Enemy's Secret - Ashlee Price Page 0,18

Landon still hasn't answered.

The silence is unnerving. After waking up in his arms on his office couch, I hurriedly got dressed and rushed home, and I've been with Madison ever since. It's been good. Perfect. No time to think about it. What I've done. But now...

"So that's it," Landon finally growls.

"I've got a case against you," I say. "This complicates things."

"Then don't make it complicated."

"It's not that easy, and you know it."

"All I know is that I want to see you tonight."

"Well, you can't."

"When can I see you, then?"

"The next court date is Monday. I'd advise you to bring your A-game. We're finding more evidence every day."

That part is a bit of a stretch, but there's no harm in putting a bit of fear in him.

"When can I see you, outside of court?" he insists.

My finger twitches - I've been gripping my phone so hard that my fingertips are red. Shit, how can this be happening? How am I getting involved with Landon again, after all the promises I made to myself, after how he hurt me?

"Kyra," he says, "just come out with me again. See where it leads."

I sink to the floor, staring straight ahead of me. How am I supposed to say no? How can I, when every part of me is screaming yes?

"Kyra," he says, more softly. "Please. Just one more time."

Just one more time - famous last words. And yet ones I can't seem to disagree with.

I open my mouth to say no, and what comes out is: "Fine."

"Lunch?" he asks.

"Sure. We can see if we can do it like normal people."

"Challenge accepted," Landon says before hanging up.

I sit there for too long and feel sick and tired and excited and energetic all at once. I want to smack my head against the wall and skip down the hallway. I'm a grown woman, a mother - and I'm being an idiot.

But then Madison peers her head out, and I get up.

The rest of the day is more fun and activities with Madison. We make paper lanterns together, whip up some chocolate chip cookies together, go to the pet store and enjoy the funny-looking fish together. She really brings out the best in me.

She's got her father's eyes and my sass and... Stop it. I'm not going to go down that mental road.

At night, I'm relaxing in front of an episode of Planet Earth with some Orville Redenbacher's when the phone rings. It's Pamela.

"Something's up," she declares.

I groan. Sometimes I really do think she's psychic.

"You haven't returned my call," she continues, and I groan.

"Crap, Pompom, I'm so sorry. I've just been strapped with Madison and this big case, haven't been thinking straight."

"You're seeing him," she continues. "Aren't you?"

"Huh?"

"Don't 'huh' me. I knew you getting into this case against Landon was a recipe for disaster."

"It's not like that," I say, then sigh. Who am I kidding, anyway? I might as well tell her - she is my best friend. I'd just been hoping to keep it under wraps for a bit longer, figure out what I actually think about it.

"What is it like, then?" she asks in a terrible light voice.

"OK, so we slept together," I say, "But it's nothing serious. We're still just figuring things out."

God, I even sound like a delusional idiot to my own ears.

Worst of all, Pompom is dead silent.

"I know," I say with a sigh. "But after he helped me out with the ride the other day, then he insisted on this dinner at Balsac's, and we ended up touring his office and... That happened."

"Well, it could be worse," she says. "You could've ended up with Crazy Rory."

"Thanks," I say.

Crazy Rory is one of Pompom's date horror stories - he ended up locking them both in his bedroom and refusing to let her leave since 'they' were watching and 'they' would question her for everything she knew about him.

"Listen," I say, "I know it was a stupid move, a mistake, but it's too late now. It happened. And I have to deal with it."

"Are you seeing him again?" she asks.

That's Pamela for you - cutting right through the shit. Maybe she has a silly nickname from her love of wearing hats with pompoms, but she sees things how they are.

"Just tomorrow," I say.

"Why?"

"I don't know," I say, even though I do.

"You're giving him another chance?"

"I don't want to think about it right now!" I exclaim, surprised at the vehemence in my voice. "Listen, Pompom, I don't need you to tell me that this