Flat-Out Sexy(43)

"No, thanks," Suzanne said. "Girls night out."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, thanks, but we're just not interested."

The men nodded in acknowledgment and sauntered back to the bar.

"Oh, my God," Suzanne said to them, her jaw dropping.

"What?"

"I just realized I said we weren't interested and I actually really  meant it. I mean, normally if I was out with my girlfriends, I would say  I wasn't interested because, you know, you don't blow your girls off  for men, even if I was interested in a little flirting. But I said that  to these guys because we're hanging out together, and well, Tammy,  you're all into Elec, but the truth of the matter is, those guys were  cute and I really wasn't interested. What the hell is the matter with  me?"                       
       
           



       

Tamara wasn't going to touch that one with a ten-foot pole.

But Imogen had no such reservations. "Can I make an observation?"

"Sure." Suzanne raised her glass to Imogen.

"It's been my experience that if a woman isn't looking around with an  open eye for eligible men, it's because she is taken, whether in  actuality or just emotionally."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you already have someone in mind you want to be with, so you  are no longer looking for a potential mate. In fact, I'm surprised that  those men even approached us, because generally speaking, when women  aren't available, they exude a friendly but closed demeanor that men  pick up on. If you feel that way, and Tamara is smitten with Elec, then  I'm surprised that they thought we were approachable."

"Maybe it was you," Suzanne said. "Though I can honestly say I don't have anyone in mind I want to be with."

Tamara gave her best friend a sidelong glance. "I'm only saying this  because I've had too much to drink, but, sweetie, don't you think maybe  you and Ryder have unresolved business?"

"That could be," Suzanne admitted, which showed Tamara she'd had just as  much to drink to say those words out loud. "But I don't really think I  want to do anything about it."

"Fair enough."

"Imogen, did you want me to go get those guys? I just sent them away  without asking if you were interested," Suzanne said. "If you thought  they were cute, I'll go haul their asses back over here."

"Oh, no, that's okay. I'm not interested. I am stupidly intrigued by someone I shouldn't be."

"A professor?" Suzanne asked. "Please tell me he dresses better than Geoffrey."

"Oh, it's not a professor."

Oh, Lord, Tamara knew exactly who it was. "It's Ty, isn't it?" She  shifted in her hard seat, and wiggled her toes in her flip-flops. Imogen  dangling for Ty had all the makings of a disaster.

But unfortunately, Imogen nodded. "He's really quite attractive."

"Ty! What?" Suzanne slapped her glass down so hard, her margarita sloshed over the side.

"How the hell do you know Ty?"

"I just met him briefly at Tamara's house. It was no big deal."

"He called her Emma Jean because he couldn't figure her name out," Tamara told Suzanne.

"Well, I could see how that would get you excited," Suzanne said, looking extremely puzzled.

"Oh, trust me, it's a purely physical reaction on my part to his  appearance. I know it's ludicrous." Imogen shrugged. "But the body wants  what the body wants."

"Truer words were never spoken," Tamara said, feeling the weight of that statement all the way down to her inner thighs.

"Amen," Suzanne said and raised her glass. "I'll drink to that."

They all raised their drinks and clinked them together before taking a healthy swallow.

Tamara still had a swig in her mouth when Suzanne choked a little and dropped her voice.

"Oh, shit, oh, shit, the pit lizard is here. Don't make eye contact!"



"What pit lizard?" Tamara asked, wanting to turn around but knowing Suz would smack her if she did.

"Crystal," she hissed in a whisper. "The chick you said Elec is getting texts from."

Naked texts. Now Tamara couldn't resist the urge to turn around. She  wanted to see Crystal in the flesh. Apparently so did every man in the  bar. When she turned, she saw the busty blonde sashaying across the bar  in a miniskirt and high heels, her breasts spilling out of her yellow  tank top, every male in the place following her with drooling interest.  Ugh. Tamara knew that Elec didn't appreciate the texts he got from  Crystal, but she couldn't help but look at this woman and wonder why  he'd even been interested in three dates with her.

It didn't seem like him at all, and it bothered her. Why did Elec have a  history of dating bimbos when he so clearly wasn't that type?

Crystal spotted them and beelined for their table.

"Oh, damn," Suzanne whispered.

"Hey, y'all," she said with a bright smile. "How are you doing, Suzanne?"

"Fine, thanks. You?"

"Great." Crystal plunked down in the fourth chair at their table. "I'm  so glad to see you. I took a chance coming out by myself so it's great  that I have someone to hang out with.

Who are your friends?"

"This is Imogen Wilson, and this is Tammy Briggs."

"Are you in racing?" Crystal asked Imogen.                       
       
           



       

Imogen shook her head and Crystal promptly lost interest. "Are you Pete Briggs's widow?"

she asked Tamara.

"Yes."

"And now she's dating another driver," Suzanne said with a touch of triumph in her voice.

Tamara glared at Suzanne. She did not want this woman poking into her business.

"Oh, really? Who?"

"It's a bit of a secret right now, so I'd rather not say."

"Uh-huh." Crystal said that like she didn't believe for one minute that Tamara actually was dating a driver.

Which was irritating, but not enough to make her tell the truth.

"Well, I'm dating a driver," Crystal said. "And it's not a secret."

Oh, no, why did she have the horrible feeling that Crystal was going to say . . .

"It's Elec Monroe."

Imogen gasped.

Tamara felt her blood pressure rise. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt  that Elec was not dating this woman, but it irritated her no end that  Crystal would just sit there and lie about it.

"Oh, really?" Suzanne said. "That surprises me."

Recognizing that glint in her friend's eye, Tamara kicked her under the  table. Suzanne shot her a look that she interpreted as "put this bitch  in her place," but it wasn't worth it. The whole thing would just  escalate into some juvenile catfight.

She refused to fight over a man she knew was hers. Elec was. There was  no doubt in her mind. If she said she wanted to take their relationship  public, he would. She just wasn't sure she was ready to go there, three  margaritas or not.

"Why would that surprise you?" Crystal said, her voice sour. "He likes beautiful women."



Before Suzanne could say whatever brutal thing was on her lips, they  were approached by two men in golf shirts, who, to the astonishment of  Imogen, asked her and Suzanne to dance.

"No, thank you," Imogen said, shaking her head a little violently.

"It's just a line dance, nothing too personal," the one assured her with a friendly smile.

"I wouldn't mind dancing," Suzanne said. "You come, too, Tammy."

"No, I'm fine here." Despite her conviction that Crystal was a liar, she  was feeling a little nauseous from both the drinks and the  conversation, and she needed a minute before she could try to follow the  patterns of the dance.

"Are you okay?" Suzanne asked her as she stood up and Imogen nervously followed suit.

"I'm fine."

Suzanne stared at her for a second then decided she was telling the  truth and went on to the dance floor. Crystal leaned over to Tamara and  whispered, "Oh, my God, I'm so embarrassed."

Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, Tamara asked, "Why?"

"Because I slept with Suzanne's ex-husband and I just feel really uncomfortable about it.

She's clearly not over him and he is so over her."

That was it. Tamara had intended to keep her mouth shut, but when this  chick started slinging barbs at her best friend, she drew the line. She  happened to know for a fact that Ryder still had a tremendous amount of  feelings for Suzanne. So she turned to the blonde and said, "Oh, really?  Sort of like how you're sleeping with Elec?"

Crystal frowned, her plump lips pressing together. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I happen to know for a fact that you're not dating Elec and  you're not having sex with him, so I'm just wondering if you're lying  about Ryder the same way you are about Elec."