Chapter 9: Chapter Nine
As per standard Mina protocol, by the time the sun came up the next morning, I had suppressed any unpleasant feelings about my mom’s impending marriage. She was an adult who knew what she needed to be happy, as did I. What made me happiest was work.
I was already up and piecing through the reports Jake had sent me about the surveillance results—so far a big, fat nothing—when my phone buzzed.
Carma: Good morning! Hope this text doesn’t wake you.
Carma: It’s Carma Nicks by the way. Text me when you’re up and about and we’ll start talking details.
My stomach did that weird swooping thing. I dropped my phone and quickly sifted my fingers through my hair, making it less actual bedhead and more implied bedhead. There. Now I was cute enough to text back.
Me: Morning! I’m already up, too! Where would you like to start?
I hit send then blanched. TWO exclamation marks? Oh god. Too much excitement. Why didn’t I proofread the text?
Carma: We have so much work to do.
Carma: I’m starting to freak.
Me: I’m here to help.
Carma: Were you serious about working weekends? Or were you just trying to appease Lucinda.
Me: Serious. I’m free until dinner. Where do you want to meet?
I knew I was being forward, but one-on-one face time with Carma would mean uninterrupted access to information. People always dropped their guard when they got comfortable with me, and when they dropped their guard, they told me things they shouldn’t.
Carma: I know you don’t know me well, but is my house okay?
I smiled. Bingo.
Me: Sounds good. Send me your address. What time?
We hammered out the details, and I forwarded them to Jake.
Carma: Seriously, thank you.
Carma: You can be my voice of reason before I do something crazy like add a puppet show.
I blinked at my phone.
Me: Puppet show?
Carma: A reprise Ramona & Julie.t
Me: Ramona & Juliet…
Carma: They were lesbians and didn’t die at the end.
Carma: they knew how to communicate I barked out a laugh.
Me: I just laughed so loud I scared the neighbors.
Carma: *winky face* glad to be of service.
Service. I couldn’t stop the image of her kneeling in front of me asking to service me. My hands gripping her hair, her strawberry scent wrapped around me while her tongue…
My entire body clenched at the thought. I shook my head and took a deep breath. What the actual hell? I could not think about a mark that way.
Me: As incredible as that sounds, I’m not sure the donors are ready for a puppet show.
Carma: They rarely are “Are you ill?”
I shrieked at Sebastian’s intrusion and dropped my phone. “Dude, what the hell?”
“Why are you smiling at your telephone?”
“I like being awkward in my own home without questions, thank you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “We all have dreams, Mina.” My phone buzzed against the wood laminate floor, and we both looked down. “Ah.”
I scooped it up. “You see nothing. It’s a work thing. Thinner thing.”
“A Carma Nicks thing.”
“It’s about the fundraiser. I’m doing my job.”
He was silent for a beat. “Your cheeks are rosy.”
Dammit. Why was I blushing so much?
He pursed his lips. “I see.”
“See what?”
“Why Jake’s worried.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I reside with you. I know you more completely than I knew my mistress. Being attracted to a mark is not a good sign.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve worked with plenty of attractive marks before.”
“There’s a difference between an attractive mark and being attracted to a mark, love.”
I looked up to the ceiling. “Why do men always think they know better than me? I know how to handle my own sexuality, thanks.”
He disappeared, apparently too pissed to even respond. Well fine. Let him stew. I looked down at the unread message on my phone.
Carma: I’ll see you soon.