Page 26 of Sizzling Desire

I feel my cheeks flush. “Um, I’m just focusing on the wedding right now.”

Joan rolls her eyes. “That’s what I said after my third marriage. Then I met husband number four. Best damn kisser in the state.”

Betty laughs. “Oh please, Joan, don’t scare the poor girl off. Grace, sweetie, you just need to find someone who knows how to make you laugh, and someone who can, you know, can keep it up in the bedroom.”

“Betty!” Kate’s face turns beet red, but she’s laughing too hard to stop her.

I can feel my face heating up. “I think I’m good for now, but thanks for the advice.”

Gladys isn’t done. “Well, you just let us know if you need any pointers. Back in our day, we knew how to keep a man happy. Florence here still gets calls from her high school sweetheart. Not that he can do much anymore, but it’s the thought that counts.”

Florence waves a hand. “He’s in a nursing home, bless his heart, but he always says I’m still the best thing that ever happened to him.”

“Didn’t he marry three other women after you?” Joan asks innocently.

Florence shrugs. “They were practice. I’m the real deal.”

At this point, Mia’s lost it, bent over double with laughter. Kate’s wiping tears from her eyes, shaking her head at theWalking Ladies.

"Alright, ladies," Kate says, clapping her hands. "Let's get you into those dresses.Magical Momentsisn’t ready for you."

Gladys grins, linking her arm through Florence’s. “Oh, honey, the world isn’t ready for us, but we show up anyway.”

As they march toward the fitting rooms, I exchange a look with Mia. “You think they’ll actually go through with wearing the pink?”

Mia shakes her head, still giggling. “Not a chance.”

Kate just smiles, watching them fondly. “They’re a force of nature, but they’re my force. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

As I watch theWalking Ladiessweep through the boutique like they own the place, I have to admit—Kate picked the perfect flower girls.

The fitting is winding down, and theWalking Ladiesare finally settled into their chosen dresses. I lean against the counter, watching them parade around the boutique like they own the joint. Florence is adjusting her neckline for the hundredth time, while Gladys is making sure everyone notices the shimmer on her dress.

“Make sure these groomsmen know they can look, but no touching,” Gladys declares, adjusting her sparkly red dress with a wink.

Kate grins at me from across the room, mouthing,I told you they’d be a hit.

My phone buzzes in my hand, pulling my attention awayfrom the chaos. I glance at the screen and blink in surprise—it's Jason, the handsome client, and my date from the other night. My heart does a little flip as I step outside to take the call.

“Hello?” I answer, trying to sound casual.

“Grace, hi,” his deep voice comes through the line. “It’s Jason. I hope this isn’t a bad time?”

“No, not at all,” I reply, leaning against the wall wondering why he’s calling me since I thought I was pretty clear the other night. “What’s up?”

“I was wondering… I enjoyed our date the other night, and I’ve been thinking about it. Would you like to go to dinner with me again sometime? Say, one night this week?”

I pause, surprised at how smooth he is, how confident. For a moment, I think of Kane and the chaos he brings into my life. Dinner with someone calm, collected, and undeniably attractive sounded like exactly what I thought I needed when I said yes the first time. Now, I’m not so sure.

“Um, Jason. I don’t think that’s a good idea. Like I told you at dinner the other night, I’m just not in a place to be dating right now,” I say, surprising myself with how easy it is to turn him down.

“I understand. I was just hoping you’d change your mind,” he replies, and I can hear the disappointment in his voice. “The answer’s always ‘no’ if you don’t ask, right?”

“Thank you for understanding.”

We exchange a few more pleasantries, and when I hang up, I feel a bit bad for turning him down. Jason’s attention is flattering, and honestly, it felt good to be thinking about something…someone…other than Kane, but then again…Kane’s all I was thinking about at dinner.

I slip back into the boutique. Kate notices immediately, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. “Who was that?” she asks, already grinning.

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