Free Reckless Whisper by Lucia Jordan

 
 
 
 
 
 
    Chapter
One
    The
minute Carla walked into the bar, she knew she’d made a grave mistake.
    It was
filled with loads of Rick’s friends. Of course. After
all, this was the place closest to where they worked and Rick and his
colleagues would always hang out here. She’d come several times before, always
with Rick. This would be the first time she was venturing into the vicinity on her own.
    She
wanted to turn around instantly, but then she saw Naomi’s face in her mind’s
eye. Telling her she was a coward.
    Naomi
was her best friend and her flatmate – and also happened to be Rick’s
co-worker. It had been Naomi who’d introduced them months ago, and now felt
responsible for getting Carla hurt.
    “If I’d
known he was a cheat, I’d never have hooked you up with him,” Naomi had said
regretfully last night. “He always seemed like such a nice guy.”
    “I
thought so too,” Carla had said bitterly. “But after catching him “sexting”
some girl from his office typing pool, and then finding out he was actually
planning to take her with him on his next business trip…”
    “I’m so
sorry, Carla,” Naomi had wailed, hugging her tight. “I wish there was a way we
could pay the bastard back. Guys like him always seem to get away with everything.”
    Carla
knew Naomi may be right. Rick was handsome, successful
– a charmer. Carla had felt so proud to have him as her boyfriend. But
now it was over and he was probably on to the next girl stupid enough to fall
for his charms.
    “I bet
he’s with her right now,” Carla had muttered, gulping down the last of the
wine. “They’re probably on that trip together as we speak. He’s forgotten all
about me by now.”
    “Who
cares?” Naomi had replied. “He’s a cad, so he won’t be missed, would he?”
    “Not at
all,” Carla had said vengefully. “But I’m going to make him wish he never made
a fool of me. I’m going to do something that will make him look like the bozo
he is. I’m going to make him pay.”
    “But
how?”
    “You’ll
love it when you hear it…”
    *
    Well,
Naomi had thought it was a great idea. But then, they’d both been more than a
little drunk. And yet now, with reality taking place, Carly wondered if her
“plan” had been a good idea after all.
    She
looked around at the sea of faces, many of them glanced her way curiously. Most
probably already knew that she and Rick were history. She told herself she
detected one or two looks of pity. Gritting her teeth, she strengthened her
resolve and walked straight to the bar to order a drink.
    Carla
wondered if, in the end, she’ll pick up some random stranger or if it would be
someone from Rick’s office she’ll be heading home with tonight. Then she told
herself, no matter. One way or another, the dependable office grapevine will do
its work of letting Rick know that his ex had shown up here and then left with
some guy – preferably someone richer, handsomer and please God, sexier than Rick.
    Inroads
into her second drink since she arrived; Carla felt her nerve start to harden
from its shakiness earlier. She could do this. She wanted to do this. She could
get tipsy enough to actually carry the plan through. She’d certainly dressed
the part.
    She was
well above five feet, a good height for a woman. She was a runner and slim thanks to all those miles she did every other morning.
She knew she had a nice face, a bit angular but framed well with her dark, wavy
locks. She’d made up her sparkling green eyes and curvy lips to perfection.
Best of all, she’d borrowed one of Naomi’s hot, drop-dead numbers. It was black
and clingy and short – with absolutely no back and just enough neckline in front to hold her C-cup tits in.
    And not
to forget the shoes, of course – which were more or less just heels, all
five inches of them barely attached to her dainty feet by two tiny black
straps. She usually never dressed in such a come-on fashion, but tonight