“Well, he’s a wonderful man. Really interesting. But Kit knows that.”
“It’s true.” Kit still feels weird, still feels that Tracy is hiding something.
“Speaking of wonderful men,” Tracy deflects the subject smoothly, “are you still seeing that good-looking guy who came in here?”
“Steve?” Kit grins. “I guess you could say that. Well, I did see quite a lot more than I expected to last night.”
“Oh my God!” Charlie’s eyes widen. “Do you mean to say you lost your post-divorce virginity last night and you didn’t even tell us?”
“We had other things to talk about.”
“Listen, girlfriend. When it comes to sex with a new man, there is nothing else to talk about. Hell, the way things are going with Keith and me right now, I might be on the market myself shortly, so you’re going to have to tell us everything.”
“Everything like what?”
“Like was it totally weird, being with someone other than Adam?”
Kit shrugs, not sure how much to say. “It was weird, but it was lovely. It’s like, when you’re married, you completely forget what that feeling of true lust is like after a while. And let me tell you, he does have a body worth lusting after.”
“So you actually did sleep with him?” Tracy is transfixed.
“I did! Can you believe it? Me, Miss Goody Two-shoes, who has only had two lovers her entire life, and now I know what it’s like to be a slut!” Kit laughs.
“Hardly a slut with three lovers,” Charlie points out.
“But you’re surprised, aren’t you?” Kit says gleefully. “I know you guys think I’m prissy. You never expected me to jump into bed with him.”
“You’re right. I didn’t,” Charlie says.
“Me neither. Listen, guys”—Tracy looks at her watch, then stands—“I’d love to stay and chat, and I’m so glad we had a bit of time together, but I have a really big phone call coming in soon from some potential investors, and I have to prepare.”
“Oh God,” Charlie says. “I never even said sorry for that night. I had no idea what deep trouble we were in, and Keith was being difficult because he knew and he didn’t know how to deal with it. Tell me you don’t hate him.”
“I thought you were the one who hated him?” Kit raises an eyebrow at Charlie.
“Well, yeah, right now I do, but it won’t last, and just because I’m allowed to hate him doesn’t mean my friends are.”
“Good point.”
“I don’t hate him,” Tracy says with a smile, then disappears.
“You see,” Charlie leans forward and hisses to Kit. “She is weird, isn’t she?”
“What do you mean, I see? I was the one who was saying it. I felt like she couldn’t wait to get away from us.”
“It’s just weird. What do you think’s going on?”
“I honestly don’t know. And I don’t even know how we find out. It feels like she has some sort of secret life.”
Charlie starts to laugh. “Wow. Working for Robert McClore must be rubbing off on you. This is sounding more and more like one of his thrillers.”
“No, but seriously? Think about it. She moved here a couple of years ago, didn’t know anyone, no one knew her. We all take people at face value, assume that everyone’s as decent and honest as we are, but not everyone is.”
“You realize we could be talking about Annabel here?” Charlie interjects.
“Well, yes. I guess we could be. The point is, back to Tracy, that we really know nothing about her. I thought we did. I mean, I’ve considered her one of my closest friends, but we only really know what she’s chosen to tell us. Annabel at least is related, at least according to my mother. I say that maybe we should try to find out a bit about Tracy. And not because I think there’s anything weird to discover, but because I’m worried about her. It feels like there’s something she’s not telling us, and we may find some information that will help us.”
Charlie looks uncharacteristically upset, and Kit realizes how much this is bothering her.
Kit takes a deep breath. “Okay, so I wasn’t going to tell you because I thought it would freak you out, but I Googled her.”
“You did? See! I’m not the only one who thinks she’s being strange.”
“I thought that whole scenario on Saturday night, when she was asking you for money, was out of character, and I think it’s really bizarre that she seems to be dating my boss but won’t talk about it. And you’re right—on