“So, you want Blade, huh?”
“Maybe.” There was no point in denying it. She worked right there with us.
Now that I thought about it, she’d been quieter than usual today. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye.
“You’re not upset, are you?” I asked. “I mean, I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“Girl, I’m just enjoying the show,” she laughed. “The little game you two are playing is amusing as hell.”
“Game?” I asked as we walked across the parking lot together, where our cars were parked side-by-side.
“The will-they-won’t-they thing. The sexual tension between the two of you is gonna snap like a rubber band.”
I laughed, but she was probably right.
“If that happens at work, I’m outta there,” she declared.
I put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. I wanted to tell her that I would never do that at the shop, but I had a feeling that when it came to Blade, all bets were off.
I was getting into my car when I heard the distinct rumble of a motorcycle engine coming to life. Turning with my body halfway inside of my vehicle, I saw Blade mounting his bike.
I’d love to ride on the back of it, my body pressing against his in all the right places, my thighs spread wide. The thought sent a wave of desire through my core. I figured that Piper was right about the sexual tension. I could only take so much before I snapped.
* * *
I lookedup from the cards in my hand to see Veronica walk into the room with a tray in her hands loaded up with a pitcher of frozen margaritas and salt-rimmed glasses. I was more of a beer drinker myself, but I’d never say no to a free drink.
“I made margaritas!”
Not that it was reallyfree.I’d already lost about fifty bucks at this table in the last two hours. I was a shitty poker player, even though I played with these women often.
Piper was even worse than me. Sitting to my right, she had a small little half-smile that I knew meant she had a good hand. One-by-one, the other two women at the table folded. I did the same, and Piper pouted.
“I’ve told you, you have a tell,” I said apologetically.
“Don’t worry, Piper, you’ll learn to hide it,” Veronica said as she handed over a glass full of the alcoholic drink. We were at Veronica’s house, enjoying a ladies’ night poker game. Veronica was an old friend of mine from high school. We’d kept in touch over the years and started getting together occasionally for drinks after her divorce. That had evolved into a weekly poker night with Piper and Veronica’s sister, Tammy.
It couldn’t have come at a better time. I needed the girl time.
“But will I learn to hide it before I go broke?” Piper asked.
I snickered.
There was a bowl of chips sitting between Tammy and me, and I kept snacking on it. I shouldn’t have skipped dinner, but at least Veronica always provided snacks. Every time we met at my place, I was lucky to have a six-pack on hand. I’d endured endless teasing over the years for not being a good host.
“So, what’s new in your world?” Tammy asked, shuffling to deal another hand.
“Same shit,” I shrugged, but Piper nudged my side with a teasing grin.
“Don’t lie,” she said. Then, she addressed Tammy. “We have a new co-worker, and he’s hitting it off with Kat already.”
“Is love in the air?” Veronica asked, throwing five dollars worth of chips into the middle of the table.
“Hardly,” I rolled my eyes. “He’s hot, but I don’t really know him yet.”
“Speaking of love,” Veronica looked at Tamy, “do you want to share your news?’’
With the biggest smile I’d ever seem, Tammy held up her left hand, where a square-cut diamond sparkled on her finger.
