Free No Strings Attached by Kate Angell Page B

you drove me to Miami in time for the start of classes.”
    “And now look how successful you’ve become.”
    “I love working at Petals, but someday I want my own shop.”
    “Growth is good,” Jen agreed. “You’re going big-time.”
    “Speaking of big-time,” Bree said, lowering her voice. “I heard Dune and Mac are in town.”
    Jen nodded. “They arrived on Tuesday.” It was now Thursday. “Mac stopped in Three Shirts today. He was headed for Tide One On and bought a change of clothes.”
    Bree took a long sip of her Frappuccino, then made a face when she got brain freeze. “How’s he doing?” she asked.
    Jen shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
    Bree shifted on her chair, looked uneasy. “I made a huge mistake with Mac,” she slowly admitted.
    “How so?” from Jen.
    “We went out twice and, by our second date, I got ahead of myself. Three orgasms in an hour, and I told him I loved him.”
    “That was lust talking.”
    “It freaked Mac out. He was dressed and gone in under a minute.”
    “You were angry afterward.”
    “I regretted my actions,” said Bree. “I went ballistic on the man and said some pretty mean things.”
    That she had. Words such as irresponsible, unpredictable, and egotistical crossed Jen’s mind.
    Bree finished her drink and said, “Every woman should experience a Mac James in her lifetime. Looking back, I can honestly say he’s likeable, fun, and looks amazing naked.”
    Looks amazing naked . More than Jen needed to know.
    “Henry’s my world now,” said Bree.
    Henry was her man and soon-to-be fiancé. They’d dated a year and were comfortable, compatible, and inseparable. He’d be picking Bree up shortly. They’d have dinner together.
    Jen would go home to her cats.
    “I found a dress for the Sneaker Ball,” Bree said. “It’s pale blue, low cut with a swing skirt. My tennis shoes are bright orange.”
    Jen nodded, turned quiet, not wanting to discuss the Ball further. She had nothing to contribute.
    Bree picked up on her mood. “You and Shaye put the event together. Tickets are nearly sold out. Where’s your excitement?”
    She couldn’t hide much from her friend, so she came clean. “Stan broke up with me this morning. No date.”
    Bree’s eyes went wide. “No way.”
    “Mac James was in the shop when it all went down.”
    Bree scrunched her nose. “How embarrassing.”
    “Definitely humiliating,” Jen agreed. “He felt sorry for me and extended a pity invite.”
    “I hope you accepted.”
    Jen almost wished she had. She now had second thoughts. “I can have a good time without a date.”
    “Ah, sweetie, it just won’t be the same.”
    Which Jen knew. She’d be alone, greeting the partygoers with a pasted-on smile. Men would be charitable and offer her a courtesy fast dance. It was the slow songs that made a woman want to press her body against the right man. The night was very romantic. There’d be no romance for her this year.
    “Can you contact Mac and tell him you’ve changed your mind?” Bree asked.
    “He’s already moved on,” Jen said. “He met Kami on the booze cruise. She’s more his type.”
    Bree wasn’t giving up. “What about Bill Landers, the new lifeguard?”
    Jen shook her head. “He’s into Violet. She packs him a sack lunch from the diner each day.”
    Bree went down a long list of men and Jen dismissed each one. She ended with, “How about Chase Wallace?”
    “He’s a senior in high school and madly in love with my assistant Jamie.”
    Bree had run out of options. “Looks like it’s you and the man in the moon then.”
    Jen could do worse. “I’ll survive.”

Four
    T welve-thirteen Saunders Way. Sophie had survived the motorcycle ride. Dune Cates had given her a real opportunity to experience his customized Harley Sportster, taking the long way home. They’d ridden for three hours and covered Barefoot William and the surrounding county. She’d wrapped her arms about his waist and leaned into him. He liked the