The angry blare of a car horn had her tossing her house key into her clutch purse and cutting a fast track to the front door. Spotting her summer jacket on the arm of the chair, she snagged it as she dashed passed.

Temperatures were seasonably warm for February, but nights often cooled off quickly and Kelly was far from a fan of the cold.

Nicole clapped her hands like a drill sergeant. “Chop, chop. Don’t keep madam waiting.”

Although the words were accompanied by a smile, Kelly didn’t miss the contempt lurking in Nicole’s eyes. It was no secret Nicole barely tolerated Paula. But being the best friend that she was, most of the time, she played nice.

“Behave.” Kelly blew a kiss over her shoulder and hightailed it down the driveway.

The passenger door flew open at the same time as she reached the roadside.

“Hi.” Kelly climbed in and buckled up, the leather seats cool against the back of her legs. “Thanks for the lift.”

“Any time. I’d rather pick you up than have you riding around on that death trap.” Paula squeezed Kelly’s thigh before putting the car in gear. “This way I get to admire your gorgeous legs.”

Choosing to ignore the dig about her motorcycle, something that tended to piss Kelly off, she fiddled with the air vent trying to angle the air freshener away from her. The citrusy sweet scent made her feel sick. Another reason she preferred her motorcycle over Paula’s shiny red sports car.

“So, who’ll be there tonight?”

Coming to a stop at an intersection, Paula turned to Kelly. “The usual, friends and a few work colleagues.”

A beat-up sedan whizzed by, then the road was clear, but Paula’s foot remained on the brake.

She turned to Kelly, eyes alive with excitement. “I wanted to surprise you. Remember my friend, Ashleigh?”

“Sure.”

Kelly had heard all about Paula’s best friend, and how much Paula had missed her since she’d moved away with her fiancé. Greg was it?

A car toot-tooted behind them.

Paula glared in the rear-view mirror. “Hold your horses, mister.” She let her foot off the brake and coasted forward.

The urge to chuckle bubbled up inside Kelly. Paula acted so hoity-toity. Most of the time it was comical. Other times, Kelly wanted to tell her to lighten up.

Surely giving over control would help to mellow her out. It’s not like anyone else needed to know. Paula could keep up appearances outside the bedroom.

“As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, Ashleigh and Craig are…”

“I thought it was Greg,” Kelly blurted out.

Paula’s perfectly shaped eyebrows drew together. “Craig, Greg, who cares? Ashleigh’s in town.”

The scowl gave way to a grin. “I’m so excited you’ll finally get to meet her. I just know she’s going to love you. Oh, and please try not to swear, dear.”