She raised her hands, and the air dryer kicked in. Hot wind caressed her skin, and she took a little longer to dry off than usual in the vague hope that the woman would decipher her disinterest and move on. But no, the woman wasn’t to be dissuaded so easily.
“Are you and the woman at the bar sisters?” the woman asked.
“Ha. Shewishesshe had my genes.”
“Yeah? True Religion is a great brand. And your ass is made for them.”
Taryn didn’t know whether the woman was trying to be funny, whether she’d misheard her, or whether she was simply a little less intelligent than the average turkey. Her lack of a grin suggested it was the latter. “Did you know turkeys stare up at the sky when it’s raining? Do you think they’re trying to figure out how clouds work, or do you think they’re contemplating the existence of a higher being?”
The woman frowned, which was an improvement on the come-hither expression that had been creeping Taryn out.
“They aredefinitelyconsidering the existential nature of their position in the food chain, and thus in time and space, and most likely, are wondering about all the other selves they have floating around in the multiverse.”
Taryn snapped around to the sound of this new voice faster than she’d shot over Snake River Canyon. When she focused on the woman who accompanied the words, Taryn let out a low sound of appreciation, then covered it up by clearing her throat. The woman raised her eyebrow and smirked, making it obvious Taryn had been unsuccessful.
“I thought you’d never get here.” Super-chic woman linked her arm through Taryn’s and began to maneuver them to the door. “Sorry, honey, this one’s taken. Happy hunting.”
She didn’t say another word as she navigated out of the bathroom, through the maze of corridors, and back to the bar. Then she released Taryn’s arm and turned to leave.
“Wait,” Taryn said in far too high-pitched a voice. She coughed to find her usual tenor and tried again. “Wait. I owe you a drink. I think you just saved my life.” She grinned widely and wiggled her eyebrows. Her policy of having a few hours of fun before choosing a potential playmate had just gone out the window.
“Not necessary. Erin’s a bit of a vampire. I save everyone I can.”
She turned to leave again, but Taryn caught her wrist gently. She couldn’t let this vision of selfless virtue go without trying to get to know her. “Please. I’d want to buy you a drink even if you hadn’t rescued me.” Which seemed ironic and totally against Taryn’s usual MO, but confident, powerful femmes were her Achilles heel, and in her social circles, they were rare.
Super-chic woman looked at Taryn’s hand around her wrist, and Taryn released her immediately. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have grabbed for you. Let me buy you a drink to apologize.”
She looked amused again. “Is a drink your answer to everything?”
“Depends on what the question is. There’s something else you’d prefer to be offered?” Taryn asked.
She gave a small smile then gestured toward the bar. “If you insist, I’ll have two mojitos.”
“One for the apology and one for the lifesaving, or do you think I’d drink a mojito?”
She shook her head and motioned over her shoulder to a younger woman at table thirteen.Damn. Unlucky for me.
“One for me and one for my best friend. And no, I couldn’t imagine you sipping something so elaborate.”
Taryn rubbed the back of her head. “I’m not sure whether that’s an insult or a compliment.”
She merely tilted her head and gave another small smile. Her tiniest gestures were loaded with promise, and Taryn was reminded again of how much she enjoyed all these opportunities to meet new people. She hadn’t met someone as interesting as this lady for a while though, and certainly not someone who didn’t fawn all over her from moment one. “Can my friend and I join you both?” It was clear super-chic lady wasn’t about to dump her bestie, so Taryn’s only approach had to include her buddy too. “I’m Taryn, by the way.”
She held out her hand, surprising Taryn with her firm grip. “Cassandra. Cassie to my friends.”
“Can I call you Cassie?”
She arched her eyebrow. “Not yet.”
Cassandra’s lips twitched, obviously knowing damn well the effect she was having. Taryn hadn’t played a beautiful game like this for so long. She wasn’t certain she remembered the rules, but she was never one to back away from a challenge. Especially when said challenge came sheathed in a silken black dress. “So would you deign to let me and my buddy join you?”
“Where are they?” Cassandra asked.
Taryn pointed her thumb in Andi’s direction without making eye contact with her. She already knew what her expression would be. She was like a proud aunt, the cool one who taught you how to surf, or play pool, or in this case, charm the ladies. Maybe she was more of a preacher, and through her teachings, her methods lived on. Yeah, she’d probably like that more.
She watched Cassandra’s gaze travel from Andi’s face to her patterned brogues and back again. She shrugged, though it wasn’t a shrug, per say. Her movement was far too delicate for that, but Taryn couldn’t think of a better word, and she wanted to focus all her concentration on the game she’d been drawn into.
“One drink. I’m going back to my table to tell my friend that our night has temporarily been hijacked.”
