“He shouldn’t feel guilty,” Angelina said softly. “Everything that happened was at my instigation. I know Micah. So much better than he knows me,” she added wistfully.
“You know about his, um, proclivities then, huh,” Julie hedged.
Angelina smiled. “I believe the question here is how you know about them.”
Julie had the grace to flush.
“There’s nothing about Micah I don’t accept,” Angelina said. “We’re the same, he and I, but he’ll never see that as long as he refuses to see me as anything more than David’s little sister.”
“So you’re giving up?” Julie challenged.
Serena and Faith shot her sharp glances, but Julie barged ahead.
“Believe me when I say I know all about pursuing an oblivious, hardheaded man. God knows I should have given up on Nathan eons ago. The man’s as thick as a brick.”
Angelina couldn’t help but giggle as she imagined big, badass-looking Nathan with brash, outspoken Julie. He probably cowered in terror.
“I’m not giving up on Micah,” Angelina said. “It’s complicated. Just have to give him space. He hasn’t let go of Hannah, and until he does, there’s no room for me in the equation. That’s assuming he can ever feel anything for me beyond raging lust.”
“Lust is good. Nothing wrong with lust,” Julie said.
Serena laughed. “Shut up, Julie.”
“So what are you going to do?” Faith asked.
“I wait,” Angelina said.
“Fuck that,” Julie said rudely. “I’m making it my self-appointed mission to make damn sure you don’t sit around pining for his ass. It’s not like he’s been celibate while he mourns his dead wife.”
Faith winced. “Damn, Julie, could you try to be a little tactful?” Julie shot them both a look of bewilderment. “What? It’s the truth. Besides, a man takes a woman who sits around totally for granted. She needs to get out, meet people. Have some fun. It can’t be fun moving to a new city where the only person you know has decided to ignore you.”
Angelina’s lips twisted into a rueful smile. “You certainly have a way with words. No wonder Nathan is so smitten.”
Serena and Faith burst out laughing.
“Oh my God we have another Julie on our hands,” Faith exclaimed.
Julie grinned. “I knew I was going to like her.”
Serena rolled her eyes. “Oh please. You were ready to scratch her eyes out when you thought she was Micah’s woman and she was having a thing with Connor.”
“Seriously?” Angelina asked with a laugh.
Julie slanted a sideways glare at Serena. “Yeah well, at the time my info wasn’t up-to-date. And now that it is we need to discuss jazzing up your social life, which means I will be the one who has to save you, because these two are boring old maids now that they’ve married.”
“Oh Lord,” Faith groaned. “Be afraid, Angelina. Be very afraid.”
“What are you doing next Friday night?” Julie asked.
“I think you know I’m not doing anything,” Angelina said dryly.
“Okay, well I’m dragging Nathan to this really great club for some dancing. Why don’t you go with us?”
Serena’s mouth fell open while Faith looked a cross between horrified and hysterically amused.
“You’re taking Nathan where?” Faith asked.
“You heard me,” Julie said.
“Poor Nathan,” Serena murmured. “What did he do to you to deserve this? Are you still punishing that poor boy?”
Julie uttered a hmmph as she glared at Serena and Faith. “It’s part of our deal. One weekend he chooses what we do and I get to choose the next. And if I have to endure a monster truck rally then he can damn sure go shake his ass with me.”
Angelina covered her mouth to prevent the laughter, but it spilled out anyway.
“I know I’ve just met him, but I can’t see him at some club unless maybe it was a biker bar.”
Julie grinned. “He would look good on a Harley, wouldn’t he?”
Angelina nodded.
“So you want to go? Nathan won’t mind so much if he gets to escort two hot women around.”
“Thank you,” Angelina said with a smile. “I’d love to go. I love to dance. Miami has some fantastic clubs.”
“Okay, great. We’ll pick you up Friday then. Just don’t wear something too sexy. I don’t want to kick your ass if Nathan starts gawking.”
“Uh, Julie, don’t you have that bass-ackward?” Faith asked. “If your man is gawking, you should be kicking his ass not hers.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Julie said sweetly. “I won’t kick her ass until after I’ve removed his nuts.”
CHAPTER 15
If Micah thought that not seeing Angelina or being near her would somehow remove the searing lust that raged through his veins, he was wrong.