen. Someone laughed near the counter.
Ophelia watched them go over May’s shoulder. “What a jackass.”
Amka’s nostrils flared. “I’m shocked you dated him.”
“How did you know he was a jerk?” May asked. “He usually charms everybody. That’s his thing.”
“He’s not that good,” Ophelia noted.
“Not at all,” Amka agreed.
May let out a slow breath and finally smiled—really smiled. She felt steady again and surrounded by women who saw straight through a polished smile and weren’t afraid to say so.
Outside, a truck rumbled past the front windows, and sunlight flashed across the glass before settling again. Life in Knife’s Edge kept moving, with or without political campaigns or old mistakes.
May picked up her coffee and stared into it for a moment. Kyle had always made her feel slightly off balance. Ace never did that. He unsettled her for entirely different reasons. She took a sip and set the cup back down.
Now all she had to do was see where things went with Ace Osprey—and this time, she wasn’t running.