Meant for You (The Connor Family 3)

“Wait, you and Jace were at a concert that night?”

Hailey held up her hands, as if in surrender. “Whoops, forgot you didn’t know about that.”

Val opened her mouth, then closed it again, looking like a fish out of the water. “I think I’m too buzzed to process this.”

Hailey shimmied in her seat. “Oh, come on. Someone had to shake things up.”

I grinned. “You were the brat in the family. I happen to be the proud owner of that title in mine.”

Hailey considered that. “Well, Jace and I competed for that spot, but between us, I think I won by a decent margin.”

Everyone laughed then, Val included.

“So I’m forgiven?” Hailey asked Val.

“Just like that? Oh no, sis. You have to work for it.”

Hailey jutted out her lower lip like a baby, just as the fourth round of cocktails arrived. Or was it the fifth? I was more buzzed than I’d thought.

“Well, I was waiting for the right moment to bring this up,” Hailey said dramatically, “but it seems there is no time like the present. I, ladies, have gotten us tickets not only to the Oscars event, but also to one of the after-parties.”

“Oh my God.” We squealed so loudly that several other patrons turned to look at us.

Hailey batted her eyelashes at her sister. “Am I forgiven now?”

Val batted her eyelashes right back. “Depends, will anyone named Hemsworth be there? Asking for a friend.”

We clinked glasses, even though they were half-empty, and then Lori asked the question to which I dreaded the answer.

“Is this the fourth round of cocktails?”

Val wrinkled her nose. “Sis, we’ve reached the point where counting is counterproductive.”

“But so is not feeling my toes,” Lori countered.

Hailey snickered. “You always were a lightweight.”

I, unfortunately, thought Lori had a point. I was feeling my toes... but I wouldn’t be able to walk in a straight line.

I caught Val checking out a guy at another table. I scooted closer to her and whispered, “What are we talking here? Just ogling, or making a move to take someone home?”

Val smiled sheepishly. “Ogling.”

“What are you girls talking about?” Hailey said. I motioned with my head toward Val’s guy. Hailey followed my direction and whistled.

“He’s hot. And so is his friend.” She tilted her head. “Hey, Val, what are your top five qualities you look for in a guy?”

Val looked in the distance, giving the question serious consideration.

“So... he should be smart and charming,” Val said, enumerating on her fingers. “Also, he should be tall. Taller than me so I can wear heels without looking like a giraffe next to him. Six-pack would be a nice bonus, but I’m more of a biceps type of girl. Strong arms that can just hold you, you know?” she finished dreamily.

“Strong arms are important.” I nodded, thinking about Will and already missing him. I surreptitiously pulled my phone out of my bag, holding it under the table so the girls wouldn’t see.

Shit, I saw my screen double. I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them again. Now I saw it triple. I closed one eye, and I was back at seeing double. Right. No way could I text like this. I’d have to wait for the dirty talking until I saw Will in person. I slipped the phone back in my purse.

Hailey propped her head in her palm. “Smart comes first for me too. I’m attracted to intelligent men. But I’m also a six-pack type of girl. Washboard abs... yummm. But I’m willing to bend that rule. The only hard rule is that he must be good in bed. Sexy-time skills are important.”

Val smacked her forehead. “How did I forget that? You’re right. That’s high on the list. Life is too short for crappy sex.”