“Okay, thanks, Bran, I will,” I responded with a smile, then watched him tilt his chin to Cade and walk away.
“What was that all about?” I asked Cade as he took Branson’s vacated seat.
“I think it’s time for me to meet your kids,” Cade said, causing my heart to stutter in my chest. “You guys could come over this Saturday, we can cook out, they can play with Rufus.”
I sat there, mouth gaping like a fish, with no words coming out.
He wants to meet my kids? Are we moving too fast? Am I ready to take that next step with him?
“Darlin’,” Cade whispered, leaning forward, head bent to mine. “We’ve got a good thing here.”
I tilted my head back and nodded, then said, “I need a cupcake.”
Cade’s grin spread wide, making his dangerously beautiful face even more so, and replied, “Then, let’s go get my woman a cupcake.”
“This is what I’m talking about!” I shouted to my friends, trying to be heard over the loud music as we walked through the crowd of people in the club.
We were finally out for a much-needed girl’s night. This time, not just dinner and drinks, but an actual, out after ten PM, night on the town, girl’s night.
Amy May looked sweet in a pair of short black shorts and a shimmery silver top, her shoulder-length, dirty-blonde hair falling in finger waves around her face. Bea had gone for an edgier look, her dark pixie cut spiked up, wearing tight leather pants and a kick-ass black vest. Carmen had her caramel-and-blonde hombre piled high on top of her head with a few loose tendrils framing her face, her toned body on display in a sexy mini-dress.
I grinned happily, slightly buzzed from my pre-game festivities while getting decked out in my navy-blue shorts with large buttons accenting the top and a silky white camisole. My auburn hair was falling in loose, natural waves down my back, and I had fabulous navy wedges on my feet. Painful, but fabulous.
We hit the bar, knocked back a couple shots, then headed for the dance floor.
Dancing happily, I looked at my friends, then at the crowd around us, noticing that for a group of women in our thirties, we had a number of eyes on us as we danced in our circle. We looked good and we were working it…
After a few songs, Amy May gave the international sign for let’s get a drink, and we all moved back toward the bar. Drinks in hand, we maneuvered through the crush of people, Bea in the lead, until we were walking down the hall and into one of the back rooms. The music was quieter in here, and rather than a dance floor, it was filled with pool tables, high top tables, and a few lush couches and chairs making up different sitting areas.
We were lucky to snag a grouping of chairs in the back corner of the room.
“So,” Bea started as we sat, her face flush with something more than exertion, then took a sip of her red wine before looking at each of us and saying, “I’ve decided when Shannon and I go to the beach this summer for vacation, I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
“What?” I screamed, jumping up out of my seat in excitement and knocking my nearly full dirty martini over.
“Party foul,” some guy from the table next to us yelled, but I ignored him and happy danced all the way to Bea, putting my hands on her shoulders and jumping up and down in front of her while she looked up at me, laughing.
“I’m so happy for you,” I said, stating the obvious as I leaned down and gave her a big, loud kiss on the lips.
“Yeah,” the same guy shouted, and this time I shot him a death glare before giving her shoulders a squeeze and bounding back to my seat.
“I tried to save it,” Carmen said, handing me my empty cup, before turning to Bea and asking, “How long have you two been together?”
Bea leaned back from Amy May’s congratulatory hug and replied, “Three years.”
“Wow, three years, that’s awesome. Congratulations.”
“How are things going with you and Jason?” Bea asked, never one to want to be the center of attention for too long. “Go on any sexy dates lately?”
I gasped, then looked at Amy May, whose eyes were narrowed on me.
“Someone has a big mouth,” she said, but gave away that she wasn’t mad when her lips turned up. “And, no, not since Lila caught us in the act,” she laughed and added, “But I did get a new wig the other day, so I’ll need to try it on soon.”
“Ooooh, what do you need wigs for?” Carmen asked, leaning closer to Amy May as she lifted her Appletini to her lips.
“My husband and I like to spice things up by role playing.”
“Yeah,” I said, really wishing I hadn’t spilled my drink. “They go out on dates, acting like strangers and dressing up, then go home together and have one-night stands. She’s such a slut.”