probably not. That was the nerves talking.” Grace glanced down at herself. “I think my sin cave will be just fine with a little of that strategic grooming you mentioned.”
Carrie snorted. “You’re probably right. Have fun.” She winked and held the door open for Grace. “Lots and lots of fun.”
Grace chuckled, but as she exited the private room, suddenly nerves took over. What was she doing? She’d just spent most of the day grooming for one date with a guy she barely knew and probably shouldn’t be dating.
“Grace?” a very unwelcome but familiar voice called from behind her.
This is not happening, Grace told herself. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying that the woman would just go away. She heard the shuffling of feet and a door opened and closed. Relief rushed through her, and she said a silent prayer of thanks that she didn’t have to deal with Shondra Barns. But when Grace opened her eyes, she was staring at the face of the woman who had helped blow up her marriage. Scowling, she turned around, intending to find another way out, but it was very clear the only doors led to private rooms.
Grace turned around and summoned the thickest skin she could muster. “Shondra, what can I do for you?”
The younger woman was wrapped in a plush robe, and her platinum blond hair was tied up into a haphazard bun. Still, she managed to look like she’d just stepped off the pages of Maxim. Or Playboy. Her perfect skin flushed slightly pink as she said, “I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
“I’m great. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere to be.” Grace started to move past her, but Shondra grabbed her wrist and held on lightly. Grace glanced down at the connection. “I think you’d better let me go now.”
“Grace. Bill and I are worried about you. After everything that happened, you must be having a hard time. We’ve been wanting to reach out and let you know that we’re here for you. All you need to do is let us know what we can do to help. No one wanted you hurt. You have to know that.”
Words failed Grace as she stared at the woman she’d once counted on as not only an employee, but a friend as well. Was Shondra really standing in front of her feigning concern? Grace scoffed. “Spare me, Shondra. If you really cared about hurting me, you wouldn’t have been boning my husband in his office for the last year while I was doing his laundry and making him dinner. Get the hell out of here with your concern. It’s not needed or appreciated.”
Shondra jerked back as if she’d been slapped.
Grace smirked and yanked her arm out of Shondra’s grasp. “In case there’s any confusion, we’re not friends. We’ll never be friends. And if for some reason I need help with anything in my life, it won’t be you and Bill I turn to. In fact, you’d be the last two people I’d ask for help. So do me a favor, and when we run into each other again, just pretend you don’t see me and I’ll do the same. Got it?”
Shondra’s eyes narrowed slightly, a sure sign that Grace had gotten under her skin. Good. The woman had been the catalyst that had destroyed her marriage. And despite how upset and heartbroken Grace had been, the betrayal hadn’t broken her. She was moving on, and she really didn’t need this woman pretending she cared. Shondra cleared her throat, leaned in, and whispered, “You have a thick black hair growing out of your nose. Should’ve gotten that waxed, too.”
Grace jerked back and unconsciously covered her nose with one hand. “I do not.”
“Whatever you say.” Shondra gave her a self-satisfied smile and then turned and sashayed toward the women’s dressing room.
Rage surged through Grace’s blood, and she couldn’t stop herself from mumbling, “Joy was right. You do deserve genital warts.”
Shondra paused and glanced back at her. “What did you just say?”
“Nothing. Enjoy that massage my ex is paying for,” she said with forced pleasantness. “But don’t get too used to it. As soon as the honeymoon is over, he’s going to put a stop to any spending he deems frivolous.”
She raised her chin, looking defiant. “I make my own money.”
Grace nodded. “Yep. Working for him. Just wait until after the wedding. Then you’ll see. Good luck to you.” She turned, and instead of following Shondra into the dressing room to