Fatal Strike (McClouds & Friends #10)(131)

Margot opened the door, and a young woman swept in on a gust of cold air. She was slender and curvy, in a pink, fur-trimmed jacket and tight jeans. She shoved down the hood and tossed out a wavy mane of shiny, perfectly styled hair. She was very pretty, similar to her older sister Erin, Connor’s wife, but flashier, and with a lot more makeup.

“Hey, Cin. Great to see you,” Margot said.

“Is it really?” Cindy gave the woman an overly sweet smile. “Funny, how I had to hear about this party from Kevvie. You used to invite me to your things before, but I guess it was just Miles you wanted around, right? I was just an appendage. The truth comes out.”

“No, Cin,” Erin said quietly. “We were always happy to have you. You weren’t invited this time because we thought it might be awkward.”

“Yeah? Because of . . .” Cindy’s sharp gaze swept the room and fastened onto Lara. “Her.” Her voice hardened.

They looked at each other. Lara’s back stiffened instinctively, spine prickling up to absolute straightness.

Cindy tossed her hair. “Well, would you look at that,” she said. “She looks just like me. Except too skinny. And without the grooming.”

Lara was acutely conscious of her unstyled hair, her reddened eyes, her dowdy sweatshirt, the big, drab coat hanging to her ankles. She wanted to shoot back something snappy, but she felt stuck in tar.

“That’s bullshit,” Nina snapped. “She doesn’t look a thing like you, beyond the coloring.”

“Cindy,” Erin said, in a warning tone. “Don’t do this.”

Cindy ignored her. “Doesn’t have much to say, does she? That probably made it easier for him in bed. Pretending she was me.”

A chorus of gasps sounded. “That’s enough,” Nina said sharply. “After what she’d been through, the last thing she needs is—”

“Stop, Nina.” Lara stepped forward.

“Oh! Wow!” Cindy’s eyes widened, in mock wonder. “She speaks. It’s a miracle!”

“Yeah, I speak,” Lara said. “And I did not go through hell on earth to get kicked around by a brainless cow like you. Back off.”

Tam applauded. “Yes!” she crowed. “Catfight! Bitch-slap!”

“Shut up, Tam!” Margot hissed.

Cindy ignored them all, staring intently at Lara. “He’ll come back to me, you know,” she said. “He always does. We belong together.”

“He’s free to do whatever the hell he wants,” Lara said. “But I doubt that he wants you. You had your chance. You didn’t even know what you had, or you would’ve hung onto it.”

Cindy bristled. “Oh, I know him,” she said. “Great body? Super hung? Total god in the sack? Gives great head? Sound familiar?”

“Stop it!” Erin sounded disgusted. “Don’t be gross, Cin! You’re embarrassing me.” She glanced at Lara, apologetic. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Lara said. “I’m the one who’s sorry for her, if that’s all she ever valued about him. Or all she ever noticed.”

Cindy snorted. “Whatever,” she said. “I didn’t come here to talk to you, anyway. Where’s Miles?”

There was an uncomfortable pause.

“Not here,” Lara finally said, quietly.

Cindy swept a keen glance around the room, her face breaking into a slow, triumphant smile. “Oh! I see. I thought you were up in the mountain love nest together. Awesome. So he’s already over the rebound bunny. That was predictable. And it makes things simpler. Because I am getting him back.”

Lara shrugged. “I doubt that.”

“You do that, if it makes you feel better.” She darted a glance at her glaring sister, and her eyes slid away quickly. “Later, sis. Nice party. Kiss the kids for me.”

Slam. The kitchen door fell to, hard enough to rattle window panes. The kitchen was deathly silent for a few moments.

“Wow,” Becca murmured. “Well. That was . . . surreal.”

Erin laid her hand on Lara’s shoulder. “You okay?”

“I am fine.” Lara’s voice rang out, disproportionately loud, as she stared through the window at the trim hot-pink package mincing up the walkway. Swaying on her spike-heeled boots. Butt cheeks twitching saucily. Off to win Miles back. Up at the mountain love nest.

Her Miles.

Energy tingled up her back. Her hands tightened to tingling fists. That cheap, no account piece of fluff . . . with Miles? As. Fucking. If.

“Lara.” Nina had that soothe-the-mental-patient tone that was beginning to grate on her nerves. “We don’t want to upset you, but—”

“I am fine! Stop *footing around me! Yes, I was moping. I admit it. I’m sorry. I’ll stop, okay? The moping is finished!”

Nina’s mouth hung open. “Uh . . .”

“Sorry to yell at you, but it pissed me off. To think that alley cat has the nerve to go after him, after she lied to him and cheated on him! And me? What the f*ck am I doing here, sitting on my ass? Feeling sorry for myself?”

“Um . . . healing?” Edie offered gently.

“I’m healed,” Lara announced. “Halleluia! Can I borrow a car from somebody?”