“Something terrible has happened,” Darcy groaned the second she saw her.
“Tell me about it,” Hayden mumbled.
But the look of dismay on Darcy’s face made her push the memory of last night aside for the moment. She caught a whiff of a sweet floral scent, looked around and finally spotted a bouquet of red and yellow roses peeking out of the metal wastebasket next to the counter.
“Courtesy of Jason,” Darcy sighed, following her gaze.
“Who’s Jason?”
“Didn’t I mention him? I hooked up with him last week after yoga class. He’s a personal trainer.”
Like she could actually keep track of all the men Darcy hooked up with. Hayden didn’t know how her friend did it, wandering aimlessly from guy to guy.
“And he sent you flowers? That’s sweet.”
Darcy looked at her as if she’d grown horns. “Are you insane? Don’t you remember how I feel about flowers?”
Without waiting for an answer, Darcy leaped to her feet and checked to make sure the store was void of customers. Then she marched over to the front door, locked it and flipped the Open sign so that it read Closed.
With her kitten heels clicking against the tiled floor, Darcy gestured for Hayden to follow her, drifting over to the fitting-room area. Along with four dressing rooms, the large space offered two plush red velvet chairs.
Hayden sank into one of the chairs and reached for the bowl of heart-shaped mints Darcy left out for her customers. Popping a mint into her mouth, she studied her friend, who still looked upset.
“Wow, this flower thing is really bugging you.”
Darcy flopped down and crossed her arms over her chest, her face turning as red as the hair on her head. “Of course it bugs me. It’s not normal.”
“No, you’re not normal. Men give women flowers all the time. It’s not poor Jason’s fault he picked you as the recipient.”
“We went out for smoothies after yoga and fooled around in his car when he dropped me off at home.” Darcy made a frustrated sound. “How in bloody hell does that warrant flowers?”
“What did the card say?” Hayden asked curiously.
“‘I hope to see you again soon.’”
She was about to comment on Jason’s thoughtfulness but stopped herself. She knew how Darcy felt about relationships. The first sign of commitment had her fleeing for the exit and looking for the next one-night stand. But it really was too bad. This Jason guy sounded as nice as Doug.
Fuck. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t think about Doug today.
She still hadn’t returned his call, and when she woke up this morning there’d been another message from him. How could she call him back, though? She’d only been gone a week and already she’d jumped into bed with another man. She wondered how nice Doug would be when she told him about that.
“I’m going to have to find a new gym,” Darcy grumbled, her blue eyes darkening with irritation. She started fidgeting. Crossed her legs, then uncrossed them, clasped her hands together, then drummed them against the arms of the chair.
Hayden could tell her friend was about to explode. Any minute now...
No, any second now...
“What is the matter with the penis species?” Darcy burst out. “They claim that we’re the needy ones, calling us clingy and high-maintenance, accusing us of being obsessed with love and marriage and babies. When really, it’s what they want. They’re the mushy ones, sending flowers as if a smoothie and a back-seat blow job qualify as a monumental event that needs to be celebrated...” Darcy’s voice trailed as she heaved a sigh. “I’m obviously going to have to set him straight.”
“At least thank him for the flowers.”
“I already called and did that. But I think I need to make another call and make sure Jason knows what happened between us won’t go any further. Like the way you set your hottie straight.”
“Right. About that...you’re not going to believe this.”
She quickly filled her friend in on her visit to the arena and how she’d run into Brody outside the locker room.
“He’s a hockey player? I bet you were just thrilled to find that out.” Darcy grinned. “You told him to get lost, right?”
“Um...”
Darcy’s jaw dropped. “Hayden! You slept with him again, didn’t you?”
“Not exactly. I did go out for a drink with him, though.”
“And?”
Hayden told her about the under-the-table orgasm. When her friend shook her head, she added, “I couldn’t help it! He just started...you know...and it was really good...” Her voice drifted.
“You have no self-control.” Darcy shot her a weary look and asked, “Are you going to call him?”
“I don’t know. God knows I want to. But calling him defeats the purpose of a one-night stand.” She groaned. “I just wanted some stress-busting sex. And now I’m even more stressed out.”
“So tell him to take a hike. You’ve got enough on your plate without an arrogant hockey player demanding overtime sex.”
Hayden laughed. “He is pretty determined.” She remembered the passion flaring in his eyes when he’d brought her to climax yesterday. “He’s driving me crazy, Darce.”
“Good crazy or bad crazy?”
