Playing with Fire by Emily Blake

potential.” Jeremy smiled again and all was forgiven. There was something really familiar about his eyes. “So, do you have any homework?” he asked. “Maybe that’s a good place to start.”

Chapter Nineteen
    Kelly switched her cell phone to “silent” before entering Grandmother Diamond’s house. Her Highness hated interruptions, especially cell phones. She operated strictly on dinosaur time—no computers, no cell phones, no microwave—nothing that beeped. She could have a smart house if she wanted to, with walls that moved and music that followed you and security up the wazoo. But she preferred hoarding to spending.
    â€œKelly. You’re late.” Grandmother Diamond was sitting in her parlor holding court when Kelly walked in. She looked every bit the queen, swirling a crystal glass of tinkling ice instead of ascepter. Her loyal subjects were there, too. Well, most of them.
    Phoebe and Bill, Kelly’s mom and dad, sat at the inlaid gaming table looking like something out of a Brooks Brothers catalog. They held hands and smiled politely, standing to greet their daughter. Kelly knew her mom was hoping she would come kiss her on the cheek to make her look good in front of Her Highness. She also knew if she didn’t, her dad would lay into her about it when she got home. But she didn’t feel like it, so she waved casually. “Mumsy. Pops.” She smiled as her mother’s face fell.
    In front of Kelly, Aunt Christine was standing behind the settee scrutinizing her reflection in the huge framed mirror. Probably checking for new lines to shoot with Botox. If she wasn’t careful she might reveal an emotion. Pausing in her inspection, Christine turned around. “Nice of you to join us,” she said snidely. Then she leaned in so Kelly could kiss the air near her cheek.
    Nice of you to point out I’m late, Kelly thought. It was already obvious she was the last one to arrive.
    Alison had even managed to make it without a driver. She was seated right next to Her Highness, huddling under her wing. A few weeks ago Kelly and Alison would have been speaking in eyebrows and furtive text messages, planning their getaway to the pool house. Tonight, however, her cousin was carefully avoiding her gaze.
    â€œNow that you’re finally here, we can go in to dinner…assuming it’s not cold.” Grandmother Diamond stood stiffly and led the way to the dining room with the help of a carved gold cane Kelly had never seen before. As far as she knew, her grandmother did not have a problem walking. Probably just for show.
    The table was laid with creamy china ringed in gold and set with the full complement of silver. The old stuff, Kelly noticed. Taking her usual seat on her grandmother’s left, Kelly arranged her napkin on her lap and her smile on her face. It was time to remind Alison of all she had recently lost. “Aunt Christine, I love those earrings. Are they Harry Winston?” she asked sweetly.
    Christine reached up and touched the huge diamonds dangling from her ears as if she had forgotten she was wearing them. “Oh, these. Aren’t they divine? They’re worth a fortune, of course.”
    Kelly glanced at Alison. She was keeping up the stoic thing pretty well. Impressive—and irritating. Her facade needed cracking.
    â€œThose would look amazing with the dress I bought for the autumn formal tomorrow,” Kelly went on. “Don’t you think dangly and slinky are perfect together?”
    Alison ignored the comment and delicately spooned up a bite of lobster bisque. Her table manners were infuriatingly perfect—far better than Kelly’s, as Her Highness liked to remind her.
    â€œI’m sure you’ll find something,” Aunt Christine said dismissively.
    Kelly scowled. That wasn’t the answer she was looking for. “Chad is going to flip when he sees me in that dress,” she said. “You