“Oui.Your shirt,” Madam Monique declared imperiously. “Strip.”
An hour later Neve hurtled into the studio parking lot.
“To The Watering Hole, stat,” she muttered to Breezy and Margot when they emerged a moment later.
“You were a good sport... trying on those pasties for the class demonstration,” Breezy said. “But yes, after that drinks are in order. I’m going to message Jed and let him know our plans. He wanted to meet up and hear all the class.”
Neve groaned. Madame Monique had made her try on the nipple adhesive coverings and do a shimmy in front of everyone.
“Did you mean to get your arm stuck in the bra strap like that?” Margot asked, a little too innocently.
“That’s it, not only are you buying the first round, you’re also the designated driver,” Neve growled, shoving her Jeep Wagoneer keys at Margot. “Ugh, that was an hour of my life that I can never get back.” She crawled into the Wagoneer’s backseat, letting Breezy and Margot take the front. “I think my tassels are twirled out.”
“No way. It was your bright idea to sign us up for the whole month,” Breezy said sternly. “I coughed up the money and it’s nonrefundable.”
“Blech.Isn’t Jed your sugar daddy? Come on. You can’t be hurting for cash,” Neve snapped, giving herself over to her black mood.
“Neve Frances Angel.” Breezy whirled. “I’m giving you a pass for that comment. But it’s the only one. Jed is myboyfriend. He isn’t Mister Hockey or a punch line to your jokes.”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry,” Neve muttered even as envy flared, a toxic brand of jealousy that she hated harboring anywhere in the vicinity of Breezy. Anyone could see that her sister was gaga for Jed, and not only that, the feeling was mutual. When she walked into a room, it was like she was the only person who existed for him.
No one had ever looked at Neve in that way. And before Jed, no one had ever looked at Breezy like that either, not even her old fiancé. But now she’d won the relationship golden ticket and was skipping off like she had an all-access pass to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory while Neve stayed stuck behind the gate.
“How do I get to The Watering Hole from this side of the city?” Margot asked. She had been raised in Portland and had come to Denver to attend yoga teacher training a few years ago. She still got turned around on city streets.
“I think I know but let me double check Byways in case it can get us there faster.” Neve pulled up the route, and let the monotone voice call out the directions.
She idly watched the app screen as Margot drove through the city streets. Better than remembering Madame Monique’s disapproving “tut-tut” as she ordered Neve to loosen up and “try and ’ave fun.”
Neve’s heart paid a surprise visit to her throat. Then there it was... the red-pitchfork avatar appeared on the screen.
Rovhal30 was out on the town tonight, and if the GPS signal was anything to be believed, he was currently in the parking lot at The Watering Hole.
Holy crap.
And here it was, ladies and gentlemen, the moment of truth. Her fantasy was about to become—for better or worse—a reality.
Chapter Five
“What the hell happened?” Tor barked into his phone in lieu of a greeting, pacing the back corner of the bar parking lot. The text message had come in as he was walking inside.
Inger:I had a fall at the climbing gym. In the hospital. Okay. Mostly.
Typical Inger. To describe his sister as understated was an understatement in and of itself. She was like the Black Knight inMonty Python and the Holy Grail, could be limbless and still chirping about how it was merely a flesh wound.
“X-rays came back twenty minutes ago. They’re telling me that my femur suffered a hairline fracture.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “And my kneecap is pretty much shattered. There were some other things, but I forget. Doc thinks I can kiss my spring climbing trip to Yosemite goodbye. I’d be mad, but I’m hopped up on so much Vicodin that I don’t even know my own name. Who are you again?”
He didn’t smile. Nothing about the situation was remotely funny. “Do you need me to get on a plane?” Inger lived in Minneapolis with her boyfriend and two corgis. They saw each other infrequently, but stayed in touch via short weekly calls.
“Nah, I’ll live. At my age though, I should use a harness. That’s a weird word, right,harness?” Her normally crisp voice slurred.“Climbing harnesssssss.”
“Inger. Focus,” he snapped. “I’m serious.” His sister wasn’t a rambler. She was a corporate attorney with a reputation for precision speech. She must be pretty messed up. “I can come, just say the word. Is Jason looking after you? Making sure you are getting pain meds? Staying hydrated?”
“So protective, little brother.” There was a smile in her voice, but the tightness underneath made it clear that she was in a lot of pain. “He’s being a big help. But this means I have to bail on being your plus one to Maddy’s wedding. I’m getting transferred to a rehab facility for a week or two.”
“Don’t give me a second thought, just focus on getting better. I’ll be fine. Maddy and I are on good terms. Olive will miss you though.” He hoped his tone was convincing. He didn’t want to be a selfish asshole. His sister had sustained a serious injury, one that required a lengthy recuperation. He’d put in a call to a clinic he knew in the cities and get her squared away with some kick-ass PT. And she was right, her boyfriend would look after her. Jason worked from home for a tech firm and was devoted to her.
But now Tor would have to endure his ex-wife’s wedding alone. It wasn’t that he longed to have Maddy back. Not at all. They’d gotten married for plenty of the wrong reasons and too few of the right. But still.
