Unsuitable

“Sit still, will you? Honestly, Daisy, you’re worse than some of the kids whose hair I have to cut.”

“I’m sorry. I just don’t know if it’s a good idea to make such an effort with my hair when I’m not really sure that I should be going out with Cooper. I don’t want to get all dressed up and give him the wrong idea.”

Cece lowers the curling iron from my hair, and she pins me with a stare in the mirror. “One, it’s your first date since getting out of”—she hesitates—“that place.”

Cece doesn’t refer to it as prison. I think she thinks that it will upset me if she brings prison up, but it doesn’t. Honestly, I think it upsets her more—the fact that I was in there and she couldn’t do anything to help me.

“It’s not a date, Ce. We’re just two friends and work colleagues who are going out for a drink.”

She gives me a look. “He asked you out. It’s a date. And why do you think you shouldn’t be going out with him?”

I blow out a breath. “Because he asked me literally minutes after I had my tongue down my boss’s throat, and I wasn’t exactly thinking straight.”

My stomach twists in pleasure and pain at the memory.

I haven’t seen Kas since he walked away from me yesterday.

After I came in the house with Cooper, after disastrously accepting his offer to go for a drink, we were in the kitchen, and I heard the front door slam loudly. Then, Kas’s car revved loudly before pulling away.

He didn’t come home for the rest of the day. And he wasn’t at the house at all yesterday or today.

I don’t know where he’s been. But I do know for sure that he’s avoiding me.

I know this because his bed was clearly slept in for both nights. I had the pleasure of making them both mornings.

Obviously, he got up early and left before I arrived for work, and he stayed out until I was gone.

At first, I was relieved because it saved me from an awkward conversation. But, once the relief was gone, absence started to hurt. And all it served to do was remind me of why he’d stopped kissing me in the first place.

And this going out for drinks with Cooper is stupid. I’ve got enough problems with one guy at work without mixing myself up with another.

“I’m going to cancel on Cooper,” I say decisively, making a grab for my phone, which is sitting on the dressing table where I’m seated.

“Don’t you bloody dare, Daisy May Smith.”

My hand stops over the phone, my fingers curled around it.

“Hand off the phone, Mayday.” There’s a no-brokering tone to her voice.

Giving her the stink eye, I slowly lift my hand off the phone.

“No, you listen to me. Above anyone, you deserve a night out. After everything you’ve been through, you’re owed a night out with a good guy who’s also hot. And Australian. So, you know, accent.” She grins.

“Granted, I’ll give you the accent. But I said good-looking. Not hot.”

“Same thing.”

“Jason was hot.”

She frowns at me.

“And I thought he was a good guy,” I continue. “Look where that got me.”

Her scowl quickly softens. “Jason is a plague on society. A waste of perfectly good air. I hate that scum and will wish him well in hell when I send him there. But he’s not all men, babe. I don’t want what happened with that wankstain to sour you on all men. And I’m not suggesting that you have to have a relationship with Cooper or even trust him right away. But I just want you to go out and have some fun. Let someone wine and dine you—or, in this case, just wine you. You deserve it, Dais.”

“I know.” I sigh. “But it just feels wrong.”

“Because of Kas?”

Cece knows everything that has happened between Kas and me. I’ve kept her up to speed on all current events in my life. I mean, she’s my best friend. I tell her everything.

Funny thing is, when I told her that Kas and I kissed, she didn’t seem at all surprised.

When I asked her why, she said—and I quote—“I’m not surprised because I’ve never seen you so riled up over a guy before, so it was obvious that you fancied him. And, well, you’re you. So, of course, he was gonna want to bone you.”

So, apparently, I’m obvious and boneable.

Just not boneable to Kas.

I’m beneath him. And not in a good way.

Sigh.

“Yeah. I mean, we kissed, and then I immediately said yes to going out with Cooper. It just feels wrong.”

“Kas blew you off. Sorry,” she adds at my wince. “But he acted like an arsehole. You don’t owe him a thing. And you definitely don’t have anything to feel weird about.”

“I know you’re right, but I still feel weird. And I know he’s avoiding me.” My shoulders slump.

She puts the curling iron down on the dressing table and rests her hands on my shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. “Babe, if Kas can’t see what he’d be getting in you, then he’s a dick. A massive dick.” She sizes her hands out before landing them back on my shoulders. “You’re awesome, Mayday. Funny and smart and beautiful.”

“And an ex-con.”

“Hush.” She frowns at me. “You’re gorgeous, and obviously, Cooper thinks so because he asked you out. And tonight is just drinks with a good-looking, nice guy. It doesn’t have to be anything more. But you will go tonight, looking your absolute best because I’m awesome at hair, and I’m an awesome friend.” She gives me a grin and fluffs my hair with her hand.

Staring gratefully at her in the mirror, I reach back and take ahold of her hand, giving it a squeeze. “You are awesome, Ce. You’re the best.”

“I know.” She grins again. Then, she picks up the curling iron and wraps another section of my hair around it.

My phone starts to ring on my dressing table. I glance at the display and see that it’s Cooper.

My stomach tightens with nerves.

“Hey,” I answer. “I’m just getting ready. I shouldn’t be much longer.”

“Daisy”—he sounds flustered and a little out of breath—“I am so sorry to do this to you at the last minute, but I’m going to have to cancel our night out.”

A huge amount of relief and also a little disappointment run through me at the same time. “It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

“No, it’s not okay.” His tone is frustrated. “I was really looking forward to tonight with you, but now, I’m in my car, on my way back to work. Somehow, all the horses got out and are running amok around the estate.” He sighs loudly. “I’m gonna have to round them up and then fix wherever they got through in the fence. It’s gonna take all bloody night.”

“Do you want me to come help?”

“Don’t worry.” His tone softens. “But thank you for offering.” There’s a brief pause before he says, “Rain check for tomorrow night? Same time?”

This is my out. I can say no…but I feel bad because the guy seems to really want to go out for a drink with me. So, I hear myself saying, “Sure.”

“Great.” I can practically hear his smile down the phone. “So, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you then.”

I hang the phone up with Cooper and put it back down on the dressing table.

“That was Cooper. He had to cancel, so I’m not going out tonight after all.”

“Bastard,” she says in a mock-angry voice.

“You heard the whole conversation?”

“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t mean to listen in, but it was kinda hard not to hear. But he asked you out again for tomorrow night, right?”

I give her a sly smile. “You know he did. And you also know that I said yes.”

Grinning, she says, “Attagirl.” Then, she winds another section of my hair around the curling iron. “And screw not going out tonight. We’re having a girls’ night out. It’s been way too long since you and I hit up the town. So, I’ll finish up doing your hair, then give me half an hour to put my face on, and we’ll go out. We can go to this new club in town. What do you say?”

A night out on the town with my girl…sounds perfect.

I smile at her in the mirror. “I say…hell yeah.”