“Everyone knows he has very well established sex-dar. He always knows when people have been recently satisfied.”
“Is that so?” Isabelle seated herself and crossed her arms, willing her face to cool. It wasn’t working. “Please tell me that’s not really true.”
Jessica shrugged. “Sorry, but it is. I’m not certain if he can tell if he isn’t in the room though. You’re lucky he’s calling in for information tonight.”
“Calling in? Really? Why?”
Her friend shrugged again. “I don’t know. Maybe he’s getting some on the side, too. Remember when I told you I heard him in his office with a girl a while back?”
“Right. I remember. I hope he found someone nice to fall in love with.”
Jessica smiled. “Me, too. He deserves it.” She narrowed her eyes a moment. “And what about you? Is that what you’re doing? Falling in love?”
Isabelle lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know yet. It’s too new. While it’s been spectacular so far, not much has happened yet.”
“But it’s going to, right?”
“I hope so.”
“Make it happen, sister.” Jessica’s smile faded as she studied her for a few more minutes. “What are you worried about?”
“How do you know I’m worried about anything?”
She shrugged nonchalantly. “Maybe I have relationship-dar.”
“Oh you do not!” Isabelle sounded exasperated, but in fact she was grateful for Jessica’s interest and any forthcoming advice. She was likely reading every last worry-filled thought in her head.
“Okay, you’re right I don’t. But maybe I can tell by your expression that you’re worried about something because you’re my friend.” She gave her a quizzical stare, and asked, “Is it the sex?” She whispered the final word.
“No. I’m intrigued about that aspect. Not afraid.” Isabelle had been contemplating double penetration sex for weeks now.
“Then what?”
Isabelle wanted to confide in her friend. She needed someone to bounce ideas off of. “The thing is…I’ve heard some loose talk here and there—about Warrick especially—that makes me a bit nervous to start something with him.”
Jessica nodded as if she already knew what Isabelle was thinking about. “That he’s commitment-phobic?” Isabelle nodded slightly. “And that he’s not looking for marriage?” She nodded again. Jessica was two for two.
“So you’re afraid you’re going to get your heart stomped on if he decides a short-term affair is all he’s ultimately after?”
“Maybe you do have relationship-dar. You’re three for three.”
“The thing is, at least you know that going in. Adjust your heart accordingly. However, maybe he’ll be so infatuated with you after spending time together that he won’t ever be able to let you go.”
“Or I’ll fall hopelessly in love with him, but he won’t reciprocate, and then I’ll spend an eternity weeping uncontrollably in public places whenever I see him thereafter.”
Jessica shrugged. “Listen. There are no guarantees in life and even fewer of them in romantic relationships. I was once about to move out of my apartment and marry a guy who had meanwhile gotten my boss’s nineteen-year-old daughter pregnant. He then announced this heartbreaking information at a company staff meeting on Valentine’s Day, no less. You witnessed the entire public debacle as I recall.
“Therefore, I say you can’t top my miserable past, and you should go for it with Warrick and Colton, keeping your eyes open to all possibilities. Even the good ones. You might be surprised.”
Isabelle smiled. “You’re right. There are worse things. Also, if that horrible thing hadn’t happened, then you probably wouldn’t be happily married now, right?”
“That’s exactly right.”
“I guess that if things don’t work out, at least I’ll have some decadent memories to soothe me.”
“Now you’re talking.”
The phone on the table between them buzzed. Jessica pushed the button to answer and put the call from Gray on speakerphone.
“Hello, angels,” he said, laughing. “I’ve always wanted to say that.”
“Funny, Gray.” Jessica rolled her eyes. “Isabelle and I are both here ready to chat.”
“Hi, Gray,” Isabelle said, winking at Jessica.
There was silence at the end of the line. Then Gray said, “Isabelle?”
“Yes.”
“You sound very…relaxed.”