“Well, it shows. You look fabulous.”
“So do you. And I’m glad to hear you’re staying.” She let go of Kelly’s hand and brushed back her long blond hair, causing the dozen or so bands on her arms to clank. A number of chains adorned her neck, and gypsy earrings hung down to her shoulders. Gail loved jewelry.
“It’s good to see you, Kelly,” Pete called from where he stood by the door. “How long are you planning to stay?”
“Till Dennis throws me out,” she answered, rolling her eyes in his direction.
Pete stood an inch or so taller than Dennis. He had a killer smile and exceptional looks, which he was completely aware of. Like Dennis, Pete had that blond, surfer dude look, and his tan suggested he spent a lot of time in the sun. No wonder Gail had fallen for him.
“Ya know, Kel,” Dennis stepped from the door. “You could stay forever if you put a lid on it.”
Gail laughed. “Kelly? Never. Besides, you know you love her barbs.” She’d been witness to many of Kelly and Dennis’s witty comebacks.
“Hey, if you guys are ready, let’s go,” Pete said.
“Give a girl time to get ready. I’ll help Kelly while you guys do your thing.” Gail urged Kelly down the hallway. “I need some girl talk.” Gail looked back at Pete with longing. It was there for the world to see. Kelly wondered if the ‘girl talk’ meant things were heating up between Gail and Pete.
“How are things going with you and Pete?” She asked in a whisper as she was whisked down the hallway.
Gail practically shoved Kelly into the bedroom and slammed the door.
“Is it that bad?” Kelly was afraid to ask.
“You know how it is with him.” Gail gave a dismissive wave and plopped down on the bed. Her hair hung in her face where Kelly couldn’t see her eyes.
She stepped closer to the bed and angled her head trying to read Gail’s body language. “Is he still seeing other girls?”
Gail’s head jerked up and sure enough there were tears.
“Ah, honey.” Kelly sat on the bed and slipped an arm around Gail, giving her a hug.
“I can’t help it. I keep hoping.” She sniffed and swiped at her tears. “It’s been going really well lately. I haven’t seen him with anyone else. He’s very affectionate with me.”
“You mean you’re having sex.”
“Yeah.” Gail shoulders dropped with her sigh.
“Well, maybe that’s a good sign. It could mean you’re the only one.”
“I wish I could believe that.”
Surprise, then anger, filled Kelly’s chest. If Pete was sleeping with Gail, surely he would not be with anyone else. “You think he’s having sex with someone else?! The nerve of that. Call him out on it. Ask him point blank.” Damn him. Kelly jumped from the bed, but Gail grabbed her arm.
“Where are you going?” Fear glimmered in Gail’s eyes. Terror and dread crossed her face.
Seeing Gail’s expression, Kelly immediately stopped her ranting. It wouldn’t do Gail any good. “I’m just walking off my irritation.” She lowered her voice. “I can’t believe he’d be with you and another woman at the same time. I thought Pete was better than that.”
“I don’t know for sure.”
“If you even suspect, then he probably is.” Robert flashed in her mind, causing her irritation to swiftly rise. “Men are baboons. With animal instincts. Eat, shit, sex. They think of nothing else. They don’t need anything else.” She got up on her soap box and allowed a string of curses to flow. She needed this. She’d not vented her frustration since the scene with Robert at the Heritage.
Had she been holding everything in?
Well, no more. She cut loose. And it felt good. She paced and spewed every evil thing she could think to say about her married ex until she ran out of steam. Exhausted, bit by bit she became aware of her surroundings. Gail perched on the bed with one arm braced to the side and a look of long-suffering tedium on her face.
“Are you through?”
“Uh, guess I got a little carried away.”
“A little? The girl who charmed men and loved fun has turned into a resentful, aggrieved woman? What happened to you? Someone has definitely wronged you. You’re ready to lead an assault against men.”
Kelly closed her eyes and inhaled. She counted to five and exhaled, forcing away the distressing emotions the thought of Robert had forced upon her. She felt the touch of Gail’s hand on her shoulder.
“Kelly? What happened?” Gail had no idea that Kelly’s outpouring came from her latest breakup.
“My last relationship was with a married man.”
Gail sucked in air, her gasp sounding harsh to Kelly’s ears. “What?”
“My ex was married.” It hurt to admit that. Yeah, sure, she hadn’t known, but what did that say about her?
“And you have the gall to criticize—”
“No, Gail, wait. I didn’t know. When I found out . . .” Tears threatened and she wondered why the hell she was crying. She’d been too angry to cry when it happened. She’d been shocked, enraged, and bitter. She hated Robert. She hated all men. Then Dennis had held her, and she’d bawled like a baby. She thought she had gotten it out of her system.
Evidently not.
“Come sit down.” Gail patted the space beside her. “Tell me what happened.”
The damn man wasn’t worth her tears. Kelly tossed her hair out of her face and met Gail’s worried gaze. “I’m supposed to be comforting you. I’m so sorry.”
“Forget that nonsense. Now, tell me.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. I’m more angry than hurt. After all the hoopla was over, I actually felt relieved.” She took the tissue Gail handed her and blotted her cheeks. “I have no idea why I’m crying. I feel like such a fool. Robert betrayed me. I didn’t mean to unload on you.”
“Now at least I understand the tirade. You were speaking from your own experience. I thought you were being a little harsh.”
“I thought we were an item and then I found out he was married. I would never date a married man.”
“How did you find out?”
“Oh, this is the best part.” Kelly swiveled around to face Gail. “Robert cancelled our date, so my friend and I kept the dinner reservations. He was there.”
“With another woman?”
“That’s what I thought. I confronted him. When I asked who she was, she said she was his wife.”
“That must have been quite a shock.”
“Yeah,” Kelly snorted. “Not only was he with another woman, but a wife. Double whammy.”
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not.” Kelly sniffed and wiped her nose. “I left and put him behind me.”
“Sure you did.”
“I’m . . .”
“You came to Dennis.”
“He’s the first person I thought of. He’s my best friend.”
“I’ve always wondered if there was more between you two,” Gail said, with a knowing watchfulness. The look suggested Kelly and Dennis were lovers.
“Oh, no,” Kelly rushed to correct her. “You’ve got it wrong. We’re just friends.”
“Um hmm.” Gail nodded her head as if she didn’t believe it.
“Really,” Kelly’s voice grew more determined. “Dennis and I have never crossed that line.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
Maybe, but the one who had her interest had dark hair and blue sparkling eyes. Eyes that glowed with desire as his gaze devoured her naked body. She wasn’t ready to share that incident. Not yet.
“How did we get on this anyway?” Kelly wanted to change the subject and realized the topic was her fault. “Never mind, I did it. What I really want to know
is what are you going to do about Pete?”
“He’s good to me, Kelly, he really is. I just wish he’d make it permanent.”
“You’ve loved him for a long time, haven’t you?”
“Since the night I first saw him five years ago.”
“Five years?” They’d been dating for five years?
“I know. It’s too long to be following some guy around like a sad puppy dog.”
I’ll say.
“Well, that’s going to change.” Kelly stood and helped Gail to her feet.
“What do you mean?” Gail asked uneasy. “I don’t want anyone else.”
“I’m talking about the puppy dog part. You’re not going to dog Pete’s heels, not anymore. As a matter of fact, you’re going to do the opposite. Ignore him.”
“What? Are you crazy?”
“I don’t mean totally ignore him. Just don’t be so available. Notice other guys.”
“What do you mean notice other guys? I told you. I don’t want anyone else.”
“It doesn’t hurt to look, does it? Maybe the next time he calls, you’re busy.”
“No,” Gail said in a panic. “He’ll find someone else.”
“Don’t you want him to want you? The way you want him?” Kelly tried reasoning with her. “What if you waste years on Pete and he never commits to you?”
“But I like being with him. I can’t do it.” Gail looked so pitiful. But she’d be worse off if she spent years chasing a man who didn’t want her.
“I’m not saying cut things off with him. Just once or twice, throw him a curve. You’ll find out if he’s really interested in you.”
“At least you’re not telling me to drop him all together.
“I wouldn’t do that. Not when you care about Pete so much. But you need to think about yourself. Take care of yourself.”
“Kelly, are you giving up on all men?”
She had done that very thing—until she met Craig. Good lord. It hadn’t even been a week before another man made her break that vow.
“We’ll see. Right now, I need to get ready to go out. We both should concentrate on having a good time and forget the inner working of the minds of men.”
~ ~ ~
The neon sign flashed Jake’s Pub. Craig had been here before, but never alone. The noise suggested a large crowd. He pushed open the door. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior. A band at the far end of the room played loudly, customers shouted to be heard.
“Hello, handsome.” A pretty, buxom redhead in a tight-fitting outfit winked and flashed a mouth full of perfect white teeth.
“Hello, yourself.”
“What’s your pleasure?”
Wasn’t that a loaded question? “If there’s a spot at the bar, I’ll have a beer.”
“Sure thing, sweet cheeks. Come on.” She twirled on her toes and swung her hips, making him happy to follow her anywhere.
“Hey, Jake. Got a live one for ya.” She gestured to a barstool with a shrug of her shoulder and flashed another blazing smile. “I’ll catch ya later.” She winked again, and with a tray of drinks in her hand, she melted into the crowd.
Normally he’d be willing, and looking forward to enjoying himself. But a woman with blond hair and amber eyes kept flashing in his mind like that neon sign outside.
This wasn’t exactly what he’d planned, but after today he needed some space between him and Kelly. He’d nearly given in to his attraction today. Damn, the woman had a body made to drive men wild. He’d been no exception. Dennis showing up when he did slammed him back to reality. Kelly belonged to his friend.
Craig ordered a Bud and pulled out his wallet. The bartender slid a bottle across the counter and Craig handed him a bill. “Keep it.” He took a long draw, relishing the cold freshness in his throat. There was nothing quite like a cold beer.
He took a long pull, hoping to evade the image of Kelly in her bikini, the flash of mischief as they’d frolicked in the pool. A twinge tugged at his groin. He enjoyed her company too damn much. Her beauty attracted him, yes. She was sexy as hell, and the chemistry between them drove him nuts.
He shifted on the stool, trying to get control of his arousal. He needed to get his head in the right place, meaning off his best friend’s girl.
He turned, with beer in hand. The harder he tried to think of something else, the more Kelly popped right back into his mind, especially after their time at the pool. He couldn’t help but notice how her breasts quavered as she frolicked in the water, and how quickly she’d responded when she brushed against him. She seemed to like him okay. More than like. If they hadn’t been in plain sight of everyone, he could have participated in some adult rated fun.
Couldn’t friends tease and joke around? Couldn’t he enjoy himself and spend time with Kelly as a friend? She was fun. She surprised him when she tried to pull his feet out from under him. He got a good shot of her tight buns angled up in the air.
Christ. If he didn’t block these images now, he’d have a full-blown erection.
He tipped up his beer, downed it, and ordered another.
The band finished one song and began a new tune. In his peripheral vision, he noticed the entrance door open as more people filled the bar. For some reason, a tall blonde caught his attention. His breathing hitched. In a flash, she disappeared.
Damn. Now he was hallucinating. Seeing Kelly’s image. He lifted the bottle and took a swig. Phrases of conversations drifted within his hearing.
“There’s a crowd in here tonight. Bet you’ll see a lot of people you know, Kelly.”
His arm froze in mid-air and his fingers tightened on the longneck. He swiveled to the right.
There she stood. With Dennis, Pete, and Gail.
As Dennis approached the bar, a redhead waylaid him. The same one who’d wiggled her backside while leading Craig to the bar. She cozied right up to Dennis, slipped her arms around his neck, and planted a big one on his lips. Same ole, same ole. Dennis put way too much enthusiasm into that kiss for a man who had a girlfriend.
Craig quickly looked at Kelly, judging her reaction.
“Casanova is alive and well.” She laughed and didn’t seem distressed in the least. Damned puzzling. He’d seen women fight like cats over less. Possessive she was not.
Pete and Gail stood behind her. Pete spotted someone across the room and nudged the two girls through the crowd.
Craig stayed silent. Kelly hadn’t seen him. He simply enjoyed watching her. Her friendly personality exhibited confidence and an elegant demeanor. The woman had class.
Before she slipped into the booth, she glanced back at the bar, evidently in search of Dennis. Without a moment’s hesitation, she joined in with her friends’ conversation.
Craig turned around and found the redhead rubbing her boobs against Dennis’s chest. Dennis leaned down and whispered something in her ear, then gave her a wolfish grin. If Craig knew his buddy, he’d just made a date.
It pissed him off.
Dennis was a fool. Craig didn’t understand how Kelly could ignore his behavior. She must be an exceptional woman to put up with her boyfriend kissing other women. He’d heard love was blind, that love made people do things they normally wouldn’t do. Did Kelly love Dennis?
Craig took a gulp of his beer. If Kelly were his, he would be glued to her side.
A twinge tore at his chest. He hadn’t known Kelly long, hell, he’d just met the woman. The thought of her in love with his best friend churned his insides.
Today at the pool, she’d been teasing and suggestive. She’d flirted and rubbed her sexy body against him. Hell. He was getting hard just thinking about it. He smacked his brew on the counter harder than he’d intended.
“Hey, ole buddy.” Dennis lightly pun
ched Craig on the shoulder. “What are you doing over here?”
Shit. Dennis might be a good friend, but he wouldn’t mind punching some sense into the idiot. “Having a beer.”
“You look like you lost your best friend.”
“You’re my best friend.” Craig grumbled the words. At the moment, he wanted to punch his best friend.
“Well, I’m not going anywhere. Besides, you came to Charlotte to see me, didn’t you? I’ll not let you sit here and drink alone. Come on.” Dennis slapped him on the back. Craig rose and followed his buddy, thinking he’d be better off if he headed for the door. As they drew near the booth with Kelly, Dennis called out. “Hey, look who I found.”
Kelly’s head came up with a start and her amber gaze fastened on Craig. The tightness in his chest eased when her lips lifted in a teasing smile.
Pete spoke first. “Hey, Craig. Glad you could join us. That’s two surprises in one night.”
“Good surprises,” Gail added. “First Kelly, now you.”
“I’m glad you consider me a good surprise.” An inner voice wanted Kelly to think it good as well. Even though his conscious reminded him she was with his ass of a friend.
“I’m glad to see you Craig. Although, I expected Dennis to bring over his lady friend.”
The way Kelly said lady didn’t bode well for someone.
Dennis took her hand and lingered too damn long while he kissed her fingers. “My attention is only on you.”
Craig felt a twinge somewhere in the pit of his gut. The hell of it was they made a nice-looking couple.
The two gazed into each other’s eyes adoringly, until Kelly giggled. Pete and the others laughed outright.
“He lies with such perfection,” Gail snickered.
Kelly batted her eyelashes. “Yes. Straight from his heart,” she said and chuckled again.
“So, Craig. What brings you here?” Pete asked.
“Seemed like the place to be.”
Instant Enticement Page 8
