Chapter 40
“Y’see – this is why I’ve resorted to online dating,” Faith groans and tips her head in the direction of the dance floor as she slips onto the velvet bench next to her sister. There’s a purple-haired wannabe biker chick grinding shamelessly all over the protruding stomach of a toupee-wearing clod who is obviously having the time of his life.
“Be careful, hun,” Isla says cautiously. “There’s some freaks out there on the internet.”
Faith laughs mirthlessly. “Are you serious right now? There’s some freaks in here.” She nods toward the dance floor again to make her point.
“Touché” Isla giggles over the rim of her wine glass.
But Faith isn’t done ranting. Not just yet. “I mean, are there any cute guys in this town?” She takes a greedy sip of her martini before setting the drink down on the tempered glass tabletop.
I peer around the small lounge, the colorful strobe lights illuminating the faces of the dozens of patrons jiving on the dance floor. Surprisingly, the place is relatively full. It must be because of the ladies’ night two-for-one drinks special. More than three-quarters of the customers are female and the few men here are coming on way too strong. The place reeks of desperation.
Thank god I have Keeland and his sexy ass to go home to, I grin slyly to myself.
Gracie shrugs, looking at Faith. “Don’t ask me. I’m only here to get away from my husband.” I hear the sadness in her tone.
I flinch at her words. “Are you two still fighting?”
There’s absolute melancholy in her eyes when she nods. “At the rate we’re going, I don’t think our marriage will make it until Christmas.”
“Ah – don’t say that,” Isla says, reaching out for Gracie’s hand. “You’re breaking my heart. Divorce is the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”
Gracie sighs. “It’s not what I want. But I feel like we’re running out of options.”
“Did you try absolutely everything?” I ask, leaning across the table to hold her hand.
My sister-in-law nods. “Counseling didn’t work. Spending more time together didn’t work. Spending more time apart didn’t work...”
“There’s always couples’ tantra. I’m running another retreat soon,” Isla offers, trying to be helpful.
“I guess we could give that a try,” Gracie says skeptically, lifting her shoulders before dropping them hopelessly. “I’m starting to wonder if, maybe Daniel just doesn’t love me anymore.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I say quickly. “My brother is crazy about you.”
“He used to be…” she says quietly.
“Aww, Gracie,” Faith sighs sympathetically. She wraps her arms around her sister’s neck.
“Okay, okay. Stop,” Gracie says with a weak laugh as she brushes a tear out of her eye. “We didn’t come here tonight to have a pity party for me.” She nudges Faith out of the booth. “Come on. All of you are single and need to be hooked up tonight. I’ll play matchmaker. Let’s hit the dance floor.”
My fingers brush against my beautiful new earrings and I swallow back guilt at the fact that my friends still don’t know that I’m not single at all. I belong to Keeland Masters. I’m his girl. He’s my guy. And no one in a 5000-mile radius can make me feel half of the things he does. It took me by surprise but my deep disdain for him has morphed into something that’s beginning to feel a bit like…love.
That worries me. And it thrills me at the same time.
I push my concerns aside and bring my attention to the club and the pulsing energy buzzing around me. A David Guetta tune blasts through the room and we party away, dancing and laughing and drinking.
After finding a handsome silver fox for Isla to dance with and hooking Faith up with a baby-faced cutie who is surely still in college, Gracie coaxes a dimple-cheeked guy into buying me a drink. I turn him down with a flattered smile because, in the back of my mind, I’m secretly counting down the minutes until I’m in Keeland’s arms.
But Mr. Dimples is rather persistent and he gets close, breathing heavy in my ear and whispering things that would make even a streetwalker uncomfortable. I look around for Gracie but she’s busy on the dance floor with some women I recognize from around town. Faith and her new friend from the community college look like they’re two winks away from trying to make a stealth exit. Meanwhile, Isla seems to be engaged in a deep-existential conversation with the silver fox.
I try to be polite as I push Mr. Dimples away. But unfortunately for him, he doesn’t take a hint. He leans in and slides his hand across my ass before he tries to kiss me. I manage to duck away just in time.
The next thing I know, Mr. Dimples goes flying backwards, landing hard on his tailbone as the crowd parts around him and Keeland’s pale, angry eyes flash under the strobe lights.