you doing in that limo?”
“That’s what everyone is going to be thinking. That we were doing something.”
Cassandra leaned closer to the screen and squinted. “Where did your lipstick go?”
“He kissed me, okay? He kissed me.”
“Mmm. I bet he’s a good kisser.”
Mackenzie tried not to remember. “He’s had enough practice.”
“You know what they say. Practice makes perfect.”
It did. It really, really did.
Mackenzie said, “All I can say is thank God for Spanx. The man’s got hands like an octopus.”
Cassandra turned to look at her. “Does he? Good octopus or bad octopus?”
Mackenzie stared at the ceiling.
Cassandra said, “Good octopus. And why are you thanking God for a slightly evil-but-genius item of clothing?”
Mackenzie muttered, “It’s a modern-day chastity belt.”
Cassandra started grinning. “Went that far, huh? I’m going to have to call up the makers of Spanx and tell them they’ve got a new marketing angle. ‘Spanx. Keeps it in your pants.’”
Mackenzie tried not to laugh but she couldn’t keep it in. “Can I take it to New York with me?”
Cassandra shook her head. “Uh-uh. I need it, although not as a chastity belt. And I don’t want a repeat of last night. One of us is going to have to get lucky with him, and I’m realistic enough to know it’s going to be you.”
“I’ll just buy my own.”
“Spoilsport. But I don’t think they sell them in New York. They’re against the law there.”
Mackenzie smiled at her. “Why aren’t you on my side? I don’t want to do something stupid with him.”
“Why not? You can be stupid once in your life. Be smart later.”
Mackenzie sat up. “I don’t know why I even try with you.”
“Just remember when you’re trapped under him, sweaty and ready to scream his name, that I am all for it.”
Mackenzie rolled her eyes. “Let’s go finish packing.”
Cassandra grimaced. “Let’s not. They have shopping in New York. Good shopping. See if he’ll buy you a decent wardrobe. Tell him you’ll trade sexual favors for clothing.”
“This is not Pretty Woman.”
“But it could be, if you played your cards right.”
They made quick work of it, Cassandra making disparaging remarks about her taste in clothing and shoes, and Mackenzie stuffing her muumuu in the suitcase when Cassandra wasn’t looking.
Cassandra hefted it up, shaking her head. “This isn’t going over the back wall. You’re going to have to call Ethan to send some reinforcements.”
Mackenzie rolled it out to the living room. She wasn’t calling him, ever. If she could get through the next six weeks without looking at him, speaking to him, or being in the same room with him, she would give him back his million dollars.
Cassandra peaked out the front window. “You’re going to have to call him.”
“It’s not happening.”
Cassandra held out her hand. “I’ll call him for you.”
Mackenzie elbowed her aside and peaked out the window herself. She cursed. “There’s even more of them.”
Cassandra beckoned for the phone. “I assume he put his number in there, right? Let’s just call him up. He can make everything better.”
Mackenzie took one long look outside, trying to plot an escape route, then gave up. She slapped the phone into Cassandra’s waiting hand.
Cassandra hit speed dial, grinning when it pulled up Ethan’s number, then waited.
Mackenzie said, “Maybe he won’t pick up.”
Cassandra looked at her with pity. “Mm-hm. The man bought you a cellphone and put his number on speed dial. He’ll pick up.”
She pointed to the phone and mouthed, “See.”
Cassandra listened for a moment with a dreamy look on her face, then said, “I would love to but this is Cassandra. Probably Mackenzie would tell you to stick that somewhere the sun don’t shine because she’s a little cranky right now. We’re trapped in her house by the paparazzi.”
She was silent, her face going soft and stupid, and then she laughed. She glanced at Mackenzie. “That’s a good idea. We’ll be waiting.”
Cassandra listened for one more moment, then laughed again. “Bye-bye, Ethan.”
She hung up, sighing happily, and Mackenzie said, “You’re pathetic.”
“His voice. Doesn’t it make you think of silk sheets and sliding around on top of them?”
“No.” Mackenzie held her hand out for the phone. “What did he say?”
Cassandra gave it to her, then slid down into a boneless heap on the couch. “Just let me enjoy this for a minute, okay?”
“What did he say.”
Cassandra squinted an eye at her. “You are not natural. I need a moment to myself to cool down.”
Mackenzie gave up and left her to her lustful thoughts. She sat down at the computer, clicking through incriminating photos of herself and