A Margin of Lust (The Seven Deadly Sins #1)(35)

When she needed to get into an elevator, she'd put on the role of a high profile lawyer with an office on the twentieth floor. In basements, she imagined ghost hunter seeking evil spirits. In closets, attics and other tight spaces, she channeled chimney sweep or Victorian maid. Keeping her mind on someone else's story calmed her.

At least it had. Her trick wasn't working anymore. Seeing Sondra's dead body seemed to set off a cascade of old fears. The memory of the close call she'd had at eight-years-old kept popping into her mind at the most inopportune times, and the nightmares were getting more frequent.

Gwen's phone vibrated. She pulled it out of her purse and smiled at the screen. "Lance needs me to pick up another ceiling light. I'll have to stop at Home Depot."

"Hmmm...," Maricela said.

They wandered a bit farther. Gwen could tell Maricela was itching to say something. Several times, she opened and closed her mouth as if she was considering then discarding words the way she was the items on the shelves.

"Okay, what's the issue?" Gwen asked when she couldn't take it any longer.

"What do you mean?" Maricela turned to her with wide eyes.

"You have something to get off your chest. I can tell."

Maricela toyed with a candlestick she'd picked up. "Art is a good husband," she said after a long pause.

Gwen laughed. "That's it?"

"I don't think you appreciate how few good husbands are out there these days."

Maricela set the candlestick down and moved toward the counter at the front of the store. Gwen flushed with annoyance. Maricela was worried she was getting too close to Lance. She thought her friend knew her better than that.

They made their purchases and emerged into the sunshine. Gwen turned to face Maricela. "There's nothing romantic going on between Lance and me. We have a business relationship. That's it."

"I think Art is stressed about school and about you, but you don't seem very concerned about him."

They walked toward the car. Irritation tightened Gwen's jaw. In Maricela's mind, Art could do no wrong. She didn't understand the reality of living with a man who made responsibility an art form. Art championed the cause of the underdog and played Sir Galahad to all soccer moms in distress. He was every woman's hero. Except hers. The stronger and more self-reliant she became, the less interest she seemed to hold for him. What was she supposed to do, drop a hankie like Scarlett O'Hara and fake a case of the vapors just to lure him back?

There were plenty of women at school willing to play that game, like the lovely Lorelei. She was young and oh-so adoring. Besides, Gwen wasn't the one who fell asleep on Valentine's Day. She'd tried to reconnect. He hadn't been interested. "Yeah, well, I'm tired of feeling single," she said.

Maricela looked at her. "You're not, but you act like you are when you're with Lance."

When they reached the parking lot, Gwen strode across the blacktop toward her car. Maricela jogged to keep up.

"I made you mad. I'm sorry," Maricela said after they belted in. She didn't look sorry at all. "But Lance is a player, you know?"

"No, I don't know," Gwen said, her voice frosty.

"He uses people. I know his type."

"Oh, you do?"

"Yes, I do. I was married to one."

They drove in silence. Gwen churned with anger. Maricela meant well, but she was wrong. Lance was secure in who he was. He didn't need weak women to bolster his masculinity. He was nothing like Maricela's ex. But she wouldn't waste her breath defending him; it would make Maricela surer there was something going on between them.

They arrived at the Humboldt office. Gwen opened the car door. Maricela put a hand on her arm and stopped her from exiting. "Listen, chica." Her voice was soft. "You can be upset with me for telling you the truth, but I'm your friend, so I'm telling you anyway. You have a good man at home. You have a beautiful family. Don't screw it up. He's not worth it."

"Lance and I are just business partners. That's it." Gwen slammed the car door behind her.

She and Maricela worked side by side for several hours without the usual banter. Gwen threw herself into her paperwork, ignoring the office noise and her hurt feelings.

"Hm," a deep voice startled her. "That must be riveting." John Gordon nodded at the mountain of paper on her desk.

"Fascinating." Gwen nodded.

"Is your Dana Point house in escrow yet?" he asked.

"No. My Chicago clients bought in Newport." Gwen's voice was flat. It still galled her that old Arnie had bought from another agent after everything he'd put her through.

"I may have an interested party." John thumped her desk with his forefinger. "I'd like to take another look at it before I show it."

"Help yourself," Gwen said and looked at her paperwork hoping to end the conversation. She didn't feel like talking.

"Want to go with me?" he asked.

Gwen looked up in surprise. "There's a lockbox on it."

"I know. Just thought you might want to give me the sales pitch." He smiled. It made him look like a ferret.

She opened a desk drawer, rummaged around and pulled out a piece of paper. "Here's the flier," she said. "Everything you need to know in black and white."