Enough hiding. Penny was retiring for good. Pepper was back.
Three minutes later, all of the spa workers abandoned the room, leaving the four of them to soak their feet.
A vibrating motion clicked on automatically underfoot, sending water swirling around Pepper’s toes. “I can’t decide if I like how this feels or if it’s freaking me out.”
Lynn had leaned back in her chair, eyes closed. “I can take or leave a manicure, but a pedicure is sheer heaven. Worth every penny, and every second, even if I have to push myself through the ticklish moments.”
“Yes, because it’s such a sacrifice to have people fawning over your feet,” Suz teased. “Although I thought you’d be used to it by now, what with how much time Parker spends down there, kneeling between your legs.”
No denial from Lynn. Just a mischievous smile.
Pepper snickered. “I don’t need more details. I refuse to picture my brother as anything other than a royal pain in the butt.”
“You don’t want the conversation to go there, either.” Suz laughed at her own joke. “You are just setting me up with one straight line after another. We should organize a comedy routine and take this show on the road.”
“You should all take pity on the poor woman in the room who’s not getting any action,” Kendra offered. “And I’m not related to anyone, so I’m not going to get squicked out thinking about anybody doing the nasty.”
“She’s right,” Lynn agreed. “It’s got to be Kendra’s turn for Prince Charming to come sweep her off her feet. Suz, you’ve got a billion brothers running around. Lay one on her for a while. Just to take the edge off.”
Pepper stared in shock. “Who are you, and what have you done with my sweet nearly sister-in-law to be? That was a filthy comment.”
“You said you didn’t want to know, but I’ve got a damn good teacher.” Lynn opened her eyes just so she could give Pepper a wink. “And remember, looks can be deceiving.”
“Innocent-looking packages sometimes hold the biggest secrets? I can believe that,” Suz said. She lifted one foot out of the soaker tub and examined it for a moment before replacing it in the hot water. “All I know for sure is that I will not be acting as matchmaker for any of my brothers. If she’d like an introduction, Kendra will just have to go get herself arrested.”
“Because that’s the best way to meet a new man?” Lynn demanded. “Get arrested?”
“Hey, it got Pepper hooked up with Jack, in a roundabout way,” Suz insisted. She held up fingers one after the other. “The way I see it, she got the parking ticket, icky kisses from icky dude, followed by Jack to the rescue.”
“That’s not how it worked.” Lynn reached down, slipping her fingers into the water so she could flick droplets at her best friend. “Try this instead: Jack has the hots for her forever, Pepper shows up, and voilà, fate has its way.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in fate.”
“Old dog, new trick.”
“Woof,” Pepper offered, and the room broke out in laughter again.
There was a momentary lull in conversation, the noises of the water basins underfoot the loudest thing in the room. Pepper sighed contentedly.
“He really is a pretty awesome guy, but a lot more alpha-dude than I thought you’d ever go for,” Kendra offered, her expression still slightly confused. “I didn’t expect Jack to be the type to have zero issues regarding you and the threesome.”
A choking sound broke out from Pepper’s left. She turned to see Suz tapping her chest and working on breathing properly. Lynn was staring as well, her amazing blue eyes filled with… Pepper wasn’t sure if it was shock or horror.
“You okay?” she asked as Suz calmed herself.
“Honey, you have no idea.” The blonde twirled toward her best friend and stuck out her hand. “I win. You owe me.”
Lynn raised her middle finger.
“Did you two make a bet about me and my sex life?” Pepper demanded, more amused than pissed off.
Suz raised one delicately arched brow. “I make bets about everything, but this one I’m very happy to win. I told Lynn you were my kind of girl. Feet solidly on the ground but arms wide open to experience life to the fullest. Yada, yada, yada.”
“I didn’t actually have a threesome,” Pepper confessed.
“But you wanted to.” Suz snapped up a finger and stuck it in her face. “You wanted to, right?”
“Hey, now you’re leading the witness,” Lynn protested.
Pepper laughed. “You two are crazy. Yes, I wanted to try a threesome, but things went to hell, and it never happened, and that’s fine. I am very happy with Jack. The man is talented enough in bed there could be two guys in there for all I know.”