Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

      Dedication

       Title Page

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       About the Author

       Copyright

       Chapter One

      Preparations for the reality contest Domestic Goddess are underway. We’re liaising with our U.S. parent company on this show, and for the first time I’m pulling double duty as director and producer. Lots of new faces on both the cast and crew. I’m pleased to be working with Tamara Foles again. I know she wasn’t Reality Life’s first choice for this show, but I think she’ll do a fantastic job.

       Production Notes, Brian Merrick, Director

      “There you go, Ms. Foles, you’re all set. Enjoy your flight to New York.”

      I think the poor lady was scared of me. Her tight smile pulled her cheeks up so high they kissed the bottoms of her eyes. The way she shoved my passport back, as though it was radioactive, normally would have had me giggling. But not today. No, today I was about to get on an airplane. Me, in flight. So not good.

      “Thank you.” I snapped my passport up, gave the woman a brief nod and spun on my heel to face my friend and business partner.

      Sophia stood behind the check-in line gawking around Pearson Airport as she waited for me. I loved Sophie as if she were my own sister, but the fact that I got assigned to judge a reality show—and by extension was the one who was about to board an airplane—was completely her fault.

      Reality Life had wanted one of us for their new interior-design contest show Domestic Goddess on their U.S. station. It was a way for us to introduce our interior design business to a wider audience. It was being taped in New York, the location of Reality Life’s headquarters. Plus, we also had an opportunity to bid on a design contract to redo their head office. While Sophia was the natural choice as judge, her skills in the boardroom weren’t up to mine. She’d suggested we both go, push off our paying customers for the month so we could divide and conquer. While I knew she was the one people really wanted to see on the show, we couldn’t afford for us to both leave our customers. Plus, the brass at Reality Life wanted a hard-ass to act as a third judge.

      Sophia was many things, but not an Ice Queen. I’d learned long ago that with a few sharp looks and carefully chosen barbs, I could scare just about anyone. It wasn’t something I took pride in, but over the years it had slowly become my default defense mechanism in stressful situations. So I agreed to act as a judge on the show, leaving Sophia to hold down our business while I was away.

      All I had to do was survive the flight.

      “I’m all checked in and ready to rock.”

      “Awesome.” Sophia handed me my small carry-on bag and hooked her thumb into her jeans pocket. “I’ll walk you over to the security check-in.”

      “I’m fine and can manage on my own.” My cheeks were starting to hurt from keeping my smile in place. The sooner Sophie left the sooner I’d have to stop pretending. “It’s just over there. Not even thirty feet away.”

      “That’s such bullshit.” She linked her arm through mine and pulled me along. “I know flying scares the shit out of you.”

      “I’m not scared. Thousands of people fly daily with absolutely no problems.” And there went my stomach again.

      “Do you have something you can take?”

      “I already swallowed an Ativan. Really, Sophie, I’m fine.”

      Sophia laughed and gave my hand a pat.

      The crowd ahead was being filtered through the security checkpoints. I dropped my bag, turned and threw my arms around her. “If my plane crashes I’m going to come back and haunt you and Fynn. Just so you know.”

      “Dude, if your plane crashes and you don’t haunt me, I’ll be totally pissed.” Sophie squeezed me tighter. “You’ll be fine, sweetie. I promise. Call me once you land so that I know you didn’t jump out midflight.”

      “I know and I will.” Pulling back, I couldn’t help but shake my head at the concerned look on her face. “I promise I’ll be okay once I get to my seat. I have a shit-ton of paperwork to go through, which will help keep me distracted.”

      “Is that a metric shit-ton, or an imperial shit-ton?”

      “Jerk. Go away. Have sex with Fynn. Lots of sex.”

      Sophia’s grin made my own a bit more genuine. “We are totally going to have lots of sex. And then we’re going to eat pizza and drink beer. He’s going to teach me about football. Now go before you miss your flight.”

      Thankfully, the security process only took a few minutes to get through. Customs took me no time as I went through the Nexus line, bypassing the hordes that stood in long winding rows. The gate for my plane was at the farthest possible end of the airport. By the time I reached my final destination, my back and arm were achy from carrying my too-full bag and walking in my