Dog Collar Knockoff Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’m not sure.”
    Across from her, Ro pushed food around her still-full plate. “Go out with him. I only saw him the one time, but he’s a hot one. Besides, you’re not getting any from Frankie.”
    Lucie gasped. “I’m not having sex with him. It’ll be a date. That’s all.”
    “All I’m saying is you shouldn’t turn into a nun because you and Frankie broke up. Again. This is what? The twelfth time? Go out with the cute Irish cop and let Frankie find out. He’ll come back. Men are stupid that way. They always want what they can’t—or shouldn’t—have.”
    Ro knew men, for sure, but her current attitude had more to do with her cheating husband than Lucie dating someone new. No. If Lucie decided to see O’Brien, it wouldn’t be to lure Frankie back. It would be because she was lonely and O’Brien, bless his handsome self, made her feel something she hadn’t felt since Frankie dumped her.
    She lifted her head. Behind Ro an antique mirror spanned the length of the short wall and Lucie stared at her best friend’s reflection. That mirror, like Ro, had been around since Lucie could remember. Its unchanged presence somehow anchored Lucie. Gave her a place to belong even when she didn’t necessarily want to.
    She brought her gaze back to Ro, who continued playing with her food. Her friend’s marriage was in crisis and Lucie was moaning about a date that might not even happen. What kind of friend did that?
    “I don’t know why I’m worrying about this. He hasn’t even called yet.” She picked up her notepad and pen. “Let’s get back to the timeline on the new office space.”
    “Is it official?”
    “Yes. I called Mrs. Carlucci. She’ll pay for all the fixtures if we handle installing them. She’s also covering the paint but not the floors.”
    “Good work. I’ll pick up some samples and run them by the store tomorrow. Maybe I can get the flooring cheap.”
    Cheap to Ro meant something that fell off a truck in a dubious location. “It has to be legitimate.”
    She rolled her eyes. “I was talking about remnant flooring. Have you forgotten my louse of a husband is president of the town council? Maybe he can do something through one of the city contractors. Those guys always have leftover stuff from jobs. Right now, he’d probably do anything I asked. Even if I asked him to cut off his own penis. Rat bastard that he is.”
    “That would be fine.” Ooof. She needed to focus here. “Yikes! Sorry. Not the penis part.”
    At least her mother wasn’t around for this conversation. Because yes, once again, Mom was out to dinner with friends, proving Lucie’s theory that she had a more active social life than her unmarried daughter.
    Ro made snoring noises. “Whatever. I knew what you meant.”
    Grand day so far, an Irish cop, and now she’d insulted her dearest friend’s husband’s penis. “Anyway, I’m still training the new part-timer, but I could meet you tomorrow afternoon to look at the samples. Or you can just do it. You have a better feel for that stuff anyway.”
    “I’ll narrow it down and then you can pick. How’s the new girl working out?”
    “So far, so good. I have to work on her about keeping on schedule. She got sidetracked yesterday staring at that painting Mr. L. bought from the crazy gallery owner.”
    “The one who called my Gucci purse gauche?”
    “Yes.”
    Ro tossed her long, sable hair over her shoulder. “That guy is an ass.”
    “Yes, but he’s a good client. I’ve picked up several dogs because of his recommendation. Plus, he gave me a finder’s fee on the painting Mr. L. bought. And that little hunk of cash is helping to finance our new headquarters.”
    “Really?”
    “Yep. He said he’ll make it a standing deal. If anyone I introduce him to buys a painting, he’ll give me a commission. And we need a whole lot more paintings like that to fuel our expansion.”
    Ro stood, gathered her plate, then walked around to Lucie’s side and took hers as