Page 36 of Wicked Flirt
“Hmm…”Poor kids.
Hailey craned her neck, looking all around. “Start looking for a parking space. So how’s things with you and Marcus?” Lexi had filled in her friends earlier that they were now a thing.
She beamed, sharing the wonderful news she hadn’t dared to say out loud. “He adores me.”
“Awwww! That’s so sweet! I’m so happy for you. You know I wasn’t sure about him at first because he just flirts with everyone and, of course, we all know his rep, but hey! Good on you. So you must not mind the flirting?”
She swallowed hard, her previous happiness fading a little. “He’s just being nice.” A warning bell went off in her head. This was just like her mother, making excuses for her dad’s lecherous behavior. No, Marcus wasn’t like that, he was one of the good guys. “He said he believes in monogamy now.”
“Yeah?” Hailey chirped. “What changed?”
Lexi tensed. What had changed? How had he explained it again? “I guess just him seeing so many happy couples. He’s a good guy. He was just screwed up for a while because of his ex-wife, but he’s changed now.”
“Oh, I didn’t know he was married before. Okay, well, if you’re fine with everything, no worries.”
Lexi set her teeth. Clearly Hailey disapproved of Marcus. “Josh is flirty with lots of women that come into the bar.”
“Josh isn’t my boyfriend.”
Hailey put her blinker on, pulled to the side, and waited for a parking space behind a car that was leaving. She turned to Lexi. “I’m just looking out for you. One thing I’ve learned through my years as a wedding planner and love junkie is that the relationships that work out are the kind where the couples don’t try to change each other. They love and accept the other person exactly as they are.”
“You taking notes?”
“Actually, yes.” She glanced at the car slowly pulling away in front of them. “I’ve got tons of notes on every successful relationship I’ve been witness to, especially once I started the Happy Endings Book Club.” She hit the gas and neatly fit her little car into the vacant space. “I started it as a singles book club and, since no men ever joined, it became my personal mission to see every single one of you happily settled with the man of your dreams. You were the last single lady in there, and now that you have Marcus, my work here is done.”
Hailey turned off the car and they both got out. Lexi waited while Hailey snapped on Rose’s leash and took her for a potty break. She’d figured the matchmaking in their book club had been Hailey’s agenda all along. Now Hailey was the only single woman left in the Happy Endings Book Club.
“What’s up with Josh?” Lexi asked. “What happened that night you went to his place to get your money? You’ve been so close-lipped about it.”
Hailey busied herself arranging Rose in her pink doggie purse, which coordinated with her long white wool coat, pink scarf, and high-heeled white boots. Probably dressed to kill under the coat. She started walking at a brisk pace.
“Hailey?” Lexi pressed, keeping up with her.
“Nothing to report on Josh.” Hailey stared straight ahead, chin up. “From now on, I’ll be applying all the most effective dating techniques to my own life and search for my happy-ever-after in earnest. Maybe I’ll meet someone tonight.”
Lexi stared at Hailey. Josh wouldn’t be here tonight since he was working, but Lexi and her friends had always thought Josh was the obvious choice for Hailey. Their sexual chemistry was palpable. And who cared if they were always fighting? The minute they hit the sheets, the tension would be neutralized and they’d get along great. Although…they were very different. Hailey was ambitious and driven, always dressed up and made up like she was about to be photographed for a glossy magazine. Josh, on the other hand, was laid-back, mellow, and dressed like he’d just grabbed whatever was handy when he rolled out of bed, mostly flannel shirts, T-shirts, and faded jeans. Hmmm…maybe sexual chemistry wasn’t everything. Besides, something had gone down that night at Josh’s place that seemed to have made a permanent rift between the pair.
Hailey was babbling away about how she was going to conduct a serious Mr. Right search just as soon as she could find the time in her schedule, but all Lexi could think about was Marcus. She couldn’t remember ever feeling like this, jittery with excitement, actual butterflies in her stomach over seeing him again.
She and Hailey walked inside The Burrow and spotted their friends in a group near the end of the bar. Not everyone was here. Mad had a big paper due (she was finishing up her last semester of college), and the parents in their group had stayed home, but everyone else had made it. She was especially happy to see her formerly single-in-solidarity friend Missy, back from her romantic getaway with her fiancé, Ben.
“Missy!” She ran over and hugged her. “Look at this tan!” She gestured to her face. Her formerly pale friend glowed. Her dark brown hair was even showing some auburn highlights from the sun, probably her natural red shining through. “How was Aruba?”
“Amazing!” Missy gushed, which said something because Missy was very low-key.
“Did you wear the bikini?” Lexi asked. That had been a gift from Ben. Basically just string.
“Once,” Missy said, exchanging a secret sexy look with Ben. He grinned, showing his adorable dimples.
Lexi held up a palm. “Say no more.”
Missy laughed. “It was wonderful. Really, really special.”
Ben put an arm around Missy’s shoulders and gave her a small squeeze.
Lexi looked around for Marcus and found him standing on her left just outside the employees-only door. He was talking to Ellie, who was smiling up at him in a midriff tee and tight jeans. Sure, she had large breasts and a tiny waist—the kind men drooled over—and the striking combination of long dark hair with blue eyes, but that didn’t mean Marcus had intentions. Ellie was his employee and they were just talking. Dammit, now she was tense. Hailey had gotten in her head with the flirting stuff. She was extra sensitive to that with her past experiences with men.Stop it.This man was worth taking a chance on. She blew out a breath, telling herself to chill.
She lifted a hand and called his name. No response. He was so deep in conversation with Ellie he didn’t even notice her.
