Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
“R ay-Ray, are you even listening to me?”
Rayna turned and smiled at the woman standing in her kitchen. “Of course I am.”
“She isn’t,” Arianna said to Emma. “Right?”
“She’s a little zoned out.” Emma studied a notepad in front of her, her fingers absently tracing the port wine birthmark on her left cheek.
“She’s in, like, another universe tonight,” Arianna said.
Rayna wanted to argue, but Arianna was right - she was distracted. She gave the pretty woman a faint smile. “Sorry, Arianna.”
While she and Emma had been best friends since they were kids, her friendship with Arianna was relatively new and, Rayna supposed, a little unconventional. She’d met the twenty-year-old influencer and makeup artist at a volunteer event, and despite their differences, they had become friends.
Or, as Emma liked to say, Arianna had imprinted on Rayna like a baby duck.
Either way, she genuinely liked Arianna and enjoyed her company. And while Arianna was occasionally self-absorbed, she never hesitated to help Rayna with volunteer events for the rescue.
“It’s, like, fine,” Arianna said. “But I really thought Zuri was going to strangle you tonight.”
Rayna grimaced as Emma made a sound of agreement. She would have to apologize to her events coordinator asap. Zuri went above and beyond when it came to fundraisers, and this bachelor/bachelorette fundraiser was a huge undertaking.
Zuri had left about ten minutes ago, and while Rayna hadn’t gotten the sense that she was frustrated with her, she wasn’t risking the chance. She would apologize on her knees if necessary.
You know who else would like you on your knees?
She gritted her teeth, cursing her inner thoughts and her vivid imagination. Stark was not attracted to her, and just because she caught him checking out her ass earlier today didn’t mean he wanted a damn blow job from her. Besides, the polyester pants she wore to work didn’t do a thing for her ass, so even if he was checking it out, it didn’t -
“Rayna!” Arianna’s voice was full of exasperation, and Rayna tossed every single Stark thought out of her head with a concentrated effort. “What is going on with you tonight?”
“Nothing, just a weird day at work,” Rayna said.
Arianna shuddered. “How many toilets did you have to plunge?”
“None,” Rayna said. “But it was busy and…”
“And what?” Arianna sat down beside Emma.
When Rayna didn’t reply, Emma said, “And she had to go to a call at her mortal enemy’s workplace.”
“Ooh!” Arianna immediately perked up. “You saw Isaac Stark? He’s so dreamy. I saw him at the coffee shop the other day, and he was totally checking me out.”
“He’s way too old for you,” Rayna said. “If he was checking you out, then that makes him a pervert.”
Arianna gave her a pout. “Okay, fine, he didn’t even glance at me, but why do you have to ruin my hot guy fantasy, Ray-Ray?”
“Because he’s an asshole, and I don’t want you in his orbit,” Rayna said. “Stay away from him, honey.”
“Sure,” Arianna said. “So, are you grumpy because you had to plunge his toilet, and it was super gross?”
“My job isn’t just plunging toilets,” Rayna said.
“Right.” Arianna didn’t look like she believed her.
“She’s grumpy and distracted because he gave her a super hard time about knowing her own damn job,” Emma said. “Which, despite how much I love his video games and admire his talent, really is an asshole move on his part.”
“Exactly!” Rayna said, sinking into a chair across from them. “And then, and then - he had the audacity to hire us for the job.”
Emma blinked at her as Arianna said, “I don’t get it. Why is that a bad thing?”
“Because he basically said right to my face that he didn’t think I could do the job, and then later called my boss and not only agreed to the estimate, but insisted that I be the one who does the work.”
“Maybe he felt bad for being so rude,” Arianna said.
“He doesn’t have the emotional capacity to feel bad,” Rayna said. “All he cares about is himself and his money. Other people are just pawns to him. He is incapable of feeling emotion.”
Emma laughed. “Okay, do you think you’re exaggerating just a little? He did save you from the tree the other night. How is your back, by the way?”
“Sore and spectacularly bruised,” Rayna said.
“What tree?” Arianna asked. She petted Molly, who was weaving around her feet and purring loudly.
Not one to miss out on pets, Bea immediately heaved herself out of her bed and headed toward Arianna, nudging Molly out of the way and pressing her head against Arianna’s leg.
“It’s a long story,” Rayna said.
“Bea, you’d better not fart,” Arianna said.
Immediately, there was a long, low braaap, and Arianna made a disgusted face. “Bea!”
“You practically dared her to do it,” Rayna said.
Arianna waved her hand in front of her face before standing. “Okay, I’m leaving before the smell, like, permeates my clothing. Ray-Ray, you want me at the hall at six for the fundraiser, right?”
“That’s right,” Rayna said. “Thank you again for volunteering to do the bachelorettes’ makeup. I know a lot of them appreciate it.”
“Oh, like, of course,” Arianna said. “I’m happy to help the ladies and the animals. And, like, you’re still okay with me doing a live stream video of some of it for my followers, right?”
“Yes,” Rayna said with a grin. “That’s fine with me.”
“Okay, good.” Arianna grimaced. “Oh God, Bea, you smell so bad.” She blew a kiss to Rayna and headed toward the door. “Oh, Em-Em - I almost forgot! Your foundation will be in by then, so I’ll bring it with me, okay?”
“Thanks, Arianna,” Emma said.
“Of course!” Arianna blew another kiss and left.
Emma waited until she heard the front door close before saying, “Em-Em?”
“Welcome to the Arianna nickname club,” Rayna said with a laugh.
Emma rolled her eyes before studying the notepad again. “Okay, so Lucas, Connor, Wyatt, and Nathan will start setting up tables and chairs at five thirty.”
“Man, I wish we could have gotten Wyatt to be a bachelor,” Rayna said. “Women love a hot cowboy.”
“I know, but Wyatt hasn’t dated a single person since Lydia left him. He’s still not over her.”
“It’s been years,” Rayna said.
Emma shrugged. “I feel for the guy but honestly think he’s better off without her. We have Addison Moore and Grace Larkin at the ticket table, Doug overseeing the PA system, and his wife Judy, Wanda Taber, and Savina Ras in charge of the appetizers and wine. Wren is backstage with you and me, organizing the bachelor and bachelorettes for when they go on stage, and Solomon Whitaker agreed to be the MC. How did you make that happen?”
“Savina,” Rayna said. “She’s been friends with him and his wife for years. Hey, thanks for getting that James guy at Stark Entertainment to volunteer to be a bachelor. I met him today at the Stark offices, and he’s super cute.”
“Isn’t he?” Emma grinned at her. “Total sweetheart, as well. You think you might bid on him at the auction?”
“No,” Rayna said.
“Why not?” Emma asked.
Rayna just shrugged. “I’m broke and have no money to bid, and I’m busy with house renovations and the rescue. No time for a relationship.”
“Or you’re not interested because you want to bang Isaac Stark.”
Rayna glared at her. “That was told to you with the expectation of it being a secret, Emma.”
Emma looked around the kitchen, her gaze landing on Bea, who had headed back to her bed in the corner and Molly, who was sitting on top of Bea and kneading the beagle’s back with her claws while she purred away. “You think Bea or Molly are going to say something? Hey, where are those cute but yappy Chihuahuas you had running around here?”
“Diane is fostering them,” Rayna said. “She picked them up last night.”
“So, are you not interested in James because of Stark?” Emma asked.
Rayna shook her head. “It has nothing to do with him. And I hate that I’m attracted to Stark. Hate it.”
“I know,” Emma said sympathetically.
“He’s trying to bully me out of my own home, and all I can think about is how much I want his dick in my cooch,” Rayna said with a sigh. “I’m so mad at myself.”
“He’s hot, smart, and talented,” Emma said. “I get it.”
“He’s also a rich asshole who thinks he’s better than everyone else in this town. I don’t even get why he’s living here. You just know he has some mansion in New Cassel. Why did he move here?”
“I don’t know,” Emma said. “Lucas has worked with Stark for years but knows barely anything about him. Stark isn’t much for sharing personal stuff. Lucas knows he spent time here as a child with his grandparents, but that’s all. Oh, and it’s a penthouse.”
“What?” Rayna asked.
“Stark has a penthouse in New Cassel, not a mansion. Lucas has been to it - says it’s huge and has an incredible view of the city.”
“Of course it does,” Rayna said, rolling her eyes.
“Speaking of Lucas.” Emma checked her phone. “He’s on his way home from his parents, and I told him I’d be at home waiting for him.”
“Dressed in slutty lingerie and ready to rock his world?” Rayna asked.
A red flush flooded Emma’s cheeks. “Maybe.”
Rayna grinned at her. “You know how happy I am for you, right, Emmy? Lucas is so lucky to have you as his girlfriend.”
“He really is,” Emma said with a cheeky laugh as she closed the notebook and grabbed her stuff. “Seriously, though, I know Lucas and I haven’t been dating that long, but I love him so much, Rayna. I’m going to marry that boy.”
“Pfft, tell me something I don’t know,” Rayna said.
Emma cupped her shoulders and said, “Listen, I know you’re super stressed about the upcoming fundraiser, but we still have nearly two weeks to iron out all the kinks and issues. It’ll be great, sweetie.”
“Okay, thanks, Emma.” She followed Emma to the front door and opened it as Emma slid her jacket and boots on. “Shit!”
“What’s wrong?” Emma peered around her. “Oh no.”
Rayna stepped onto the front porch and studied the cardboard box sitting near the door, then squatted and carefully opened it. With Emma hovering over her shoulder, she parted the blanket and stared with dismay at the three tiny kittens curled up together.
“They’re so little,” Emma said.
Rayna sighed and picked up the box, carrying it into the kitchen. She touched the kittens, relieved when they meowed and squirmed, and their little bodies were still relatively warm.
“How old do you think they are?” Emma asked.
“Four weeks, maybe?” Rayna said.
“They couldn’t have been out there that long,” Emma frowned. “Arianna’s only been gone twenty minutes, and she would have told you there was a box on the porch.”
Her frown deepened as Rayna reached for her phone. “Wait, I thought you were getting a doorbell cam?”
“I used the money to help a low-income senior buy food for her dog,” Rayna said.
“Honey, you need a camera,” Emma said. “With the number of sketchy people who drop animals off at your house, you shouldn’t be opening the door without knowing who it is first.”
“Yeah, I know,” Rayna said, texting rapidly. “But there’s always something else that feels more important to buy, and right now, cash is super low for the rescue.”
“Promise me when you get some funds from the auction, you’ll get a new one,” Emma said.
“I’ll try, but our vet bills are crazy high, and our Helping Hands fund is almost empty,” Rayna said.
Her phone dinged, and she read it, relief washing over her. “Thank God. Catelyn can take the babies.”
“Who’s Catelyn?”
“A new volunteer with neonate experience,” Rayna said. “These babies need bottle feeding, and our only other neonate foster is in Jamaica right now.”
She rubbed at her forehead, trying to think past the sudden exhaustion. She’d been looking forward to a hot shower and her warm bed after Emma left, but that wasn’t happening now. “Okay, I gotta get these babies and some supplies to Catelyn asap. Who knows when they ate last.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” Emma asked.
“Nah, you go home to your man and get your freak on,” Rayna said. “Love you, Emmy.”
“Love you too, Rayna.”