Free Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson Page A

Noticed her butt inside her tight jeans. Not only had she been smart, she’d always had a nice butt. Still did.
    “Did you get your invitation to the Night of a Million Stars benefit?” LaDonna asked.
    “Yeah I did, but I don’t have anyone involved in the Junior League these days.” Just like last year and the year before.
    “Oh well.” LaDonna leaned closer and put her hand on his arm. “We all loved Devon so much, we consider you part of the League family. Unofficially of course.”
    “Of course.” As LaDonna rambled on, Zach tuned her out and listened to the conversation a few feet away. It was much more interesting than pretending interest in the Junior League. Eavesdropping was rude. His momma had always told him so, but he didn’t particularly give a damn.
    “You sure look good,” the math teacher said, and Zach could practically hear him drool.
    “Thank you, Cletus. I jog five miles a day.”
    “I work out sometimes,” the nerd said, which Zach figured was pretty much bullshit. “We should get together and catch up.”
    Adele hesitated, and Zach thought she was going to turn him down. Instead, she pushed her heavy hair behind one shoulder and smiled. “I’d like that, Cletus.” She gave him her phone number and the little guy programed it into his cell.
    “Can I have everyone’s attention,” Tiffany called out as she stepped up onto her chair. “We’d like to thank y’all for coming out this afternoon and trying out for the Stallionettes. But there are only two available spots.” She looked down at her notes. “It was a really hard decision, but we’d like to welcome Lisa Ray Durke and Kendra Morgan to join the team.”
    Applause and a few shouts of joy accompanied the announcement. Several other girls burst into tears and fell on each other crying. Zach watched Adele’s smile reach her eyes as she turned her gaze from the math teacher and toward her niece.
    “Oh, shoot.” LaDonna dropped her hand. “Roseanna didn’t make it,” she said referring to her daughter. “She’s just devastated and crying her little eyes out. Excuse me.”
    Evidently, Roseanna was one of the girls carrying on. Zach didn’t understand why girls had to get so emotional about everything and why they had to get all emotional in public. Not making a dance team wasn’t like losing state or a bowl game, for God’s sake. Now that was damn traumatic.
    “Hey, Daddy.”
    Zach dragged his attention from Adele and her niece to his daughter. “Are you ready to go?”
    “Just a sec. I have to talk to Kendra and Lisa Ray first.”
    “Don’t take all night,” he said, and shoved his hat back on his head. He sat on the edge of the judging table as the gym began to clear out. He figured he’d waited about five minutes before Tiffany, Kendra, and Adele moved toward him.
    “Congratulations, Kendra,” he said, and rose to his full height. “I guess this means we’ll be seeing you at the house practicing some more.”
    “Oh, yeah,” Tiffany answered for the other girl. As the four of them headed across the gym, she added, “Kendra has to learn the dances really quickly. Our next competition is in a few weeks.”
    “I’ll be ready,” Kendra assured her.
    The heels of Adele’s shoes tapped across the hardwood floor, the sound of a pair of sexy shoes filling his head with ideas.
    “I’m having a barbecue this Sunday for all the girls,” Tiffany announced. “You have to come, Kendra. It’ll be fun.”
    Kendra looked across her shoulder at Adele. “Can I?”
    “We’ll talk to your mom, but I don’t know why not.”
    Zach opened the door for the two girls, and as Adele passed, he heard himself say, “You should come, too.” He hadn’t meant to invite her. Wasn’t even sure it was a good idea. No, strike that. He was sure. It wasn’t a good idea.
    She paused, the curls resting on her shoulder a few inches from his chest. Her eyes looked into his. “I don’t think so.”
    He should be relieved. For