“I’m betting he wants to be all up on your ass.” She nods her head in the hot guy’s direction.
“What has gotten into you tonight, Lace?” I lightly swat at her arm and shake my head, hoping to calm myself down because my heart’s racing a million miles a minute to have that hot man all over me. I down my drink in one long gulp, needing some liquid courage to calm my nerves.
She giggles and takes a sip of her drink. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m happy. Now, go make us proud and accidentally drop something on the way to the ladies' room right in front of him.” The waitress comes back as if she noticed we finished our drinks. We order another round even though I shouldn’t be drinking so much.
Once she leaves, I continue the conversation. “Not going to happen. I don’t have to go, and secondly, I have no intention of introducing myself. I’m not desperate.” Okay, I’m not desperately waiting for any man, but suddenly my body is desperately craving his attention.
“Fine. You’re going to miss out on a good thing, though.”
“Doubt it. He’s probably just looking to score like a vulture circling his next meal. Look what I’m wearing. I’ve picked one of the sluttiest outfits I could find for tonight.”
“We noticed, and you look sexy as hell. No red-blooded male could miss that tempting display you’ve got going on. If I was a guy, I’d be panting like a dog in heat around you.” She winks and then licks her chops at me.
“This isn’t me, though. He won’t want the real me in the morning.”
“Honey, please. Besides, this isn’t about forever anyway. If you’re going to lose your virginity, you might as well lose it to a guy like that instead of that one guy that follows you around at school.”
Casey tilts her head toward the handsome guy across the bar and adds, “At least that guy looks like he’ll make you come.” She has no idea that I’m already halfway there, but I don’t need to give them any more ammo.
“I told you. Damon and I were just classmates. We never hung out outside of class hours. Hell, he doesn’t even have my number. Besides, it’s not like I’m interested in him. It wouldn’t happen, so there’s no presumptive comparison.”
“Girl, that guy has it bad for you. I’m glad you graduated so he’ll stop following you around like a puppy dog.”
“Actually, we’re both applying to the same place. Tomorrow’s the baking challenge at this hotel. Only the best will be up for the job, so that’s why I need your support,” I remind them just as the waitress sets down another round of drinks. We pass them around and cheer.
Lacey raises her glass. “Of course, Mare. You’re going to nail it tomorrow. You’re the best baker anyone has ever seen. Seriously, the judges aren’t going to know what hit them, and they’ll be begging you to join their bakery. Cheers.”
“Cheers,” Casey and I say, clinking our glasses before taking a drink.
“Wait—didn’t your brother offer to buy you your own bakery?” Casey asks.
“Yes, he did, but of course I turned him down. I want to be a big girl and prove myself.”
“Marilyn, you don’t have shit to prove. It would be a wise investment for him because you’d make it a hit.”
“Still, I need to do this and see if I can handle the pressure before I waste his money.”
“Fine, but have another drink and then hit up that fine-ass motherfucker before you go to bed.” I look his way, and as if he feels my eyes on him, he turns his head toward me.
A part of me is tempted to follow the girls’ plan, but I’m just not that crazy confident.
Suddenly there’s a shadow at the table followed by a deep growl. Strangely, it doesn’t affect me like I’ve read in the books, and then I hear Lacey say, “Mr. Hardwick.” I glance and see it’s her boss. Lacey’s eyes widen, and her pulse picks up along the carotid artery in her neck.
“Up out of that seat now, Lacey,” he tells her.
“No. You’re not the boss of my free time, mister.” She tries to act tough, but it’s like a little kitten who thinks they’re a tiger. It’s adorable.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” he snarls when he can see down her dress. Her rack is pretty nice and clearly on display.
“It’s a dress. I’m sure you’ve seen one before. We all have them.”
“I’m not going to tell you again to get up.”
She smiles sweetly at him. “Good, because I’m not done with my drink.”
He growls, and she sips her drink fast, knowing damn well he’s going to be taking her out of her seat. The smirk she gives me is almost too much to bear, but I hold in my smile when I feel another body moving closer to us.