“Maren Higgins. She’s a piece of work too. Already thinks she’s lady of the manor, although she’s not, because Lincoln doesn’t live at the Riscoff estate and hasn’t in ages. Thankfully, Ms. Riscoff told her she can’t come in here and order us around unless she pays full price, so she’s not around too often. She’s from the city. Her family sounds fancy, but the kind of fancy that needs a cash infusion. Lord knows when she lost her chance at Hunter Havalin, she moved right up the food chain because the Riscoffs have plenty of cash. I’m not sure why she didn’t go after him first, but craftier women than her have set their sights on Lincoln Riscoff and failed. Although, I still have no idea why he wanted to marry Monica. I don’t think anyone understands that.”

Gabi is laying out so much information right now that I’m struggling to absorb it all . . . while stomping out tiny flames of jealousy I’m pretending don’t exist.

He’s not mine. He never will be. I don’t care. This is just entertaining gossip. That’s all.

I’m full of shit.

“So Monica is the ex who slept with Harrison. How long ago was that?” I ask like I’m making idle conversation, but I’m wildly curious.

“I missed out on the Monica era, but from what I’ve been told, it was only a few years after you left town. By the way . . . she had black hair, blue eyes, and a body straight out of Victoria’s Secret.”

I freeze as Gabi goes to work on my brows.

Black hair and blue eyes? No coincidence there at all . . .

“And Maren?” I try to change the subject immediately. “What does she look like?”

“The kind of woman you love to hate. Blond. Tiny waist. Great boobs. Legs that go on for days. Perma-tan. Gorgeous and she knows it.”

“Sounds . . . lovely.” I place sarcastic emphasis on lovely.

“Oh, Whit. God, you should see her. It’s like she’s Regina George out of Mean Girls. She has this attitude that only comes out when she’s nowhere near Lincoln. The one time I did her makeup, I thought about dumping something in the foundation to give her an allergic reaction, because she was so awful. If I wouldn’t have gotten fired, I would have done it in a heartbeat.”

“Yikes.”

“Yeah, he sure can pick some winners. At least he’s kept it from getting too serious. It’s more off-again these days than anything. If you ask me, he’s just using her as a booty call. Poor woman thinks that’s how to nab the Riscoff heir. She’s crazy, if you ask me. He won’t buy what he can get for free, and that man can get everything for free.”

Her words stab into me.

He got it for free from me too . . . and he still wanted more.

“Do you want me to go natural on your eyes or sultry?” Gabi asks, holding an eyeshadow palette aloft as another spa employee comes in with a woman wrapped in a robe and sandals on her feet. They set up at the station on the opposite side of the room.