Dean froze in his seat, paralyzed, like he had just looked into the face of Medusa herself. The only part of him he could move was his heart, which beat like a steel drum. He stared into Jon’s round eyes, unable to breathe. When he could not take it another second, he twisted around so fast he nearly toppled over in his chair. His eyes scanned the place like a pair of bomb sniffing dogs, working in tandem from one end of the patio to the other. They gravitated to the parking lot, hunting and searching in a roving sweep. A pent-up breath squeezed out from between his lips. He turned back around, a heavy scowl stealing his good looks.
Jon returned a wide smile, the sun glinting off his white teeth. “Gotcha, bitch.”
“If you don’t stop doing that, I’m going to throw you overboard tomorrow night.”
“Sorry, I thought I saw her.”
“No you didn’t. You’re just fucking with me and that shit is not cool, man.”
“I just…”
“You’re better than this, Jon,” Dean said, acting overly upset. “You owe it to me and you owe it to yourself.”
Jon’s face sobered dramatically. “I dressed up as a clown for you!”
Dean flinched with the outburst and glanced around at the turning heads. “Damn, Jon, what do you have turrets today?”
“This is going to be so cool,” Ben said, taking a quick sip of his pop. “I’ve never been night fishing before.”
“You’re going to shit your pants when you real in a king salmon,” Shaun said, locking his fingers behind his head. “They fight like hell.”
Jon pushed his shades up onto his head, pinning his long bangs back. “You sure you don’t want to go to the club instead? Maybe hit up Chi-Town and party with some hot stripper named Anita Dick.”
Ben squinted through the umbrella’s shade. “Is that your stripper name you got from one of those online formulas?”
“That’s not my stripper name,” he replied, offended by the very suggestion. “My stripper name is Heidi Ticklehorn.”
Shaun arched an eyebrow. “Mine was Chesty Sweetjugs.”
Dean firmly planted an index finger on the unbalanced table. “I told you no strippers. After what Evy went through with Richie’s bachelor party, she’s totally gun-shy now. I won’t make her worry about something like that happening again.”
Shaun and Jon exchanged cryptic glances.
“Not that anything like that ever would happen again,” Dean clarified. “I’m not Richie.”
“Exactly!” Jon said. “That’s why it should be no big deal. She knows you’d never do something stupid like that. You’re Dean Jacobs, the man, the myth, the legend.”
Dean lowered his voice. “I want to keep her mind at ease with this whole thing, which is why I didn’t want a bachelor party in the first place. I agreed to a fishing charter with just the guys and that’s where it ends. Period. If I see one girl near that dock, I’m turning around and going home.” His index finger punctuated the statement by rocking the table again.
Jon held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, I’m just throwin it out there, gangster.”
“It’s all good, bro. It’s just going to be the four of us, some cold beers, and the open sea. We’re going to have a great time.” Shaun raised his cup into the air. “Here is to a night we will never forget.”
Chapter Two
Tasha stepped inside Sugars where the air-conditioning graciously licked at her tanned skin. Brooke squirted out from behind the counter like a wet bar of soap, squealing with joy as she hurried across the checkered floor and swept her best friend up into her arms. Tasha hugged her back and held on a little too long, already missing home.
Brooke pulled away to look her over. “Did you remember everything?”
“That’s the last of it,” Tasha sighed, turning to Evy with a courageous smile.
Evy wrapped Tasha in her arms and buried her face in Tasha’s dirty blond hair which always smelled like Aveda shampoo. It was good to see someone from home. Evy remembered what it was like moving to a new town where everyone was a stranger and you could get lost just trying to find your way home from the Piggly Wiggly. Evy brushed a strand of hair behind Tasha’s ear and gave her a bright smile. “I’m so glad you’re here, and you look beautiful as usual.”
Tasha looked down to her blue high heels and tight-fitting jeans, her hand coolly swiping at a tear before it fell. “I know.”
“Tash, we are going to have a great summer,” Brooke said, taking her hands.
“Blink and you’ll miss it,” Evy muttered, tightening her ponytail.
Tasha frowned. “Huh?”
“It’s just an expression they use around here,” Brooke said, admonishing Evy with a stern look. “You are going to love it here.”
“Why do they say that though? Because it’s so cold here? What did you guys do to me? You know I hate the cold!”
Evy and Brooke laughed. “We’re just glad you’re here,” Evy said, scanning the half full dessert lounge. “We’ve been so busy; we really need your help.”
“And with the wedding,” Brooke added. “Evy’s in way over her head with the wedding and house hunting at the same time.”
“I am not.”
Brooke squeezed Tasha’s hands. “Thank you for doing this, sweetie.”
Tasha thumbed behind her. “You think my car’s okay out there? It’s got all my stuff in it.”
“It’ll be fine,” Evy replied, brushing flour from her apron. “This is a great neighborhood.”
“I don’t know,” Tasha said, glancing out the large window overlooking the bustling downtown street. “I saw a guy wearing a Raiders jacket and an eye-patch out there.”
“Ooh,” Brooked cooed, “did you get his number?”
“I bet he only has eye for you,” Evy snickered.
“And this must be Tasha!”
Brooke turned to a black lady in a pretty, orange dress. “It is,” Brooke said, turning back to Tasha. “This is Mrs. Johansen, our favorite guest!”
“Don’t remind my hips,” Mrs. Johansen muttered, switching an iced mocha to her left hand. “Nice to meet you, Tasha.” She smiled warmly and shook Tasha’s hand, looking her up and down. “Lord almighty, they sure know how to grow em down there in Iowa, don’t they?”
Tasha blushed. “Aw thank you.”
“Each one prettier than the last.”
“Hey!” Brooke and Evy said at the same time.
Mrs. Johansen bellowed with laughter and started for the front door. “Welcome to town, Tasha. Keep an eye on these two; they take to trouble like ducks to water!”
Brooke waved goodbye and then turned to the tables of customers enjoying an afternoon snack. She nodded to the kitchen and they followed her behind the counter.
“Where’s Ben?” Tasha asked, surveying the rows of liquor bottles and pushing through the swinging door into the yellow kitchen.
“Having lunch with the boys. They’re going over their big plans for Dean’s bachelor party tomorrow night.”
“Oh boy,” Tasha groaned, plopping onto a stool at the large island table anchored to the middle of the room. “I can’t believe you’re letting him do this, Evy. You know he’s going to bang a stripper,” she said, biting back a grin. “They all do.”
Evy pulled a tray of Red Hot cupcakes from one of the four ovens, blowing a loose strand of hair from her face. “Haven’t even been here fifteen minutes and I’m already sick of you.”
“Oh, you know I’m just kidding!” Tasha laughed. “You’re not still all hung up on the whole Richie thing, are you?”
Evy set the tray on the stainless steel island, the smell of cinnamon blanketing the room. “Dean’s not like what’s his name,” she replied, taking off the mitts with Sugars embroidered in hot pink across them. “And no, I’m not.”
“So where’re they going?”
“Fishing.”
Tasha wrinkled her nose. “Fishing? Eww!”
The ghost of a devilish grin curled one corner of Evy’
s lips. “Besides, tonight I plan on making him forget all about any stupid strippers.”
Tasha arched an inquisitive eyebrow. “You’re going to make him a friendship bracelet?”
“You’re going to make him watch Dirty Dancing for the two hundredth time?” Brooke chimed in.
Tasha inhaled sharply and covered her mouth. “Oh my God, you’re going to watch him have sex with another woman while you play with yourself.”
“Evy!” Brooke barked. “You are such a dirty little slut! I’m telling dad.”
Evy laughed. “What is wrong with you two?”
Brooke washed her hands in the big round sink. “That’d be the day, Tasha. Evy’s idea of pleasuring herself is buying a new purse.”
“Okay, Brooke, we get it. And it’s shoes, not purses.”
Tasha adjusted her white tank top, admiring her modest assets. “So what’re we doing for your bachelorette party tomorrow night? I’ve got a big bag of penis-shaped rape whistles ready to go.”
Evy tossed her a sideways glance.
Tasha lifted a shoulder to her ear. “What? You never know.”
“I made a penis-shaped cake,” Brooke said, spreading a menacing grin. “A chocolate penis-shaped cake.”
Tasha threw her head back and laughed, slapping the table with her hand. “Oh snap! I don’t think Evy is ready for the chocolate thunder from down under!”
Evy rolled her eyes and went into the walk-in cooler to retrieve a bag of fiery cinnamon cream cheese frosting. She came back out in a smoky cloud. “Can we just keep it simple? Dinner and drinks with my favorite girls is all I want. We need a girls’ night out.”
“It’s going to be so much fun,” Brooke said, handing Tasha a black apron with pink stenciling. “I’ve been looking forward to it all week.”
Tasha held the apron between a finger and thumb like it was a dirty diaper. “What’s this?”
“That’s an apron, sweet pea,” Brooke replied flatly, loading a frosting gun. “It’s so you don’t get your clothes dirty.”
“Oh, hell no.” Tasha dropped it to the table. “This girl is not going to work after a six hour road trip. This girl is taking a nap!” She got up from the stool and held out her hand. “Can I have your keys?”
Brooke looked up. “My keys?”
Tasha nodded. “Yeah, I feel like I’m still driving.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, honey bunny, but you can’t stay with us.”
Wrinkles forged trails through Tasha’s face like hardened settlers. “Why not? I thought that was the plan until I found my own place.”
Brooke cocked the frosting gun. “Change of plan.”
Evy swirled a perfect red coil around the top of a cupcake and moved on to the next one. “You don’t want to go over there right now. Their house is one big baby making factory.”
“When did this start?”
“Awhile ago.” Brooke took aim with the gun and fired. “All we do now is try to make a baby. On the couch, in the shower, on the washer during the spin cycle.” She stopped and looked up. “I mean, you don’t even want to walk barefoot in our house right now let alone sit down.”
“That is disgusting.”
Brooke moved on to the next cupcake. “Plus, Ben thinks our house is haunted.”
“What?” Tasha said loudly.
“Turns out, the old guy who lived there before us died in his sleep in the master bedroom,” Evy said, digging in her purse. “Which is probably why Ben wanted to buy it.”
Brooke shook her head. “We found out after we moved in. Trust me, I would’ve never gone for it.”
“Okay, that’s not creepy.”
Brook moved on to the next row of cupcakes. “The TV keeps turning on by itself in the middle of the night, but I think Ben’s just messing with me.” She grunted. “He wishes it was haunted.”
Evy slapped some keys in Tasha’s hand. “You can stay at my apartment. I’ll be at Dean’s until we close on our house in a few weeks.”
“Ooh, living in sin, Evy? That’s not like you.”
“We’re engaged.”
“I know but still, you can go to hell for that.”
Evy tilted her head to the side. “You sound like my grandma.”
Tasha slipped the keys into her Marc Jacobs bag and let out a melancholy sigh. “Everyone is getting married around here but me.”
“Your time will come, Tash,” Brooke replied, squirting a red coil around a cupcake. “If you’d stop batting below your average maybe you’d find the right guy.”
“It’s my lot in life, Brooke, and you know...”
Brooke pointed the gun at her, stopping her in her tracks. “If you even think about bringing up that stupid curse, I’m going to blow your brains out.”
“Always about you, isn’t it Brooke?” Tasha turned for the swinging door and then stopped. “And just for the record, I don’t mind the curse. Turns out, I like my guys with a little meat on their bones.”
“A little?” Brooke said. “You haven’t dated one hot guy in over a year now.”
“That is not true! And I’m tired of dating players anyway. I always end up getting played.”
Evy shot too much frosting onto a cupcake and watched it oozed over the side. She looked up and swallowed hard.
Brooke glanced at Tasha out the corner of her eye. “That miserable track record ended when you entered the city limits.”
Tasha sucked in a deep breath that made her chest rise. “Whatever.”
“You promised,” Brooke snapped.
“I said I’d try.”
“Promise me.”
“Will you leave her alone, Brooke? If she wants to free Willy, then let her,” Evy said, setting the cupcake with too much frosting in the misfit tub for Ben.
Brooke’s pointed glare showed Tasha no mercy. “Promise me.”
“Fine. I promise,” Tasha said dully, pushing through the swinging door with a wave and disappearing up front.
Brooke shook her head. “I think she had her fingers crossed behind her back. Could you see?”
“Quit trying to control her life.”
Brooke’s sharp laugh ricocheted off the yellow walls. “That’s the last thing that girl needs right now!”
“Let’s just finish this next batch so I can get out of here. I’ve got to hit the mall.”
“For what?”
An impish grin slid across Evy’s lips. “Victoria’s Secret.”
An eyebrow leaped into the middle of Brooke’s forehead. “You really are going to fuck him six ways to Sunday, aren’t you?”
“What does that phrase even mean?”
Brooke shrugged, making her black work shirt jump on her shoulders. “All I know is that if you get pregnant before I do I’m going to strangle you.”
“This isn’t a race.”
“I’ve been married way longer!”
Evy laughed. “So?”
“So…I’m starting to get worried. I mean, what if it’s me? What if I can’t…” The words died on her lips.
Evy tucked a loose strand of chocolate colored hair behind an ear. “You have to stop thinking like that.”
“I can’t help it.”
“What about Ben’s dream in the hospital? I thought he caught a glimpse of the future in his coma.”
Brooke dropped her gaze to the colorful cupcakes dotting the table. “He did.”
“Then you’ll be fine.”
She looked up. “I hope you’re right.”
Evy held her sister’s apprehensive gaze, taking a little longer to find the right words than intended. “Everything will work out. It always does, Brooke, and you know that.”
Chapter Three
Dean came home from work and stopped in the living room, a briefcase swinging in his hand, the sound of music nearly as low as the lights. He inhaled a deep breath of a candle that wasn’t his. “Hello?”
Evy stepped out from the bedroom and leaned in the doorway, curling a glass of red wine to her chest. “Hey you
.”
His head snapped around. He opened his mouth to speak but her short-cut negligee stole his breath. His Adam’s apple rose and fell as his eyes slid down her freshly shaven legs. “I guess dinner is early tonight, huh?”
She sauntered closer, swinging one black high heel in front of the other. “Hope you’re hungry.”
He licked his lips, eyes ravishing the mounds of flesh peeking out over her lacey black top. The pink bow holding them back called to him to pull it. Pull that bow and set them free while there was still time. “Starving.”
Her eyes fell to his charcoal gray slacks. Butterfly wings tickled her insides when she saw the bulge in his pants. He was hungry all right and so was she. Evy set her glass down and pulled him closer by his lavender necktie. “Better get it while it’s hot.”
The briefcase slipped from his fingers to the floor with a thump. He ran his hands over her tight ass, exploring every smooth curve. “Aw hell, someone’s not wearing any panties.”
A coy smile graced her shiny lips, her emerald gaze flicking back and forth between his eyes. “Oops.”
Dean smiled and cradled her cheeks in his warm palms, chest undulating beneath his tie. Their lips met, hesitantly at first, nibbling for only a second or two before pulling away. They took each other in, letting the tension grow between them. Suddenly, Dean found her neck like a vampire in the night, hitting the spot just below her ear that drove her wild. His hand seized her breast with urgency. “God, I want you,” he whispered in her ear, inhaling her scent.
She grabbed a fist full of his hair and pulled him up. “Not here.”
The music softly washed over them while he studied Evy’s face for clues. “No?”
She grabbed her wine and towed him down the hall by the hand, her heels gliding over the dark hardwood. His room smelled like jasmine. The bed was perfectly made, crisp and white. Evy set the glass on the nightstand and slung him on the bed and pounced, mounting him like she had been practicing the maneuver for months. She pinned his wrists to the mattress and stared down into his eyes, her nipples peeking out over her lingerie, eager for a glimpse at what was going to happen next.
Fate Interrupted 3 Page 2
