“I did. Imagine my surprise to learn I slept through the distress of my best friend’s precious cat going missing, not knowing she needed help to find it. Though, I hear she found help after all.” Viv’s eyes cut to mine. Luke’s lips twitch slightly. He sips his coffee, schooling his face before he pulls the mug away.
“All is well. The cat has been found.”
Viv stares at him. Then her eyes drift to me, waiting for my response.
“Sunny is fine. Sorry I didn’t wake you, but it was late.” My coffee mug is my salvation right now, hiding the guilty look no doubt plastered across my face. As it is, I’m going to get interrogated the moment Luke walks away.
“That’s good. Glad he’s safe.” Viv holds out her mug for Luke, who has picked up the thermos of milk. “So, we’ll see you tonight at trivia, then?”
“Yup. I look forward to taking Joanie, the Trivia Queen, down together.” He fist-bumps my best friend. “I should get to work.” I watch as he lifts off the counter, sauntering toward the door without so much as a backward glance.
“Um, excuse me. You’re practically salivating. I might even say you’reyearning. Yearning, and lusting?—”
“Okay, okay, okay.” I turn to face the counter, placing my mug down as if I’m going to refill it. “I will tell you everything, but whatever happens—no matter what—it stays between us.”
“Obviously. But why?” She leans her butt against the counter and looks out to the room, blowing away the steam twisting and looping above her coffee mug.
“Because I’m a guest, and if anyone found out he was—” I release a breath. “It just has to be a secret no one can know about.” I should feel ashamed, I think, going behind everyone’s back like some dirty little secret. But that’s not how I feel at all. The whole idea of it turns me on. In fact, it makes me want itmore, knowing I shouldn't be doing this. What kind of person does that make me?
“Yes, girl! Secret flings? I amherefor this.” Viv shimmies her shoulders. “You know what this means?” Viv’s eyes light up. “We’re breaking out thedresstonight.”
Thirty-One
YOU’VE GOT SOMETHING ON YOUR LIP THERE
Liv
“You looksogood! Luke will just die when he sees you.”
Viv emerges from her room, ready for trivia night wearing wide-leg pants that hang low on her hips and a cropped tank top.
My dress—the dress—is a cream linen summer dress with a deep v-neck and laced scalloped hem. It shows off just enough cleavage to be sexy without being too much for trivia night. The sleeves, which flare out at the elbow, are made of the same lace. I’ve cinched the waist with a brown belt that has a large gold buckle. And the skirt, lined along the bottom with the same scalloped lacing, hits mid-thigh. The moment Rachel and Viv saw it on the rack, it was a done deal. This dress was going to be mine. They didn’t have to twist my arm.
I pull my sunglasses from my crossbody purse and push my hair back, using the sunglasses as a headband.
“Let's do this.”
The Tavern looks to be near its max capacity with tables pushed together to accommodate larger groups.
“Viv! Liv!” I hear a voice yell from somewhere in the sea of trivia winner hopefuls. Rachel’s hand shoots up into the air gesturing wildly. “Over here!”
We wander through the tables, my eyes catching Luke’s. His gaze lingers on me as we move closer, his eyes sweeping from my face down my body. My cheeks flame under the heat of his stare.
Josh hops out of his chair. “Looking good, girls!”
Luke stands with him, pulling chairs out for us. As I climb up into the high-top chair, Luke’s fingers graze the exposed skin on my neck so lightly I almost question if I imagined it. If the goosebumps racing across my skin are any sign, I didn’t.
“Ladies, this is my guy, Jimmy. Jimmy, this is Liv and Viv,” Rachel introduces us.
“Liv and Viv? That rhymes.” Jimmy sends us a quick nod of hello.
Fran wanders past our table on her way to the bar, stopping when she sees me. She says hi to the crowd around the table and drapes her arm over my shoulder.
“Did you get the book I left you?” she asks, then leans in a little closer, cupping her hand around her mouth. “Read it when you’realone. Trust me.” She elbows me and winks.
“Haven’t started it yet. I’m nearly done with my last book and will start it soon, I promise!”
“Oh, hunny. You need to pick up the pace! I have a stack of books waiting for you, and it’s only growing taller. Get a move on so we can chat about who’s the hotter book boyfriend, would ya?” She swats me on the shoulder. “I’m getting a beer. Start that book! I need someone to chat about it with. Too-de-loo!” She waves.
