“He told me you shot him down, refused to go out with him, and then you said you were seeing someone.”
All eyes settled on her. Fortunately, it was her turn to try on her dress, so she hightailed it into the dressing room in a hurry so she wouldn’t have to admit that she wasn’t, in fact, seeing anyone. But when she came out with her dress on, Tara, Liz, and Maggie were all waiting for her.
“So who’s the guy?” Tara asked.
Didn’t it just figure they weren’t going to let that subject drop?
Jenna blew out a breath. “No one any of you know.”
“So why didn’t you tell us you were seeing someone?” Liz asked.
“Because it’s not serious. I don’t tell you all every time I go out on a date.”
Tara tilted her head. “Are you bringing him to the wedding?”
“No.”
“Why not?” Liz asked.
“We’ve only gone out a couple times. Definitely not enough to sic the family on him.”
“Does he have brothers?” Maggie asked. “Because I’m here alone. A date would be nice.”
Jenna laughed. “No idea.”
“I could set you up with someone,” Liz said to Maggie. “I know a lot of sports figures.”
Maggie batted her lashes at Liz. “Really?”
“Really.”
“You would turn my wedding into a PR fest for one of your clients?” Tara said with a mock gasp.
“In a heartbeat, sister.”
Jenna laughed.
“Hey, do whatever you want, but find me a hunky date,” Maggie said. “I’m all in.”
“Done,” Liz said.
“And speaking of dates,” Tara said, “what about Jenna’s?”
Damn. She could have sworn they’d gone off topic and this would be forgotten.
“You don’t know anything about his family?” Tara asked. “Mom won’t like that. Neither will Mick and Gavin.”
Web of lies. This is what happened when she made up boyfriends. “I don’t know if we’ll be seeing each other again. So Mom and Dad have nothing to worry about.”
“No chemistry?” Maggie offered.
“Yeah. No chemistry.” She was glad for the excuse and the out. She could kiss Maggie right now.
“Well, honey, you’re gorgeous. And sexy. I’m sure if this one doesn’t work out, there are likely ten guys waiting in line to go out with you.”
She met Tara’s confident expression and smiled at her.
She was going to have to dig up a real person to date. And by God, she would bring him to the damn wedding. One, to get her family off her back, and two, to make herself stop thinking about Ty.
For all she knew Ty might bring a date of his own. She hoped he would. That would end any residual attraction she felt for him.
After the fittings the four of them went out for dinner, fortunately not at her family’s bar.
It was nice to have a night off and actually go out. Usually on her nights off she stayed home, caught up on sleep, or watched television. And she always played music and worked on writing songs. Tonight it was good to get away.
She isolated herself too much. She knew it, realized she should get out more, but she much preferred her apartment and her music.
She didn’t really like people all that much, anyway.
Yeah, she was girlfriend material, all right.
“How about that guy?” Liz asked as they settled at a table and ordered a round of drinks.
It took Jenna a few seconds to realize Liz was talking to her. “Huh? What are you talking about?”
“That guy. The one at the bar who’s looking at you.”
She followed Liz’s head motion to a suit type leaning against the bar with a drink in hand. Outstanding in the looks department, with sandy blond hair, straight teeth, and a smile that looked like it had been bleached at the dentist’s office.
“Likely dating twenty girls at once and can’t keep their names straight. No thanks.”
“And how do you know this?” Liz asked.
“Bourbon, straight up.”
Tara frowned. “What does that mean?”
“I can tell a lot about a guy by what he drinks.”
“Occupational hazard?” Liz asked.
“Or a plus, depending on how you look at it. Between the way they scan a room, how they dress, and what they drink, I’ve got them pegged before they ever say a word.”
Liz scooted her chair closer to Jenna’s. “Oh, this could be fun. Hot stuff in jeans and black T-shirt, far left side of the bar.”
Jenna took a look. “Cheating on his wife.”
“Nuh-uh,” Maggie said. “How do you know?”
“Too easy. Wedding ring mark on his left hand. And a fresh one at that. You can still see the ridges on his finger.”
“What an asshole.” Tara sipped her drink, then looked at Jenna. “You’re good at this. I would never have noticed that.”
“Most women don’t, not on initial glance, anyway. They’re not all assholes. But a lot of them aren’t worth a second look, especially at a bar.”
“Because they go there to pick up women?” Liz asked.
“And to get laid.”
Tara shook her head. “So cynical. No wonder you don’t date much.”