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“He was madder than a wet hen when I turned the light on.” My ribs ache. I’ve laughed so much.
Darcie and I bonded instantly when we met.
We both burst into giggles.
I can’t help the laughter erupting from my chest until I double over in my chair gasping for breath. Tears fall down my face, which I swat away.
“You don’t want to see him when we get a new order. Rumor has it that Veronica was in there spanking him with a ruler. Both their eyes were glazed. Poor Colleen from HR had to take them aside and talk to them about workplace ethics.”
This makes me laugh even harder. Colleen has been with the firm for years and as head of Human Resources is a delightful woman who breeds Scottish Terriers and often has a rubber bone or a dog treat hanging out of her pocket.
Veronica and Stu are accountants like me who take nerdy to a new level. Stu is obsessed with anything Star Wars and has lightsaber battles with Veronica in his office at lunchtime. They are so perfect for each other that I don’t understand why they aren’t together.
“Thanks for your help with the pivot table and breaking down the figures on the Evans account.” Darcie wipes tears from her eyes. “I’ve been stuck on that for ages. You’re a genius.” She pauses. “You don’t have a thing for stationery, do you?”
I make the sign of the cross.
No, the only things I’m obsessed with are three brothers.
“The highlighters are safe with me.”
She smiles, then becomes intense. “That guy from the other night in the pub with Knox. Do you know who he is?”
“One of his business associates. Killian someone.” I shoulder bump her. “Do you mean the drop-dead gorgeous guy who demanded you go out with him, and you turned him down cold? That one?”
Her dark red eyebrows are slashes.
“Yeah that one. He’s all kinds of arrogant. I bet he’d expect me to drop my panties with a look.”
“He is gorgeous. He could have had any woman in the pub that night.” I shoulder bump her. “And he only had eyes for you.”
“Well, that’s never going to happen. I am no notch on a man’s bedpost.” She grins. “He probably has to get a new bedframe every week.”
“Looking like that I bet he does.”
Her voice drops. “I have a weird feeling I’m being watched, but when I turn around there’s no one there.” She pushes her heavy red hair out of her face.
I grasp her hand. “I’m walking you home tonight. If anyone’s following you, we’ll find them.”
“Don’t be daft. You live in the opposite direction, and one of those brothers, mostly Knox, walks you home.” She gives her head a little shake. “It’s just my nerves. Being in a big city, away from the dot of a village I’m from.”
“I’d love to see your village. I’ve never seen a proper village before. In Dallas it’s all flashy cars and online shopping. I bet you have cows, chickens, and goats with cute names.”
Her smile is tight. “I couldn’t wait to get away.”
I blink at the pain that flashes across her face.
Oh.
“You’re being walked home tonight and that’s final.” I don’t like the bruising under her eyes.
She smiles. “Be gone with ya. I’ll take the bus.”
I hear the brogue in her voice. Her real voice. Darcie told me when she arrived in Edinburgh people could barely understand her. She worked so hard to soften the strong vowels, but I for one love hearing her real voice.
“Promise to text me when you get home.” I push the point.
“Promise.” She leans in and gives me a hug, before kissing my cheek. “You’re a good friend, Georgia. I’m glad I found you.”
