Shawnelle laughed and patted Elizabeth’s hand. “And we like them that way.”
Elizabeth chanced a glance at Haley.
Yup. Deer in the headlights look. Probably appalled. The poor kid.
Gavin leaned over and brushed his shoulder against hers. “What are you three talking about?”
“Sex. We’re horrifying Haley.”
Gavin shook his head. “Tommy, you’d better rescue your bride. I think Elizabeth and Shawnelle are corrupting her.”
Tommy laughed and rubbed Haley’s shoulders. “They corruptin’ you, darlin’?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m learnin’ a few things though.” She waved her hand at Tommy. “Y’all go back to talking to each other and leave us ladies alone. There are some things I need to learn.”
Elizabeth sipped her martini. So, maybe Haley wasn’t as revolted as she thought. Or as na?ve.
It turned out that talking with women wasn’t as bad as Elizabeth thought it would be. Throughout dinner Elizabeth learned that Shawnelle was an absolute riot with a bawdy sense of humor. She and Dedrick had been married seven years. Shawnelle was a lawyer, worked for the district attorney in Saint Louis. And Haley, though barely twenty-one, wasn’t na?ve at all. She had a natural curiosity, was open and honest, and wanted to learn . . . everything. Including everything about sex. She and Tommy had only been married six months, but young Miss Haley loved sex. She’d lived a sheltered life in Mississippi, and she loved Tommy with every breath she took. Marrying Tommy had been her ticket out of her repressive small town, and she never wanted to go back there.
But Tommy, Elizabeth found out, was a little unpracticed in the sex department, so Haley wanted to soak up some knowledge about the art of seduction and getting her man to open up a little bit.
Shawnelle and Elizabeth looked at each other, nodded, and decided they could definitely help Haley out.
The dance club was away from the beach and private. Gavin had snagged them an invitation since the owner was a fan of the Rivers. The ambiance was dark, moody, and low-key, unlike the loud beachtype laser bars that blasted your ear drums out. Elizabeth was profoundly grateful.
She loved dancing and hot, up-tempo music, but she also wanted to be able to have a conversation without screaming herself hoarse. She was way too old for that nonsense.
They were shown to a VIP table against the wall. Private, with an attentive waitress. Just the way Elizabeth liked it. They ordered drinks and settled in against the cushioned booth.
“You enjoy dinner?” Gavin asked.
“I did.”
“Sorry I was occupied with Dedrick and Tommy. I really didn’t bring you out to dump you on Shawnelle and Haley.”
“I’m a big girl, Gavin. This may come as a shock to you, but I can take care of myself.”
“I’m sure you can. You were probably born not needing anyone.”
Their drinks arrived before she could shoot a retort to his smart-ass comment. As soon as the music started, Shawnelle was ready to dance. Dedrick wasn’t, so Shawnelle stood, smoothed down her dress, and looked at Elizabeth and Haley.
“Come on, girls. Let’s go rock the dance floor.”
“Oh, I don’t think so.” Elizabeth shook her head.
Haley grinned. “Sure. I’m game.”
Shawnelle put her hands on her hips and stared down at Elizabeth. “You. Up. Dance floor. Now. No excuses.”
Elizabeth was about to object, but the steely look in Shawnelle’s eyes and the fact that the music was pretty damn good made her shrug. “Okay, fine. We’ll dance.”
“Yay!” Shawnelle took her hand and dragged Elizabeth out of the chair and toward the dance floor.
It didn’t take long for the music to get her moving. Plus, Shawnelle and Haley were—she had to admit—a whole lot of infectious fun. It was obvious Shawnelle was comfortable with her body and didn’t mind shaking it. Haley was simply in love with her life and enjoyed the freedom she had now, so the two of them danced around Elizabeth while she moved her hips from side to side.
When she twirled around, she found three sets of male eyes staring at them with rapt interest.
Which gave her an idea.
She flipped around and moved toward Shawnelle. “I think we can help Haley with her sex life while we’re out here on the dance floor.”
“Oh, yeah? How’s that?”
Elizabeth motioned toward the VIP table, and it didn’t take but a few seconds for Shawnelle to make the connection.
“I see your point. Haley, honey, sandwich yourself in between Elizabeth and me, and let’s do a little dirty dancing.”
Haley’s eyes went wide. “Huh?”
Elizabeth moved in closer to Haley. “You want your man to want you, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then you gotta turn him on,” Shawnelle said.
“Men love to see women together,” Elizabeth explained.
Haley looked up at her. “They do? Why?”