“Oh honey, you have no idea.” The way she waved a hand as if swatting a fly said she was long past the pain and could afford to be amused. “Now that I’m free, if I want to have a wild fling with a man who’s all wrong? I figure I’ve earned it.”

Catie had caught more than a hint of steel in Gloria. “I think my dad might have met his match.”

Gloria lifted one delicate shoulder. “Whatever happens, your charmer of a father will never see me cry—don’t you worry about that. If anything, I intend to leave him crying.” A wink.

Catie shook her head in mingled amusement and admiration. This should be interesting. “You know he hasn’t changed at all?”

“Sweetheart, we’ve been hitting casinos both in Australia and here. I know.” Gloria took a sip of her wine. “But like I said, it’s my time to be wild and make terrible mistakes.”

Catie liked her. She had a “no fucks given” quality about her. It would all end in tears one way or the other, but she silently wished Gloria luck. At least she was going into the situation open-eyed.

As had Catie.

Into a love affair with a sports star who was the favorite of women around the world. If it were acceptable to throw underwear onto a rugby pitch, Danny’s position on the field would be festooned with them.

Gloria shifted her hand as she put down the menu, and Catie couldn’t help spotting the time on the woman’s delicate gold wristwatch.

Danny’s plane would’ve just landed.

Her phone, which she’d put into a slender clutch that she had on the table beside her, vibrated at that second. Her heart thudded even though she knew it was stupid. There was no way he’d be messaging her right now. He was probably still on the tarmac.

Clive returned to the table while she was still arguing with herself, and he and Gloria began to talk about the menu. Glad for the cover, Catie slipped out her phone, telling herself to expect a message from Jacqueline. The Dragon had a way of messaging at late hours.

Catie had a sneaking suspicion that Jacqueline had actually put Catie on her schedule so she didn’t forget to stay in touch—but that didn’t bother Catie. It wasn’t the greatest that her mother needed to put her in her diary to remember her, but then again, Jacqueline only put important things on the schedule.

Taking a deep breath, she touched her screen to bring up the message. The message ID said: Hotshot

And her heart, it went boom.

28

THERE MIGHT BE A SEX SHOW

After quickly using her face to unlock the screen, Catie read what Danny had written: Landed. Time zones aren’t that far apart, but I still feel like a zombie after sitting that long.