“Well?” Blair held a black teddy in front of her face. “Did you?”
“I mean… it’s never off the table…”
“She’ll get over it.” She must have meant Drew, who undoubtedly gave her father hell when Eden left. “Especially if you’re around for a while. She’s probably grossed out at her dad and feeling suss about your intentions toward his wallet. If I were the young daughter of a man of Benson Smith’s means, I’d be worried about both, too. Mostly the money.”
“So, she’s thinking that he’s simultaneously taking advantage of me because of my age, while I’m fleecing him of his money?”
“You said it, not me.”
Despite having more money than she knew what to do with in her accounts, Eden was only interested in the clearance section. Yet there wasn’t much that fit her cup-size-to-waist ratio, and whatwasthere was either garish neon orange or made out of a material she wouldn’t be able to wait to get out of… for the unsexiest reasons.Not knocking orange, but it looks terrible on me.
Blair, meanwhile, amassed about five bra-and-panty sets and full negligee sets. She didn’t bother trying anything on over her underwear, despite her having a fantastic rapport with the retail workers.Blair didn’t even have to brandish a credit card. She had one on file.
Well, her girlfriend did.
“That red is salacious,” Eden said while standing at the register with her friend. “Does it show up on camera well?”
“Oh, this is for performing off-camera. Audiences can see it better in the back.”
“Oh.”
The woman checking them out turned around to properly bag the items at a back table. “Also, the kind of thing you wear to bachelorette parties. You’d be shocked to know how many women hire us to entertain a happy couple before their nuptials.”
“Every time someone is agog about me being a Butterfly, I think about you.”
Speaking of…
They were on their way out of the boutique when Eden spotted something on the far wall she had yet to see.Oh, my…No, she had not gone into the “bridal” section, for obvious reasons.Yes,she was captivated by the solid white one-piece with intricate beadwork and the kind of top that could either go strapless or attach a single piece of fabric that looped over one shoulder or around the neck. Both styles were on display, and Eden imagined herself in either.
“Ah, memories,” Blair said, before checking her phone while Eden stared at the $500 bridal negligee for sale. “Just like a certain paradise.”
With both of their bags at their feet, they stopped by the soup and salad place for a late lunch. It was there that Eden revealed she had been invited back to La Mariposa.
“I’ve got some time before they expect my response,” she said. “I’d say no, but… it’s so much money.”
“Just wanna point out that I haven’t been asked to come back and bartend,” Blair said with a pretend pout. “But they usually don’t ask until like two weeks before.”
“If I weren’t datingbothguys, I’d seriously consider it.”
“Sounds like you already are, if you haven’t told them to take a hike already.”
“I mean… a hundred grand. I never thought I’d be invited to something like that once, let alone twice! I almost feel stupid for potentially turning it down.”
“Anyway, you said it’s because you’re dating both? What, is one guy gonna be okay?”
Blair jested, but Eden had already thought of that. “I honestly don’t think Liam would care too much if we discussed it. That man just does not get jealous about me around other men.”
“There’s being around other men, and then there’s fucking them anytime, anyplace.”
“I know. Believe me. But I’ve told you…” Eden dropped her voice to a whisper, “Me being with other men is his kink.”
“I thought that was the other one’s, too.”
“Ben likeswatchingand then participating. He’s old school with kinks like that.” Eden grabbed the salt for her soup that was just delivered from the kitchen. “Liam is… um…”
“Yeah, I get you. Lots of guys like that at the event.”
“Right. Besides, he’s way more open about his attraction to other men than Benson.”
