Recklessly Royal(4)

“Um, no. I do not want to be set up with anyone. That’s just weird.” I shook my head. “No, no, no.”

“Why not?” Sam poured more wine into her glass. “We’re cool people. We know cool people.”

“Yes, because cool people often need to tell people that.” I laughed.

Sam snorted. “C’mon. A neurologist? Some people would think that was a serious catch.”

“I always thought I wanted someone like Jess’s friend, but I don’t know anymore. I just . . .” I pursed my lips. “Maybe you’re right. I should just find someone to have fun. Stop worrying about the long term.”

“That’s not—”

“Exactly!” Jess cut Sam off. “Have some fun! Cut loose!”

“We’ll see.” I took a sip of my drink before going to rinse my glass and setting it in the sink. “Ready for your massages?”

“Hell yeah!” Sam drank the rest of the wine in her glass. “Time to relax.”

“Then come on!” I forced a large smile. Thinking about my love life, or rather the lack of my love life, was depressing. The chances of finding someone who would love me for me were so slim, they practically didn’t exist. What Alex had found with Sam was a miracle. I’d be lucky if I found someone who didn’t make me want to puke when I saw them.





TWO


“WHEN I SAID I wanted to do something crazy, I didn’t mean I wanted to become a stripper.” Sam stood in the large formal living room, looking at the silver poles in front of her. “Be honest. Did Alex put you up to this?”

“No, but he’s going to owe me.” I snickered and sat down on the floor to stretch.

“You didn’t hire a stripper, did you? That guy in the spandex, currently sitting in my kitchen, is not going to shake his man-pickle in my face, right?” Sam grabbed a bottle of champagne and poured us all a glass. “Because if you did, I’m going to need a lot more to drink. He looks like Gene Simmons on steroids.”

I chuckled loudly. “No. I didn’t hire a stripper.”

“Damn.” Jess winked at me.

“I thought this would be fun! Crazy and silly, and not out at clubs or at bars where people could see us.” I accepted my flute from Sam and took a swallow.

“This is going to be awesome. Can you imagine Bert’s face when I tell him what we did tonight?” Jess bounced on her toes a little. Her new husband would probably be thrilled.

“Did you see the teacher? He could kill us with one punch! This is going to be work! And hard.” Sam narrowed her eyes.

“It’s a fun class, I made sure.” I leaned over, touching my head to my knee. When I sat back up Sam was glaring at me. “What?”

“Okay, Miss I-Can-Touch-My-Head-to-My-Leg. I’m sure this will be a blast.” Sam laughed. “If I have a heart attack, tell Alex I loved him.”

“Will do.” I stretched out over the opposite leg.

“Is it just going to be us?” Jess sat down on the floor and started her own stretches.

“Nope. We have a few more people coming.” I leaned forward and brushed the floor with my fingertips.

“Who else?” Sam dropped to the floor next to me.

“Friends.” The doorbell rang and I hopped up off the floor. “I’ll get it.”

I could hear voices through the door and my smile grew. Yanking open the double doors, I threw myself at my cousin, Daniel, my face breaking into a smile. Laughing, he spun me in a circle.

“Cathy!” He kissed my cheek before setting me back on the ground. We’d become very close over the last couple of years.

“Why don’t you twirl with me like that?” Chadwick, Sam’s loyal assistant, asked. They’d been openly dating for a year now, and I loved seeing them both so happy.

“Because you don’t have all that blond hair to spin around.” Daniel made a tsking noise. “You keep cutting it too short.”

“Not to mention it’s red.” Chadwick rolled his eyes. “And I look like a Muppet if I don’t cut it.” He leaned forward and kissed my cheek.

“You look great.” I led them back into the house. “And dapper as always. I’m loving the tie.” I flicked the pink plaid silk with my fingers. Chadwick was my favorite shopping buddy.

“I thought you were with the guys!” Sam stood up and hugged Daniel before glaring at Chadwick. “You lied!”

“I most certainly didn’t.” Chadwick rolled his eyes. “We were there and now we’re here.”

“Yes. Too much testosterone.” Daniel laughed.

“Cathy asked us to come to this first, but there was no way I was going to be here while Sam got waxed.” Chadwick shuddered. “Did she hurt anyone?”