The reprimand was like a slap in the face. She wasn’t playing coy, she wasn’t playing anything. Kelly didn’t play mind games. Prepared to defend herself, Kelly pivoted.

The warm smile that greeted her made her forget what she’d been about to say. Instead, she blurted out what had been on her mind since Kate waltzed into the café and sized up Lucy.

“She’s hot for you.”

That goddamn alluring smile, the one that set Kelly’s insides on fire, slid onto Lucy’s face.

Without a word, she clicked open her briefcase, got what she needed and sat behind the desk, looking every bit like she belonged there.

Kelly leaned back against the filing cabinet, the cool metal a stark contrast to the heat simmering low in her belly.

The hard drive whirred as Lucy hit the power button. “Password?”

“Huh?” Kelly asked, sounding like an imbecile and hating herself for it.

When the fog lifted, Lucy’s request hit home. Kelly gave her the temporary password Jennifer had assigned for the auditor.

“I figured I might as well boot up the computer so I can start gathering the data I need while we talk.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t keep you.”

“It’s okay, I’ve been known to multi-task. Apparently, it’s a woman thing.”

Kelly chuckled. “So I’ve heard.”

Doing her own bit of multi-tasking, if talking and working could be considered as such, Kelly pulled out the small gold key Jennifer had entrusted her with and turned to the personnel files.

“I’ve known Kate for some time now.” Lucy’s voice drifted over Kelly’s shoulder. “While Paula pretends to be understanding of Kate’s lifestyle, in going so far as to invite her to the occasional party, it’s painfully obvious that Paula’s extremely uncomfortable around Kate. However, I get her.”

Kelly’s stomach went into free fall. How much did Lucy get Kate, and on what level? She fumbled with the lock on the filing cabinet, unsure if she wanted to look Lucy in the eye when she said whatever was coming next.

“What I love about Kate is she’s unapologetic about her desires,” Lucy said, her tone matter of fact. “She doesn’t string anyone along. She loves men and women in all shapes and forms. If she’s not hurting anyone, I say all power to her.”

The green-eyed monster reared its ugly head again. Was Lucy one of Kate’s conquests?

As if reading Kelly’s thoughts, Lucy put her mind at ease.

“Kate flirts with me, it’s in her nature. But, her playful manner is harmless. She hasn’t overstepped any boundaries since I turned her down.”

Did Kate have no shame? Surely most people checked their gaydar, or bi-dar, if that was even a word, before coming onto someone.

Annoyed on behalf of Lucy, Kelly yanked the key out of the filing cabinet and spun around.