“Ignoring him will only make him more determined,” Susie warned darkly. “And he’s going to come around sooner or later.”
“He’s a doctor, he’s busy. Maxie said he was on-call this afternoon, so no chance of him coming around.”
“Saved by a sick person. Nice.”
“You just want a piece of him.”
“Bastard, playing one of my best friends like that.” Susie abruptly turned to face Cherry. “But I’m not sorry you went ahead and hired a male escort.”
“Hells bells, you can say that after all this?” Maxie protested.
“Hey, that was one mistake. It’s no reason to not hire a male escort again.”
Cherry’s mouth fell open.
Maxie shook her head.
“That Damien was a hunk, wasn’t he?”
“Also an unprofessional loud-mouth,” Cherry snapped.
“He was speaking to a nurse and a doctor, he knew you were bound by oath not to repeat anything.”
“Shouldn’t he have a similar oath, the little prick?”
Susie guffawed.
Cherry glared at her. “I should have given him his pethidine shot with a blunt needle.”
“The drawing up needle,” Maxie added.
“And put the thermometer where the sun doesn’t shine.”
“Maybe Rick will be a patient one day and you can have the pleasure of giving him that shot with the blunt needle.” Susie got up, filled the kettle and plugged it in again. “I’ll volunteer to insert the thermometer.”
Maxie rolled her eyes at Cherry.
“The man might be a bastard, but he has a really nice arse,” Susie pointed out.
“He does,” Cherry agreed without thinking, only to stop in horror and slap her hand over her mouth.
“And you’d know.” Susie leered and sat down again. “You didn’t tell us what he’s like in bed.”
“No, you didn’t.” Arms folded on the table, Maxie gaze was avid. “Spill.”
“What? No!”
“Oh, come on. You don’t owe him any loyalty now.”
No, she might not owe him any loyalty, but neither was she going to discuss every intimate detail. Every intimate detail that just the memory of still made her tingle down in her treacherous nether-regions, damn it.
“It was nice,” she said.
“Nice?” Susie raised her eyebrows. “You can do better than that.”
“Good.” Bloody amazing, in fact. She could still feel the strength in his arms, the shift of muscle beneath his smooth skin.
“Good?” Maxie repeated. “We want more than that.”
More? She’d gotten more all right. The heat of his hard body, the strength, the clean, masculine scent as he’d pressed closer, his breath warm on her neck, his lips—
“The man is a bastard,” she said briskly, folding her arms decisively. “As far as I can tell he was a good lover.” She stumbled a little over the word. “But as for character, he sucks. I don’t want to talk about the jerk anymore.”
Susie and Maxie exchanged looks.
“And you can stop that,” Cherry said sharply.
“You’re not going to tell us anymore?” Susie was disappointed.
“What about his donger?” Maxie persisted. “Is he well hung? He looks like he’s got a good body under those suits he wears.”
“Big hands,” Susie added brightly. “Long fingers.”
“Ooohhh.” Maxie feigned a shudder of delight. “Long fingers! All the better for stroking you, my dear!”
They had no idea, a little voice wistfully whispered deep inside her. Cherry shook her head in disgust. “Rick Reed is no longer worth my time to discuss.”
“Ah well.” With a sigh, Susie glanced at her watch. “Time for me to go, anyway. Robbo’s taking me out for tea tonight. I better get home and make myself beautiful for him.”
Cherry saw her out to her car and waved her off. Susie could be both annoying and funny, and Cherry loved her like a sister.
Maxie stayed for another coffee and to chat about her wedding plans with Cherry. She pulled out the bridal magazines she’d brought with her and they poured over the bridal gowns before Maxie turned to the pictures of bridesmaid’s dresses.
Cherry was relieved when Maxie pointed out the bridesmaids dresses she was intending to order for Cherry and Susie to wear. Plain lines, pretty colours, and with only a little flounce. Sure, she’d look like an overblown hourglass beside Susie, but at least she’d be passable.
The knock on the door caught her by surprise. Glancing up, she saw that it was eight o’clock. She and Maxie looked at each other.
The knock came again, and Cherry got up and started down the hall, only to halt when a voice called out, “Cherry? It’s me, Rick. I just want to talk.”