is studly as fuck. All those muscles and tattoos?” She shivered. “I bet he can do astonishing things in the sack. Like stuff that hasn’t even been dreamed up yet by porn writers.”
Rolling onto her stomach so she could grab her drink as well, Brooke said, “I’m sorry, did you forget about a man named David? He’s about six feet, sweet as hell, handsome, and…oh, your husband.”
Nancy pressed a hand to her heart. “I could never forget my hunky hubby. I was looking for you, my dearest friend. These are purely objective, clinical observations for your benefit.”
Brooke rolled her eyes behind her glasses. God, she loved her wacky friend. “Weren’t you the one warning me about him the other day? And calling him an ex-con just now?”
Nancy shrugged. “I’m not advising you to go ring shopping, but someone needs to clear out your cobwebs. Might as well be a fine-ass man who knows his way around a vajayjay. A woman can only survive on a vibrator for so long.”
“It hasn’t been that long.” It’d been over five years. At this point, so much time passed she’d been intimate with a man she’d probably have a full-on panic attack if she tried.
“Don’t even. Your vibrator called me the other day sobbing. It was sobbing, Brooke. It was all, ‘Nancy, please find her a man. I’m exhausted. She keeps replacing the batteries instead of giving me the rest I need. The rest I deserve.’”
Brooke sat up and blinked at her friend. Then she burst out laughing. “You are insane.”
Nancy grabbed a chip, loaded it up with guac, then lifted it as though toasting. “Never claimed otherwise.”
They spent the next few hours alternately swimming, laying by the pool, and playing with the dogs. Brooke stopped herself after the second margarita. With Curly due in the evening, she needed her wits about her to keep from doing something stupid like telling him what she hadn’t been willing to admit to Nancy. And that was just how irresistible she found those tattoos and all that hair.
And the muscles.
Lord, the muscles.
“Ugh,” Nancy groaned as they air-dried on the lounge chairs after their recent cooldown in the pool. “David will be here soon, which means I have to leave. I don’t wanna go. I’m too comfortable.” There was a distinct whine in her voice.
Suddenly, Ray’s head popped up, and his ears stood at attention. Then, he let out a loud woof and took off like a shot across the yard toward the gate. Of course, once he started running, the rest of the dogs grew interested, and soon the entire pack was yipping and yapping by the gate.
“Looks like your chariot has arrived.”
“Waaah. Do you think if I throw a tantrum, he’ll let me stay and play longer?” Nancy sat up, as did Brooke just as the gate opened. “Hey, bab—well, well, well, look who it is.” Her grin radiated with evil glee.
Curly strode into the backyard, utterly unfazed by the dogs' attention. And it was pretty enthusiastic. Jack stuck nudged his head into Curly’s hand while a pug puppy Brooke was pretty sure she would never be able to part with tugged at the laces on his boots. The rest of them ran circles around him, jumping for his hands in a shameless bid for affection.
“Ladies,” he said with a lifted hand before crouching down to give the dogs love.
“Holy orgasmic wonderfulness,” Nancy mouthed as she fanned herself.
Brooke peeked at her phone. “He’s two hours early,” she whispered. “Hand me my towel, I need to cover up.”
“This towel?” Nancy asked as she reached for one of the towels folded at the bottom of her lounge chair. “Oops.”
Brooke’s eyes widened as she watched the towel flutter into the pool.
“My bad,” Nancy said in the most insincere tone Brooke had ever heard. “It just fell from my hands.”
“I hate you,” she mouthed, only to be met with a shit-eating grin from her ex-best friend.
By then, Curly was making his way toward the lanai with the crew of dogs in tow. He walked with the kind of confident swagger that bordered on arrogance but never crossed the line. The man was truly a treat to look at. Thick thighs, toned arms, tanned skin, tattoos, and that curly hair falling almost to his shoulders. “Sorry, I’m so early. I was close by and took a chance you’d be home. I can scram if I’m interrupting.”
Brooke stood, wearing nothing but her damp bikini with no choice but to greet him or