“Grady, go.”

“My God you sure do try to sound important.” I shake my head, boots propped up on the counter, waiting for my next client.

“Says my swoon-worthy God of all things color. I’m shopping for suits. You never call me, what’s up?”

“I asked Darby to marry me and I think her stepmom fucked me.”

“Out, out … everyone out. This is an emergency.” Grady’s in panic mode, and everyone around him should be too. He’s unpredictable when he feels like he’s losing control over me. “Have you gone mad?”

“I’m not asking for your permission or even your advice. But you and Tamsen are the closest people I have to family, and I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’ve done, so out of respect I wanted to let you know.”

“I’ll be on the first flight out of LAX.”

“Grady! I don’t need you to come rescue me.”

“I’m not even ready to address you proposing to Senator Carmichael’s daughter. I’m sure no doubt without his consent, but her stepmom? Where did you ever come up with such a ridiculous accusation?”

“You told me the only information you found out about my past from so called ‘people on the street’ was that I was a junkie and screwed older women. Well Rachel Hart is older and she’s from New York—”

“Christ, Trick! That’s not a fucking connection that means anything—”

“I saw it … it was a look. The way she looked at me, she wasn’t seeing me for the first time. She was nervous with a subtle mix of pain and anger. I knew it that night, but I had to be sure so I called her.”

“You did what?”

“I had to know.”

“And did she confess some lurid affair to you?”

“Of course not, but she was on the defensive and warned me to stay away from both her and Darby. You said you suspected these ‘older women’ took advantage of me. She told me men never fuck her; she fucks them.”

“So your brilliant solution to all of this is to propose to Darby?” Grady’s voice takes on a soprano pitch.

“I love her.”

Grady laughs. “You love her. Well that’s great, Trick. Tell me, did she accept your proposal before or after your dick had this vague memory of being up her stepmom’s pussy?”

“Fuck you! I haven’t said anything to her. I don’t have any proof … yet.”

“So you’re going to start out your life with her while this epic epiphany that you fucked her stepmom weighs on your conscience?”

“Rachel’s scared that I might remember something. I can tell. She’s not going to say anything. Hell, she doesn’t want to admit it to me, why would she ever say anything to Darby?”

“Does she know you’ve proposed to the Senator’s daughter?”

“No.”

“And what are you going to do if you’re right. What if you were with her and someday she decides to tell Darby? Some people will slit their own throat in the name of revenge.”

“Darby loves me.”

Grady gives me another cynical laugh. “Well, there ya go, kid, I guess you two lovebirds have it all figured out. Good luck with that.”

I press End and swipe my arm across the counter, sending makeup flying everywhere. “Goddammit!”

Who. The. Fuck. Was. I?