Free Love Far Away (A Spicy Contemporary Romance) by Leslie Cooper Page A

of line. I’d noticed a few people ahead of us hadn’t been let in, which
Ashley assured me was a good thing because it meant they had standards. When it
was our turn, the bouncer looked us all up and down before he nodded and
stepped aside. We paid the cover fee and entered the club.
    It was so loud I couldn’t even hear myself think. I was
grateful when Megan grabbed my hand and pulled me after Ashley, who was heading
towards a seating area just outside the dance floor. Despite the line outside,
it wasn’t very crowded inside. So we were able to find a seat. We had barely
sat down before a bartender came by and asked if we’d like anything to drink.
    “A round of shots,” said Ashley.
    “It’s been ages since I’ve done shots,” I protested.
    “Up for anything, remember?” Megan reminded me.
    I sighed and nodded, and when the bartender came back with a
small tray of shot glasses, I took one and knocked it back just like I was back
in college.
    Since the dance floor wasn’t yet full, we ordered fruity
drinks and sat down for a while, talking. Since it was half past midnight at
that point I was a bit worried I’d chosen badly and we’d picked a dud, but the
girls assured me that things would pick up after one. “I must be old,” I
sighed. “By one, I’m just about ready for bed.”
    “Well, I’m not out every weekend like I’m twenty-one again,”
said Megan, “but we’re on vacation, and it’s kind of nice to go out like this,
isn’t it?”
    I had to admit it was. I’d gotten way too accustomed to yoga
pants and my minivan. It did feel great to be wearing a cute dress and high
heels and sit down in a hot nightclub with a drink in my hand. It felt like I
was living someone else’s life for a minute instead of my own humdrum
existence.
    The girls were right and the club did pick up after one.
People started filling up the dance floor, and once we’d finished our drinks we
joined them. I’d always been self-conscious dancing, but somehow in this crowd
of people I didn’t care what anybody else thought and just let loose and
enjoyed myself. It was noisy and crowded and I thought I didn’t like techno
music, but before I knew it I could almost feel it inside me, pulsing. We
danced until our feet were sore, and we made our way back to where we’d been
sitting before. Another group of people were sitting there, so we found some empty
spots in a booth with a few other women.
    “Mind if we sit here?” asked Becca, sliding down to an empty
seat. “Um, excusez-moi...”
    “Oh, it’s fine, no problem!” said the woman with a big
smile. I was relieved to hear she was American, since I knew there was no way
I’d be able to remember any of my high school French when I was drunk.
    “Thanks,” I said.
    “I’m going to go get us another round of shots,” said
Ashley, and she disappeared towards the bar.
    “So are you having fun yet, Jules?” Megan asked me.
    “I’m having a blast!” I exclaimed. “God, I haven’t gone out
dancing in forever. This was exactly what I needed. Just some drinks and
dancing with good friends. And I’m excited to explore Paris a little further
tomorrow….. in the afternoon, at least. I’m going to be paying for this
tomorrow morning!”
    “Is this your first time in Paris?” asked one of the other
women we were sitting near, leaning in so I could hear her over the thumping
bass.
    I nodded. “We all came here together for the first time, on
a- a sort of girls trip, I guess.”
    “Oh, fun!” she said. “We’re here on a similar trip. My
friend over there- Amy- she’s turning thirty-five this year- we’re on a trip
for her birthday. We got here the day before yesterday.”
    “This was our first day here,” said Megan. “We got in late
last night, just did a bit of shopping today before we went out to dinner. I’m
Megan- this is Julia and Becca.”
    “I’m Claire,” said the woman, holding out her hand. “Besides
Amy, that’s Sarah and Nicole. What