“Exactly what you need. You’re always giving guys the cold shoulder.”
Aria scowled at her friend but said nothing.
“Give the man a break and let him sex you up a little. You need some good loving. God knows I do.” Kelly had divorced her husband four years ago when she finally tired of his cheating and lies. Since then, she’d dated one guy for a whole three weeks and decided he wasn’t worth the trouble of getting dressed up in sexy underwear.
“Yeah, that’s the problem.”
“From where I sit, you don’t seem to have a problem with admirers.” Kelly tilted her head toward the counter.
“Huh.” Aria wrinkled her brow in confusion.
“I think the barista’s taken a fancy to you too.”
“What?” Aria laughed and followed the direction of Kelly’s gaze.
“She’s new, isn’t she?” Kelly nodded at the girl behind the counter.
Aria smiled at the tall, dark-haired woman. Since Kelly knew everyone in town, Aria believed the girl was a newcomer. “I haven’t seen her before.”
“Well, she probably doesn’t realize you swing the other way.” Her friend laughed. “Why don’t you go on over and get friendly, seeing as you aren’t interested in Reece.”
Aria returned the girl’s wave. “Speaking of him, the man touched me last night, without permission.”
“So?”
“What do you mean so?”
“You orgasmed, right?” Kelly’s candor made Aria blush. “Judging by your telltale pink flush, I’ll take that as a yes.”
She moaned. “Kelly, please.”
“Don’t you Kelly me.” Her friend heaved a frustrated sigh, sat back, and eyeballed Aria. “God, girl, you had sex with him. S.E.X,” she spelled the word out as though she were talking to one of her kindergarten kids. “You didn’t mind his touch then. Why the hissy fit now?” Her friend downed her latte and rose. “C’ mon, let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
“I don’t have a clue. Maybe I’m scared.” Aria shrugged and pushed her cold coffee away. She stood, followed Kelly out the coffee shop, and into the diner next door.
“Scared? Of what?” her friend asked, sliding into a booth near the window. “Aria, you’ve left your past behind. Sooner or later, you’ll have to start a new relationship.” Her friend turned to the approaching waitress. After the waitress left with their orders, Kelly leaned forward and grasped Aria’s hands. “Sweetheart, it takes time and courage to put a bad marriage behind you. It’s been three years. You may not find a knight in shining armor who’ll sweep you off your feet and pamper you, but from where I stand, Reece seems to have accomplished a little of that already. You’ve got nothing to lose.”
“I do. Lots actually. Prisha—”
“Is a big girl and if she isn’t smitten with the man already, then...”
Aria uttered another moan. Yes, Prisha was smitten with the man. She’d practically bugged Aria since Reece left, about why he couldn’t stay in their cabin.
“You’re making excuses.” Her friend arched a brow as if daring her to argue. “The way I see it, your body and your inactive vagina wants the man, cock and all. So, tell your brain to stop playing Miss Goodytwoshoes and fuck him already.” Kelly snorted.
Aria squirmed in her seat. Trust her friend to be so damn flippant. “I don’t want a fuck-buddy.”
“And who says Reece wants to be your fuck-buddy? Assumption is the mother of all fuckups.”
“He’s a playboy. What else would he want?”
Kelly huffed as the waitress set two bowls of steaming chowder on the table. “Hell, Aria, the man’s a walking sex bomb. If he weren’t so hot for you, I’d gladly take him off your hands.” She grinned, heaved a sigh then sat back in her seat. “Honey, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m worried you may turn into a freak soon if you don’t—”
“If I don’t, what? Have sex? Because I’m not in a relationship, it doesn’t mean I’m unhappy. I certainly don’t need sex to make me normal.” While the admission sounded just about right, her mind refused to accept she’d lived the last three years like an old maid within a chastity belt of her own making.
“That’s not what I meant.” Her friend had the sense to blanch.
“I don’t believe you.”
