Free Some Like It Hotter (Sweet Life in Seattle #3) by Andrea Simonne

not talk about him that way. He has had a hard life, but he still takes care of me.”
    Apparently Dagmar met Werner when he defended her against some guys who were hassling her at the casino, and now she completely romanticizes him to everyone. She thinks he’s some sort of misunderstood prince from the wrong side of the tracks. Lindsay knows for a fact he isn’t taking care of her either because from what she’s seen her friend pays for everything. Unfortunately, arguments about Werner have become pointless.
    “You’re better than he is,” Lindsay can’t resist adding. “A lot of nice guys would love to be with you.”
    “I have a guy! He is only stressed about some things right now, but he is good to me. If you gave him a chance, you would get to know the real Werner.”
    Lindsay wishes that were true. Her initial impression of the rat has never wavered even once.
    “Let's not talk about this anymore,” Dagmar says. “Do you have your notebook? Should we go over the hands we played last night?”
    “It’s right here.” She reaches over to her nightstand to grab her small poker notebook and a pen in case she needs it.
    They do this regularly, analyzing the poker hands they played the previous night. Lindsay initially started doing it to help Dagmar, but has discovered it’s helping her too. She remembers how her dad always kept a notebook when she was growing up.
    Lindsay opens hers and they discuss each game, trying to decide if they made the best play. Afterward, Dagmar wants to know what time they should meet later, but Lindsay tells her she’s staying in.
    “Why? You had a very good night last night.”
    “I did, but I’m taking a break. Oh, that reminds me. I wanted to warn you about something.” She tells her about the weird Russian guy and to steer clear of him.
    After they hang up, Lindsay goes back to work on her mask. The current one is a laughing face, slightly contorted, and done in a lavish style. It’s on a hinge, and when you lift it you discover a sober, serious face beneath it.
    She stays in for dinner and winds up in the kitchen with the one other sculptor on her floor. He’s from Japan and creates elaborate wire figures. They share a beer and talk shop for a while.
    Eventually, she heads back down to her studio, surprised to find Dagmar and Werner standing by her closed door, waiting for her. The two of them couldn’t be more mismatched. Dagmar with her long blonde hair and charming features could be singing in a Heidi musical, while the rat is hunched beside her with all the charm of a heroin addict.
    “What are you doing here?” Lindsay stares at Werner with dismay. Dagmar’s never brought him here before, and she’s not happy to see him. He’s wearing black eyeliner, and his strange spiky haircut appears freshly groomed. There’s a smug expression on his rat face that’s making her uneasy.
    “We came to see if you would change your mind about going out tonight,” Dagmar says. “We’re going to the Spielbank over in Neukölln for a change.”
    Lindsay considers it, since it wouldn’t be breaking her promise to Giovanni, but then dismisses the idea. “I appreciate the invitation, but I’m staying in.”
    “Also,” Dagmar sighs and glances over at the rat with disappointment. “Werner admitted to me how he said something very rude to you last night and wanted to apologize again.”
    “Is that so?”
    “I am very sorry for my joke,” the rat says in his nasally voice. “I did not mean to offend you.”
    Lindsay studies him.
    “I hope this doesn’t affect our friendship,” he continues. “I was surprised by the strong reaction your doctor friend had. It must be a cultural misunderstanding.”
    She rolls her eyes. There’s no culture on Earth where his blow job joke wouldn’t be offensive.
    “I hope you can forgive me,” he says.
    Whatever .
    “Are you certain you don’t want to come with us tonight?” Dagmar asks. “You are leaving Berlin so soon. We