“That is pretty selfish.”
“So, does that mean you’re not coming over?”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Can you hold it together until then?”
He smiled so big he thought he might be able to use it as an energy source. “I’ll do my best. And don’t take this the wrong way, but I have a hot tub on my back porch so you can bring a swimsuit if you want.”
“If a hot tub on a snowy night is wrong, I don’t want to be right. But just for fun, tell me the wrong way I should take that.”
“No, ma’am.”
“Come on, Luke.”
“See you soon, Tara.”
“See you. And thanks for worrying that I might take it the wrong way.” She paused. “Now I’m the one feeling dumb.”
Luke shook his head. “Just come. I can’t wait to see you.”
***
Tara hung up and whirled around her room, suddenly remembering what she was wearing and what her hair probably looked like. Why had she said twenty minutes? She was not physically or emotionally ready for this, and a quick check in the mirror confirmed both of those things. Her eyes looked bright and scared. Her hair was an even bigger mess.
After ice skating, she’d showered and changed into sweats before falling asleep face first on her bed. Calling her current style bedhead was an understatement. It would need a lot of product to make her curls behave.
Her best hair stuff unfortunately was not the best-smelling, so she settled on a coconut scented detangling serum and coaxed her hair up in a bun with only a few curls escaping. It was better not to have it down if she’d be in water anyway.
What to wear was easier. She threw on her favorite pair of jeans that made her bum look good and a soft sweater Aunt Sandy bought her for her birthday. Her swimsuits were in retirement in a bottom drawer, but she dug them out and debated which one to bring before deciding on a navy one-piece that wasn’t as worn as the other one. The swimsuit went into the bottom of her bag. Aunt Sandy could never know about Luke’s hot tub or he might find a middle-aged trespasser the next time he went out for a dip.
Next came makeup, putting on her boots, and creeping down the hall to investigate the shenanigans she’d been hiding from all evening.
The ladies were gathered around a fondue pot, eating cheese-covered items and laughing when they dripped on the counter, which they did a lot. Not a book was in sight, although she’d heard them voting earlier on what to read next month. The choices all sounded ridiculous. She wasn’t sure if they were calling the books by their real titles or making them up for fun.Handsome Farm Handcould not be a real title, although that one had her vote overRepressed Vampire Desires. She had never understood the allure of bloodsuckers, however attractive.
“What sort of trouble are we getting into now, ladies?” Tara reached between them and grabbed a piece of bread. She’d leave them to their cheese dip.
“Nothing we’re admitting to.” Aunt Sandy looked her over. “Are you going somewhere?”
“To a friend’s.” Tara’s poker face worked on other people, but somehow Aunt Sandy was immune to it.
Her aunt broke out into a satisfied smirk. “Which friend?”
“No one I’m admitting to.”
“Oooh.” The ladies in the room glanced between them, whispering to each other.
“I’ll say his name, Tara,” Aunt Sandy threatened.
Tara put her hands on her hips. “It’s who you’re hoping it is. Satisfied?”
“Completely.”
“Good. Because I’m going to ask him if he knows any nice single older men who might be interested in a blind date.”
Aunt Sandy raised an eyebrow. “Well, there’s a mixed message for him. I didn’t know you were interested in older men.”
Tara laughed. Darn it, she’d handed that comeback to her on a silver platter. “You know who I meant.”
Aunt Sandy nudged her with her hip. “You set me up on all the blind dates you want. Just make sure the two of you are more than friends by the time you get back tonight, hot stuff.”
