Free Wine and Whiskey (Surviving Absolution #1) by Nikki Belaire

thinking and letting her heart make
decisions she doesn’t understand but can’t seem to change. “Nothing! I wasn’t
fantasizing. I was worrying. I’ve been chewed out and stood up all in the same
day, so I’ve had a lot to think about.”
    Carrie pushes the white blanket covering Shae’s lap out of the
way before plopping down next to her on the sofa. “By who?”
    “Gail called and said she was doing damage control from my
bodyguards pulling a gun on some aggressive fans.”
    “Oh, shit.”
    “I know. There isn’t any video because the place didn’t have its
security system set up yet. It’s only a picture the girl took of us sitting at
a table and the kids’ version of what happened.”
    Max’s bribe was not enough to keep the teenagers from selling
the story to a gossip site for more money than they probably ever imagined. No
doubt the talk of their friends, basking in the sudden stardom of a drama they
misinterpret. She smiles at the fun they must be having, grateful only her
reputation is hurt, not their lives.
    “That doesn’t seem too bad.”
    “No, but I still received the ‘tough love’ and ‘help me help
you’ lectures.” With her hand on her heart and three fingers forming a pledge,
she sits up tall. “I had to promise I will always keep my manager informed of
everything that goes on in my personal life, so she can help guide my decision
making and manage any issues.”
    Carrie throws her head back and cackles. “Oh, no! Two speeches
and an oath. She must have been mad. Wonder what she’ll do when she finds out
the truth about Nick?”
    “I don’t want to think about that.” She slumps against the
cushion, smoothing the cover over her legs. “He didn’t show up at the gym this
morning. After what happened yesterday, I’m worried something’s wrong.”
    The danger may have ended for her when they left the restaurant,
yet her stomach twists knowing the risk for Nick remains. Juan’s angry threats are
unlikely to dissipate without Nick’s agreement to work with him.
    Carrie pulls her hair into a pony tail. “Maybe he’s sick or
something. But he could have at least texted you.”
    Shae wrinkles her nose. “Um, I don’t think I ever actually gave
him my phone number.”
    “How do you expect a guy to call you then?”
    Shae puts down the book she wasn’t really reading and leans her
cheek against the back of the couch. The coarse red fabric scratches her skin,
releasing a hint of her mom’s perfume from all the years of her sitting in their
favorite spot in the house. “What should I do?”
    Tapping her temple with her index finger, Carrie whispers to her,
“Give him your number.”
    “I’m serious. He thinks he’s in love with me. I was worried
about him being in the mob, but now I’m worried about him being crazy too.”
    “There are worse things in the world than a guy thinking he
loves you.” Carrie covers her heart with her hands and flutters her eyelashes.
“Besides, haven’t you ever heard of love at first sight?”
    “Only in the movies.” With Evan, their relationship evolved out
of friendship, slow and hesitant, before ending with a sudden, harsh finality
she can’t seem to recover from. She may be over him, but not the shame of
failure, unable to forgive herself for not following her own heart.
    “Maybe it’s possible in real life too. Or, if not, you could
just use him for sex.”
    “Carrie!” Shae throws one of the checkered pillows at her friend.
“You’re terrible.”
    Leaning forward, Carrie slips on her running shoes and ties the
laces. Shae picks up the iPod and selects her friend’s favorite running music
before handing it to her.
    “Thanks. What are you going to do about dinner? Are you going to
go over there?”
    “No, I don’t think so. I don’t want to look like an idiot since
I haven’t heard from him. We’ll just do it another time. It’s fine.”
    “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Carrie stops
swiping the