Free The Shy Dominant by Jan Irving Page B

know! ” Dharma decided she’d give her best friend rainbow toes, so after pulling Sian’s feet out of the basin where she was soaking them, she towelled then buffed Sian’s feet before choosing orange, pink and green for her colours. Sian trusted her with such decisions and anyway, it wasn’t like she could do her own pedicure anymore, not with her belly so swollen.
    “But despite our temporary insanity, I’m not. You know, preggers.”
    Sian rolled her eyes. “What would I know about how that feels? Ohmygod, keeprubbingmyfeetyougoddess!”
    Dharma laughed, giving Sian a pinch to her instep. “Doesn’t Luke give you foot rubs?”
    “Luke gives me constant rubs. Everywhere!” A gleam lit Sian’s eyes, clueing Dharma into the fact that Sian enjoyed rubbing… everywhere. “He’s worn to a frazzle, poor man.”
    “He’s still not sleeping?”
    Sian shook her head. “I don’t sleep so he doesn’t sleep. And I think he’s nervous, he wants this baby so much. Luke didn’t have the best family life.”
    Dharma sighed. “So you aren’t all judgy about what I did with Fred…and Taz?” She’d told herself she’d shrug it off if Sian disapproved. Then she’d told herself that her best friend wouldn’t disapprove, but the truth was…she was just telling herself that. It would hurt if Sian thought she was nuts.
    It would bring home her recklessness.
    Sian shrugged. “You’ve always been adventurous, but you’re also smart. Besides… Taz has a certain, ah, rough charm.”
    Dharma grinned. “Very rough. I’ve seen him at work a couple of times since that night, but he just goes about his business, one cool customer. I just wish…”
    “What?”
    “I haven’t seen Fred in a week. Just a couple of quick texts since he and the girls were roped into his ex-wife’s wedding plans. He hasn’t even been to work.”
    “You know he’s doing it to watch over his family. He’s very protective of them.”
    “Yeah, I know. That protectiveness melted me when I first met him. I wouldn’t have expected a single dad to try to relate so much to two daughters. It’s just…we left so much unsaid and I feel—” She squeezed her eyes shut.
    “Vulnerable, like you left yourself open to getting hurt?” Sian asked quietly.
    Dharma nodded.
    “You really care about him.”
    “Why do you sound so surprised?”
    Sian bit her lip. “He’s a lot older than you are. You’re very different.”
    “I know, but we are both adrenaline junkies. We like taking action, even when it might be disastrous. Otherwise he wouldn’t run towards a fire and I wouldn’t paint something, put it in a show and risk being torn apart by critics.”
    And right now she hated that she was missing her sparkle, dragging around. She was not behaving like the woman she had always thought she was.
    “You need to do some of that painting,” Sian suggested, admiring her finished toes. “And something outrageous.”
    Dharma’s lips quirked. “Something outrageous ?”
    “Come on, you’re ‘La Dharma’. I’ve lived vicariously on your experiences for years. Are you going to get all mopey and let me down now?”
    What about letting herself down? Dharma thought.
    “No, I’m not.” As the words popped out, a wicked image lighted Dharma’s imagination and she started laughing. “Hang on and let those toes dry. I have to text a gorgeous male. Or, a couple of gorgeous males.”
    * * * *
    Fred was having a Bad Day. Bad Day should be spelled with all caps, italicised and bold, he thought as he limped out of his SUV towards the front door of Dharma’s weirdly charming apartment building—he noticed she had acquired a glowing pink flamingo lawn ornament which wore a T-shirt saying ‘ Mardi Gras Mondays’!
    His Bad Day had begun when Stacy had pitched a fit about the dress her mother had chosen for her to wear as a bridesmaid at her wedding. It was blue and Stacy wanted purple. In fact, she wanted a purple tutu and black boots, thank you