A stunning woman with bright red hair approached first, her hand extended. “Emmy. I’ve been wanting to meet you all week. You’ve been the talk of the workshop.”
“I have?” I felt my cheeks heat.
“In a good way,” she assured me with a warm smile. “The way your two guys look at you? Everyone’s a little jealous.”
“Emmy’s a pediatric neurosurgeon," Elara added. “And she’s with Jack, a paramedic.”
“She calls him Daddy,” a voice called from the kitchen, followed by laughter.
Emmy rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Yes, I call him Daddy. And I’m not ashamed.”
“Nor should you be,” said Elara.
“The food smells incredible,” I said honestly.
“Wait until you taste it,” Emmy whispered. “Elara’s a professional chef. We’re in for a treat.”
A heavily pregnant woman waddled over, one hand on her lower back. “I’m Renee. And this,” she gestured to her enormous belly, “is why I can’t see my feet anymore.”
“When are you due?” I asked.
“Three days ago,” she said with a dramatic sigh. “This baby is stubborn. Just like his father.”
“Her father,” corrected a flamboyant man who swept into the conversation—Sampson. “It’s going to be a girl, I can feel it.” He smiled. “And don’t you look like those two men I set you up with are taking wonderful care of you?”
His energy was infectious, and I found myself laughing and blushing.
“Don’t let him get under your skin,” Renee said, linking her arm through Sampson’s. “He’s a lover boy and more romantic than any of us girls in here.”
“Lies and slander!” Sampson protested before grinning like a fool in love.
Iris and Scarlett approached together. Iris had bright purple hair in a sleek bob, and Scarlett had honey blonde highlights in her black hair.
“Hello again,” Iris said. “We saw you in class all week. You were amazing during those demonstrations.”
“Thank you,” I said, still not used to the compliments.
Scarlett smiled warmly. “Seriously. The vulnerability you showed? That takes guts.”
Two more women from the class joined the group. Honey’s complexion was light brown and she had straight dark hair. Eliana had rich-brown skin and kept her eyes downcast.
“Scarlet is right,” Honey said. “And since I write thriller novels, I know a lot about guts. Oh, and I’m single and perfectly happy about it.”
“Eliana,” the second one said softly. “Also single. Also... well, just single.”
“She’s also gorgeous but gets embarrassed when we mention it,” Sampson stage-whispered. “Look, she’s blushing already.”
Eliana’s cheeks darkened, and she swatted at him playfully.
The last woman to arrive was bold in her approach, striding over with confidence. “Josephina. I’m new to all this, my twin sister Seraphina dragged me into the lifestyle, and I’m here to make friends and ask inappropriate questions.”
I liked her immediately.
“Alright, ladies and gentleman,” Elara called from the kitchen. “Dinner is served. Grab a seat at the table.”
The dining table was stunning. Candles, fresh flowers, beautiful place settings. Elara had clearly put thought into every detail.
The first course was a butternut squash soup with sage cream that was so good I almost moaned.
