Stripped Down (Tap That)

She wasn’t. What she wanted apparently wasn’t on the menu.

River eyed her, like she understood something was off about Sloane’s reaction. “Don’t feel bad,” she said. “He keeps girls he likes in the Friend Zone.”

She wasn’t sure how she felt about River. The kid was on the edge of unnerving. “What are you talking about?”

“If he likes you as a person, he Friend Zones you. Girls he doesn’t care about are the ones he dates.”

“I have no idea what you’re even talking about,” she said flatly, tempted to stick her head under the dryer with Harley.

“I think you do.” The miniature sage gave a knowing nod.

“I really don’t. I don’t think I’m as smart as you, River.” What she thought River was saying was that Rick liked her as a person so he wasn’t going to have sex with her. Which meant, since he had had sex with her, that he did not see her as a friend. But another notch on his bedpost. That wasn’t surprising, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.

In fact, it made her really damn cranky.

She could admit, having Little Dickie crush on her had been ego-boosting.

Have adult Rick attracted to her was equally satisfying.

But if she was just the flavor of the week she wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

Which was one hundred percent insane because she had assured him that all she wanted was a fling. That it wouldn’t be weird or awkward.

And now she was hurt because he hadn’t reached out to her in three days.

Stupid.

She was just stupid.

“Oh, here’s my brother.” River put her finger to her lips. “Shh.”

Rick strolled in through the front door, hands in his front pockets. It was really unfair how good-looking he was. His presence filled the waiting room. It wasn’t just his big body. It was his confidence and cocky swagger. That charming grin.

Sloane studiously ignored him, checking Harley’s coat, then drying her hands on a towel.

“Hey, ladies,” he said, moving past the desk into the salon. “Ready for lunch?”

“Hi,” Sloane said, determined to sound normal. “I’m going to stay here with River and the dogs. Winnie will go with you.”

He just nodded easily. “Okay, then.”

He didn’t look disappointed.

And she was disappointed that he was disappointed.

Oh, my God, she’d become that girl.

The one who swore she could have a hookup then get pissed off when that’s all it was.

Her phone rang in her pocket while Rick was strolling around petting the three dogs they currently had in the salon. She pulled it out to see who was calling and was surprised to see it was her former neighbor, Maribeth. She had been a bright spot in her life in Minneapolis. A dozen years older than Sloane, she had always been up for a glass of wine and some gossip. She was probably just calling to see how Sloane was doing.

“Hello?”

“Sweetie, I’m so glad you answered.” Maribeth sounded agitated.

“Is everything okay?” Sloane asked. “How’s Patrick?”

Patrick was Maribeth’s husband. “Oh, that asshole is fine. He’s golfing today, thank God. Listen, I’m calling because I’m really upset and I don’t know how to tell you this.”