the foolish things,” Jamie said, rattling off a quote with authority, as if she were reciting poetry in English class.
“I like that,” she said, and if they were anyplace but a nightclub with loud music reverberating throughout the cavernous hall, she would have repeated it softly to convey how it made her feel. “Who said that?”
Jamie pointed her thumbs back at herself. “This girl,” she said, and both women cracked up.
“All right, you win. You fooled me.”
“Let’s go see the guys,” she said and grabbed Cara’s arm once again.
They weaved through tables and bodies, circling behind Smith and Travis, who were chatting it up. As they neared the guys, Jamie tiptoed the final feet and stretched out her hands so she could drop them over Smith’s eyes in surprise. But then Jamie stopped short, quickly straightening her spine as she mimed zipping her lips.
Cara froze, and her ears pricked as she keyed in on Smith’s voice, saying, “We all know you’re hot for Cara and you have been ever since the two of you went to the goddamn prom together years ago. Wouldn’t tonight be the night to finally do something about it?”
Cara blinked. Holy shit. She did everything she could to rein in a wild grin at hearing those words—hot for Cara. She shouldn’t want to hear them so badly. But hell, did they light up her insides. The prospect of the man she wanted so badly doing something about it tonight had her skin sizzling.
Jamie gave Cara a bug-eyed look as she mouthed, I told you so. Cara pressed her finger against her lips and continued to listen quietly.
“Why tonight? Because it’s your bachelor party?”Travis asked Smith.
“Nope.” Smith puffed up his chest and pointed at Travis. “Because I’m going to make you an offer you can’t resist. Let’s bet right now. Here. You and me. Usual stakes.” The tone of the conversation shifted when Cara heard Smith’s next words. “I bet you can’t even get Cara to kiss you tonight. And there’s no way in hell you could ever convince her to go home with you.”
Now it was Cara’s turn to tug on her friend’s arm. She pulled her away from the men and to the epicenter of all important conversations between women at nightclubs— the ladies room. As the door clanged shut behind them, Cara crossed her arms. She wasn’t sure if she was mad or turned on.
“I can’t believe they just made a bet about me.”
“That’s what they do.”
“Make bets about women?”
“No,” Jamie said with a laugh. “They make bets about everything. They’re guys. That’s just their thing. Personally, I think it’s kind of hot that he wants you so much that all his friends can tell.”
“You do?”
Jamie nodded and wiggled her eyebrows.
“So what am I supposed to do about it?”
“What do you want to do about it?”
Cara blew out a long stream of air and ran her hand through her dark hair. She wasn’t entirely sure at first. A part of her was annoyed to be the object of a bet. But another part of her, the part ruled by her libido, craved the challenge.
Only, she intended to have things her way.
“I’m going to give Travis a taste of his own medicine,” Cara said, lifting her chin, ready for the sweet taste of payback.
There was more in play than turning the tables, though. Maybe one final hot, searing kiss with Travis—a kiss for the ages—would get him out of her system.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to so many people who helped make this book possible. First, thank you to my husband and amazing daughter who helped shape the plot, and who whiteboarded it with me one weekend. You two are brilliant!
Thank you to my father, who tipped me off in the first place. Thank you to Kelly for brainstorming the series concept. Abiding gratitude to Tanya Farrell for reading each chapter as I wrote, to Jen McCoy for her spot-on beta feedback, and to Kim Bias for her overall eagle eye. My line editor Lauren McKellar made sure I stayed on track, and my copy editor caught all those swivels!
I am, as always, in awe of the talent of my cover designer Sarah Hansen. She is the bomb. Helen Williams creates gorgeous graphics and design work and I am lucky she is mine.
A special thank you to the talented RE Hunter for her expertise in legal details, and to Jill Ciambriello for shaping the dance backstory, as well as Brian for his insight. Gale, as she always does, provided her choreographic brilliance. Violet Duke lent her big brain for key plotting. Crystal Perkins made sure I did right by Vegas.
Big thanks to Kelley for running the social show, to Michelle for fighting the battles, and to Jesse for making the books.
I am lucky to lean on so many talented author friends – CD, Laurelin, Kristy, Monica, Marie, Jessie, Corinne, Violet and more.
Thank you to all the bloggers who have enjoyed my Seductive Nights series. I am so grateful for your amazing support and big, bold voices!
Most of all, I am thankful for my readers. You make my world go round.