Free Play Fling (A Stupid Cupid Book) by Amber Scott Page A

unison.
    Why weren’t Elliott and Gordon going on their
way? Millie wanted to shout out, “Wrap it up, gentlemen. I’ve got a
lady to parade here.” Instead Millie cleared her throat and sent
Brooke a meaningful look. Brooke however, only appeared confused.
Nervous as hell, too, face splotching up and all.
    Abort! Abort! “Well, don’t let us keep
any of you,” Millie said at last and hooked arms with Brooke. “We
have places to be.”
    One thing about men, they like the upper
hand. Two decent looking women walking away would prick any ego,
wouldn’t it? Just let it prick the right ego. Three paces. By five,
Jason had better be trying to get Brooke’s attention back. The
other two could pound sand for all she cared. Come on now. Last
ditch. Not any one of them?
    Not a single word.
    If this ploy didn’t work, she was back to the
drawing board. The only other idea on the drawing board was
operation surprise party. A long shot. Brooke would hate it. Really
and truly. Brooke would walk in, and run for the bathroom. Might
even pee herself.
    So, onward they walked. No man stopped them.
Millie glanced back, ignoring the itch in her brain saying she’d
just missed something in that little dynamic. Besides utter
failure, she had no idea what it might be. A glance back showed
Gordon and Elliott chatting with Jason, who was not wistfully searching out his made-over ex. Elliott sent Millie a
small wave then crossed his arms and reverted his attention to the
other men.
    “Millie?” Brooke’s voice shook. “I don’t
think I can handle any more surprises today.” She stopped and took
Millie’s hand. “I know you probably have more planned, but, I just
really want to go home and have a hot bath and…no more surprises
today. Is that alright with you?”
    There went dinner, her last, slim hope. Ah,
who was she fooling? If Elliott had just left, or the other guy
hadn’t bumped into her, dinner would have been a perfectly natural
next step. Now, it would be desperate and obvious at best.
    “Of course. Don’t worry.” Millie had no way
to re-interest Jason. With her luck, Jason would invite Elliott and
Gordon along, too. No thanks. “I’m all out of surprises so, yes, go
home. Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow at The Book
Exchange.”
    Brooke scrunched her chin up. “Are you sure?
I feel bad.”
    “Don’t! I just wanted you to have a good
time. You know, get pampered, relax. Figures the ex would show up
and ruin it all, right?” Yeah, so, a little fishing couldn’t hurt.
Right?
    “Jason? Oh no. He’s fine. It was actually
nice to see him. He looked good, don’t you think? Happy. Well, not
that you’ve seen him before.”
    “Nope. Can’t say that I have.” On paper
didn’t count. But she would see him. Soon. Definitely soon. “He
looked happy enough. He certainly couldn’t take his eyes off of
you.” One tiny exaggeration. Not much.
    Brooke gave her a sidelong glance and
shrugged one shoulder. Didn’t flattery get you everywhere? But
then, this was Brooke. Unflappable, serene, no need for love to
validate her, Munkle.
    Millie unclenched her hands. They exited the
mall into the darkened parking lot. No wind tonight. Just biting
November cold. A quick goodbye, lots of thanks and you’re welcomes
later, Millie watched Brooke drive away. Her grand scheme had
failed, thanks to Tweedle Gee and Tweedle Glasses. But, she would
prevail. Love would triumph. Whatever that meant. It had to.
Otherwise, so long, AJ, and good luck, Brooke.
    In the meantime, how on earth could she get
those two together again?
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Brooke smacked her lips. Steam rose off the
bath water in tendrils. Lavender and chamomile enveloped her
senses. Complimented the tart wine. She rolled another sip in her
mouth, over her tongue. The scene at the mall replayed over and
over. Her, blindfolded. Him, approaching. Elliott.
    How had he found her?
    Brooke frowned at Sampson on his toilet seat
perch. “Just who does this