I shook my head then glanced back at Kendy. Being a doctor must’ve been his only appeal.
“No, he’s not married.” Kendy jutted out her pouty lip. I had a sudden urge to bite it. “He can’t be.”
I’d hit a nerve; I could tell. That uncrackable confidence was suddenly breaking beneath her gorgeous surface. I wanted to say more, add that maybe he had children she didn’t know about so she could push out that lip in my direction and I could run my tongue along the seam, but I thought better of it.
I set my beer on the bar as her eyes zoned in on the group of guys congregated by Stiff. “Let me give you the four-one-one. That is one of the ER doctors I work with. I’ve been stalking him since I got here a month ago. He’s going to be mine. I feel it in my bones.”
I laughed at her comment as she continued, “I’m serious. All I need to do is get him to notice me, give me a chance, and he’ll fall in love. Hello?” She released me when my laughter continued. Her face pinched with annoyance.
“Okay, I want to see how this is done.”
She raised her chin, determination in her eyes. “Okay.” She pointed her manicured finger in his direction and didn’t blink as he talked up the blonde in front of him. “Once he gets to know me, fall in love, and I screw him, he’s going to be mine forever.”
“You’re a hooker?” I teased.
Now it was her turn to laugh as an irresistibly devastating grin emerged on her face. “No, dummy.” She slapped my arm and giggled, her eyes lighting up. But when she focused back on Stiff, she pursed her lips as her mood turned sour again.
He angled toward the woman he walked in with, chatting her up. A part of me wanted to bring Kendy to her senses. If he didn’t notice Kendy and her beautiful spunky self, it was his loss.
As I watched her, it was in that brief moment that I saw the unshielded vulnerability in her eyes. But a second later, the insecurity vanished as a veil of toughness came down. I sensed she didn’t let anyone see that side of her often.
She lifted her index finger and tapped her chin. “This night is not going as planned. My wingman backed out on me. I also wasn’t anticipating any competition so early in the evening.”
My eyebrows pulled together, trying to make sense of her thoughts.
She flipped her hair over her shoulder, the scent of peaches wafting my way. Maybe it was her lotion that smelled like peaches.
“I’ve conditioned myself for my forever man and he’s ‘it’.” She shrugged. “So this little blip is no big deal.” Her words said one thing, but her body language said another.
When her lips turned downward, I knew I had to change the subject. Quick. “Okay, so what’s my part?”
She angled so we were facing directly, knees touching as we sat on the barstools. “Well, you’re going to be my boy toy for tonight. He’s going to get jealous, dump the fake, and get with me. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.” She licked her lips as she turned to take another look at Stiff. Her lips were hot and full, and my cock twitched as I wondered if those lips had been conditioned, too.
“And what do I get in return?” My dick jumped to attention, and I tried to think of fairies and sugarplums and people dying to get him to calm the hell down.
“I’ll think of something. I’m just trying to land Dr. Klein so he can put a ring on it, and I can have his babies. One night is all I need.” She said it like she knew it was going to be true, and I couldn’t help but laugh at her ability to tell the future.
My eyebrows jumped into my hairline as I comprehended her last few words. “You’re going to sleep with him on the first date?”
“Well, I’m definitely not against it.” Her eyes flickered back in his direction as she twisted her hands together in her lap. “I know what I want and how to get it.” Her voice softened as she chewed on her bottom lip, her earlier bravado fading. I wondered if she was as sure as she came off to be, but more than that, my curiosity spiked wondering if she believed that sex was all she was worth.
Somewhere in all this confidence and strange ease with all things sexual, this woman was a small town girl at heart. I knew this, because I had come from a small town, too. Was she putting up a front, but truly rattled with insecurity? Though I didn’t know her, the protective side of me emerged.
“How well do you know this guy?” My eyes followed Stiff at the corner of the room. He definitely had a way with the ladies. Whatever he was spewing was working. Blondie laughed uncontrollably, practically hanging all over him. There was no doubt he was getting laid tonight.
“I’ve been studying him,” Kendy explained. “Besides being a doctor, he’s really sweet. Do you know his grandma calls him all the time? He loves his nana. Just look at him. That wavy dark brown hair, that body.” She swooned and got this girly excitement in her eyes. I wanted to tell her I was looking at him, and I just didn’t see what she saw.
She went on dreamily, “I know this because I’m the one who talks to his grandmother, and she leaves messages.” She held her hand to her heart as a goofy smile crept up her face. “And he’s obviously über intelligent and super loaded.”
My face contorted as I wondered why someone as hot and educated as she was, would be interested in someone like him.
“Sorry, did I offend you?” she asked, concern etched on her face.
Amused, I shrugged.
“I mean, with the whole rich thing and you not being—” She stopped mid-sentence and wrinkled her nose.
I chuckled at her as she dug herself deeper in the hole with every word.
“No, not at all.”
Money didn’t matter to me. Recognition and advancing my career did; money was just an added bonus which came with it. I didn’t mention I made close to six figures at the bank. I didn’t know what Stiff was making, but it wasn’t like I made chump change.
I suppressed a laugh. This woman had pegged me all wrong on so many levels.
***
KENDY
The bass of the music thumped in the background as the heat index of the room increased. More and more people had entered the bar, making an already crowded area now overly packed.
I ran my finger along the top of my drink and glanced back at Brian. He probably thought I was on the prowl for a sugar daddy, so I needed to set him straight. “I know what you’re thinking, but you’re dead wrong. I’m not a gold digger.”
He looked at me with feigned disbelief, which pissed me off even more because it couldn’t have been further from the truth.
“A gold digger is looking for a man to support her, because she doesn’t work,” I argued. “I’m an educated college graduate. Bachelors of Science in nursing. That’s right, BS, baby. Straight A’s to boot.” I tucked an escaping strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m not looking for a man to support me. I’m looking for a man to give me what I deserve, and Tiffany’s is it.”
He held up his hands in self-defense. “I never called you a gold digger.”
“Well, you thought it, and I’m just setting you straight.” I uncrossed and crossed my legs, and Brian’s eyes flashed. I wondered if he saw I wasn’t wearing any panties. I pulled at my skirt, making sure he didn’t get another glimpse if he did see.
And maybe I’d had one too many drinks, or maybe it was my honest nature, but I ended up telling him anyway. “Yes, it’s true I like to go commando. Why try to play games if I know what I want? And who knows? It might be his lucky night.” If I could only get his damn attention.
“You want to practice first before you go on your date with him?” A small smirk played on his lips.
I laughed. There was no seriousness in his tone when he said it. “I’ve had much practice in the sex department, and if you think my shit is loose, I guarantee you it’s tight as a knot down there.” I pointed my fingers between my legs. “I do kegels regularly. Actually, right now as we speak.” From the look on his face, he had no clue what kegels were. “Forget it,” I said, shaking my head.