“You’re making me want to break out a can of Raid. Just saying,” Kendra warned.
Pepper agreed, but from everything she’d heard, Suz was that desirable. “Maybe you have the right pheromones.”
“You know I was talking about you,” Kendra grumbled, “but that’s fine. I can be the poor, spinster sister, sitting at home and polishing the silver.”
If she didn’t know how much Kendra had dated in college, Pepper would have felt more guilt. “I thought you said you needed about a year to recover from that debacle of ‘accidentally’ dating three guys at one time? On the same night?”
Across the table from her, Kendra’s and Suz’s expressions were opposites in extremes. Suz looked impressed, Kendra resigned.
“You had to go and remind me of that?”
Pepper grinned. “That’s what friends are for.”
“I think I need to hear all the details,” Suz said, “but I have to run pretty quick. Do you two want to get together with Lynn and me for girls’ night out? We were planning one pretty soon, and we’d love to have you join in.”
“I’d like that,” Pepper agreed quickly.
“Ditto.” Kendra dug in her purse and pulled out a card, handing it over to Suz. “Cell phone numbers, Facebook, the usual.”
“Fab.” The curvy blonde tucked it away, finishing the last of her drink and putting the cup back on the table. “And now I really have to run, but Pepper, have fun and remember, no glove, no love. Kendra? You let those babies grow up. Cowboys are far more exciting once they’ve had a little time in the saddle. If you know what I mean.”
She left in a flurry of golden hair, a swinging bright blue purse, and killer heels that really shouldn’t be out on the street.
Pepper locked eyes with her friend, and the two of them managed to keep a straight face for all of ten seconds before bursting out in laughter. By the time Pepper caught her breath she felt a whole lot better. “I really do like her.”
“Oh, me too. I wasn’t laughing at her or anything.” Kendra wiped her eyes. “But how does she come up with those things on the spur of the moment?”
“I don’t know, but she’s fun to be around.” And the brief respite had been desperately needed. It was with a lighter heart that Pepper laid a hand on Kendra’s arm. “You’re fun to be around, too, and I hope you know that. I’m glad we’re going to share the apartment, and I really hope you’re okay with the Jack thing.”
“Of course I am.” Kendra pushed her empty coffee cup forward. “It was a bit of a shock, but I couldn’t be happier for you. Really.”
Pepper smiled, and suddenly the butterflies were back. Strange butterflies of nervousness that she rarely had when it came to fooling around. Suz’s comment about experienced men had hit home. Pepper had never worried about holding back in sexual experimentation, but no way would she be able to match the things Jack had seen and done.
The good part? She was pretty sure he wouldn’t mind helping her take the training wheels off.
Suz
Suz settled behind the wheel of her fire-engine red convertible, sliding back the roof before she pulled out her phone. Better get this conversation out of the way before she got into traffic.
“Returning your call, doll face.”
Her best friend Lynn all but squealed with excitement. “Oh my God, do I ever have the best gossip.”
It was cruel, but these things had to be done. Suz cleared her throat then dove in.
“Jack and Pepper are going to do the nasty. Parker knows about it, and now he’s giving you the evil eye for grinning while thinking about how hot those two are together, but he’s also happy because thinking about how hot those two are together totally got your engine going, and you did the freaky-deaky all night long.”
Dead silence greeted her from the other end of the line.
Suz chuckled.
Lynn finally caught up. “Number one, you are such a shit. Number two, how the hell do you do that?”
“Ah, now, if I told you my methods? I’d have to kill you.”
“You’re amazing, that’s all I can say.”
“I know.”
Lynn laughed. “Bitch. I love you. And if you say I know again, I will serve liver and onions the next time you come over.”
That would be a fate worse than death. “Hey, I just chatted with Pepper and her bud. They’re going to join us for our next girls’ night out. You got a date that works for you yet?”
“One sec.” Rustling noises in the background. “How about next Thursday?”
“Perfect by me. I’ll email them and see if it’s good, and book us spots at the spa.” She thought of something else. “You want to chip in to help cover their costs? I think things may be a little tight for a while, with them just getting out of school.”
“Okay by me. I’ve got to run, though. Parker’s still in bed.”
She checked her watch. “Wow. You did wear him out. You go girl.”