Page 3 of Hidden Desire

“Hey! I was just thinking about you,” Lena replied in greeting.

Sage backed out of the parking spot. “Wondering if I had jumped off a building to escape my blind date?” Sage asked. She laughed lightly.

“That good, huh?”

“If I ever agree to go out on another blind date as long as I live, just shoot me. You have my permission. I want to be put out of my misery.” She gave a two-minute synopsis, with Lena silently listening. “That about sums it up.”

“Sounds thrilling,” Lena added sarcastically.

“Don’t I know it,” Sage grumbled.

“Well, if you ever change your mind, I do know this great woman. She would be perfect for you. Just say the word.”

Sage groaned, and Lena laughed on the other end. Sage meant it. This was the last blind date she ever went on. If she had to remain single for the rest of her life, then so be it. At least, it would be on her terms.

Stassi

“So?” Ariel asked. “How was the photoshoot?” Ariel sipped her beer and looked at Stassi with wandering eyes.

“Great! They asked me back for another gig in two weeks, which should last a month or so. Getting work but loving what I do.” Stassi took a sip and looked around the club. “It’s busy for a Wednesday.”

“Yeah, there’s a local band that’s debuting tonight. When I got here, the waitress mentioned it. They’re supposed to be good, though. At least that’s what I hear.” Ariel laughed.

Stassi gave a slight nod. “When are they starting? Might not be here to hear them. It’s been a long day.”

“Is my old friend getting tuckered out?” Ariel teased.

Stassi rolled her eyes, then laughed. “A morning jog, day of shopping, modeling gig that lasted four hours longer than it was supposed to, and now winding down with a cold brew, it can do that to a person.” Stassi gave Ariel a wink. “You can’t complain because you had the day off after shopping. How’d your day go?”

“Went to the spa for a mani and pedi.” Ariel held out her hand. “What do you think?” Her fingernails were painted midnight blue with gold stars shimmering on them.

Stassi laughed. “A mani and pedi, how exhausting.” Ariel’s jaw dropped, then she giggled. “Fingers look great, though. I’m jealous.” Stassi took another drink. One reason they might not have worked in a relationship was they were both high-maintenance models and seemed to clash heads when it came to who needed more attention. “This weekend, I have a massage scheduled. You should join me.”

“Helping my brother move,” Ariel scowled. “He offered to pay me.” She laughed and shrugged. “I guess that’s something. After all, I don’t have a dad to fluff my bank account.” She offered Stassi a wink.

Stassi shook her head. She wasn’t sure why Ariel went on a shopping spree, then got a mani and pedi right before helping her brother move, but she supposed she would do the same thing. It would be something to take her mind off of not working.

Stassi smirked as she took a drink. She couldn’t help that her father was rich. A constant investor and the CEO of several local hospitals in the area, she could get assistance when her modeling jobs weren’t enough to pay for the necessities. Or what Stassi felt was necessary. She was lucky in that aspect of her life, often taking her plush lifestyle for granted but appreciating that she didn’t need to suffer.

“Ladies and Gentlemen.” A woman’s voice came on the speaker, and Stassi reached into her pocket and pulled out her card. “We are pleased to announce a debut group. They are from here in LA and looking for everyone to have a great time. Are you ready to party?” The crowd cheered.

“I’m going to head out of here. I’ll cover the tab for tonight.” She waved for the waitress to come to their table. Stassi raised her voice over the cheering crowd, and the band started stringing their chords on the stage. “Put the beers and fried pickles on my card, please.”

“Are you sure?” Ariel asked, raising her voice louder as the band rocked on the stage.

“Yeah, it’s my treat. You got lunch today.”

Ariel rolled her eyes. “I meant, do you have to leave? Just stay for a few songs.” Stassi turned to the stage. It was true that the crowd loved them, and the music had a nice beat. She nodded and started clapping in tune with the melody. The waitress came back with her receipt, and she checked it over. It was more expensive than she thought, and with the shopping earlier in the day, the funds on her card were most likely running low. She signed her name, then grabbed her phone, still nodding to the music.

Stassi

Please transfer some funds to the bank. Love you!

She pocketed her phone and turned back to the stage. “They’re really good!” Stassi yelled over to Ariel. Ariel grinned, then looked past Stassi. She leaned in and nodded her head toward where she had looked.

“You have an admirer over there. She hasn’t stopped staring.”

Stassi turned her head and looked. This woman winked, then nodded in her direction. Stassi turned away and met Ariel’s gaze. “I’m not the least bit interested,” she casually stated. She clapped her hands in the air in rhythm to the music and tried to ignore Ariel’s laughter. The woman could look all she wanted. Stassi was used to female and male admirers and quickly rolled her eyes at them. She didn’t have time to get preoccupied with things like dating. She kept dancing to the music and played oblivious to the attention. When one song ended, another began. After a while, the admiration of the woman was completely forgotten by Stassi. When the second song ended; however, they were no longer alone.

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