I stifle a yawn, settling my drink on a table. “I am a little tired, but I’m having a great time still. I think I have another hour or two left in me. Your son or daughter hasn’t totally worn me out yet.”
“Good,” he says with a grin, “because I like showing you off.”
I giggle.
“Really? You want everyone to see your girlfriend with her swollen ankles, puffy face, and enormous tummy?”
My man’s big hands skim over the large mound worshipfully.
“Hell yeah,” he growls beneath his breath, those blue eyes possessive. “I want everyone to know you’re knocked up, and that I’m the man who put that baby in you.”
But then I giggle.
“Yes but tonight isn’t about me or the baby. It’s about the new Sugar Glaze line!”
He shrugs.
“I like knowing it’s about all three of you. You made it possible honey.”
I’m just about to say something when Marcy waltzes over. She’s gorgeous in a tiny cocktail dress, but even crazier is the man behind her. Her date for the night has the sculpted features of a male model, as well as a physique that must be the result of hundreds of hours in the gym.
“Hey! Thank you for inviting me,” she coos with a big smile.
I kiss her cheek. “No, I’m glad you could come, Marce. How are things?”
She smiles and winks.
“I’m good. And oh by the way, this is Chad. Chad, Bridget and Todd. Bridget and Todd, Chad. They’re the hosts,” she says in a whisper to her boytoy.
“Nice to meet you Chad. How do you guys know each other?” I ask politely.
As if on cue, Chad starts moving to the beat, and then to everyone’s surprise, he rips off his shirt to reveal sculpted abs and broad shoulders, all the while gyrating his hips.
“Baby, not here!” Marcy gasps, her eyes wide. “OMG, this is a party, not a strip show!”
He looks confused.
“Yes, but your friend asked how we know each other, and this is how, right? I dance at PseudoMale in the city. That’s how Marcy and I met,” he says before dipping his head to give my friend a kiss. “She came backstage to chat after my set, and the rest is history.”
I stare at Marcy with shock.
“PseudoMale?” is my whisper. “Really, Marce?”
She giggles.
“It’s not what it sounds like, I swear. Okay, it is what it sounds like,” she admits. “But it’s lots of fun! Here Chad, put your shirt back on. I don’t want you to embarrass me or yourself,” she says with another giggle. Then, she hustles her man off as Todd and I stare at each other with wonder.
“Did that really just happen?” he asks in a choked voice. “Did a male stripper just whip off his shirt and gyrate his hips at our product launch?”
I giggle in turn.
“Yeah, it was crazy but totally fun too. Don’t worry, only a few people saw and it was probably the highlight of their year.”
My boyfriend merely shakes his head, his blue eyes amused.
“It’s just another day in the life,” he rumbles. “I shouldn’t even be surprised anymore.”
“I know,” I giggle once more. “But Marcy told me she’s going to a belly dancing event at Sanctum next week. I don’t think you can bring a date, so we know that she’ll be having fun without Chad when the time comes.”
My boyfriend shakes his head.
“Belly dancing? She won’t be belly dancing during that event. If I know Sanctum, then it’s another type of dancing altogether.”
I giggle.
“I know, and she asked to borrow that belly-chain you bought me. Can I lend it to her?”
“No, absolutely not,” Todd growls, blue eyes flashing. “That was expensive sweetie, and it’s for you, not her. It would be unhygienic, besides.”
“Okay, okay,” I acknowledge while patting his arm lightly. “Got it. Well, Marcy will just have to use paste jewels then, but I know my girl. She’ll find a way to be super-inventive.”
But then, a middle manager from Sugar Glaze comes bustling up with a bag in her hand.
“Sir,” she says breathlessly. “It’s time for your speech. I have the goods,” she says, handing him the sack. Todd looks surprised, but then nods graciously and taps a fork against a glass while pulling me close to his side. The crowd hushes and turns towards us.
“Thank you all for coming to the Sugar Glaze release party this afternoon,” he announces. “I know we’re all in the middle of important conversations, so I won’t waste your time. Just a quick intro of the new colors we’re debuting.”
Then, he reaches into the bag and pulls out several new shades of nail polish.
“Ah, here we are. This new line is called Sugar Baby, and as you can see, we’ve named everything according to that theme. This baby pink with a touch of peach is called Baby Blush. We also have a sweet lilac color called Sugar Grape, and also a light blue, called Boo-Berry. But this last one is my personal favorite because it was inspired by my gorgeous girlfriend Bridget: this red is called Kiss-Tastic.”