Second Chance at Love(14)

“Yeah, until he starts seeing someone. Then he will leave my babies high and dry.” Karen tried to push aside feelings of jealousy as she sipped her milkshake. Dom was a good looking man and could have his pick of women. Sure, he was attracted to her…for now. But when he got tired of being a substitute daddy he would move on to a woman who was children-free.



Summer sucked her teeth. “Girl, please. The way that man was all over you at Tony Luke’s, he ain’t hardly interested in seeing anybody but you.”



Summer and Starr reached across the table and gave each other a high-five. “I know that’s right. Big sis, you better listen to our girl Summer. And don’t think we didn’t notice how y’all were dancing like two love birds at the wedding.” Starr started swaying from side to side in the booth as if she was listening to a slow romantic ballad.



Clapping her hands, Summer let out a noise that was a cross between a squeak and a laugh. “I thought Dom was going to do a smack-down on the DJ when he switched from the slow jam to the Mississippi stomp.” Summer clapped her hands again. “Karen, girl you should have seen the way he looked at that DJ. And ooh, girl when you all but jumped out of his arms and started line dancing, he was M-A-D.”



Karen covered her face with a napkin and laughed when Starr and Summer started singing, “Right foot stomp, and left foot stomp, you cha-cha with the right…”



Still laughing, Karen took the napkin from her face and waved it like a flag of surrender. “Stop it, stop it, pleaaaase stop it!”



Wiping the tears from her eyes, all Karen could do was shake her head. She couldn’t get upset with their teasing. Because although she had enjoyed being in Dom’s arms, being held so close, smelling his clean masculine scent, she knew she had to get away from him and quick. If that DJ had played another slow song she would have stayed right there in his arms with all kinds of crazy thoughts running around in her head. Like thoughts of him being hers forever. So when the DJ played the line dance song, Karen had taken the opportunity to get away from him. Too bad she hadn’t seen the look on his face. A little tingle of excitement ran up her spine. Was he really that into her?



“Stop what?” Summer waved her hand at her friend. “Girl, that man isn’t only interested in your kids. He’s interested in you too. And I think you’re interested in him.”



Karen tucked a stray hair behind her ear. The blushing over her face told her sister and friend everything they wanted to know. There was no denying it. She was definitely interested in Dominic Peretti, Jr. “I am very interested.”



Starr raised her soda glass up in the air. Karen and Summer followed suit. “A toast to my big sister. May Dom be the one.”



“I’ll drink to that!” Karen and Summer agreed, giggling like teenage school girls as they clicked glasses with Starr.



Starr flashed her dimpled smile. “And if he isn’t the one we’ll just have to cut him off at the knees.”



Karen threw her head back and laughed. “Girl you are absolutely without a doubt craaazy.” Reaching into her purse she pulled out a twenty and placed it on the table. “I’d love to stay longer, but I have to get going. Dom should be back with the kids in a little bit.”



“I thought the show was over at seven.” Summer commented while looking at her watch. “It’s only six-thirty.”



“I know. I have to swing back by the supermarket. I’m making a red velvet cake.”



Starr sat straight up in the booth. “Uh-oh, red velvet cake? Girl, what’s going on?” The only time Karen made this dessert was for special occasions and holidays.



Scooting out of the booth Karen stood, putting on her leather jacket. “Dom’s mother invited me and the kids for Sunday dinner. I offered to bring dessert.”



“Well alright! I ain’t mad atcha’ girlfriend.” Summer teased, snapping her fingers.



Karen laughed as she walked toward the exit, wiggling her fingers. “Bye. I’ll see y’all later.”



“Later.” Her sister and friend called out as they watched Karen practically float out the door.





Chapter 8





“Girl, should we be doing this?” Summer asked in between the ringing of the phone on the conference call they were on.



“Don’t you think Ava would want to know?” Starr answered, suddenly unsure of what they were about to do.



Whether they had made the right decision to bother their friend on her honeymoon was a moot point. Someone had picked up the phone.