Page 163 of Foreplay on Words

We hadn’t discussed children, but the prospect didn’t scare me. I didn’t want to share Chase yet. Maybe someday.

“It’ll take much more than babies to scare me away from Chase.”

“Damn, he’s smooth,” Miguel cooed.

“You two try not to get kicked out, and we’ll see you in a little while,” Chase warned them.

“I make no promises,” her brother laughed as he put his arms around Miguel’s waist and nuzzled his neck.

“Let’s get up there before your fan club starts a riot,” Chase urged as we resumed our path back toward the front.

The line for the signing table was wrapped around the small cafe and down one of the aisles of shelving. The first dozen people who came through were nice and supportive of Evan. He talked and kept engaged with people, but as the book club ladies started to creep up in the line, he began to stammer more.

“And finally, it’s our turn,” Dorrie smiled widely as she stopped before us.

“We’ve been waiting for this day since your mom said you’d be coming to town,” Hazel nodded. “We may have called your publisher to suggest this shop.”

“They said they’d love to have Evan return to his roots,” Sharron added.

“Not that we wouldn’t have come to find you in the city, but we’ve been buying your books from Dottie for years,” Dorrie explained as my head bounced between the three of them.

“So, are you planning on introducing us to your gorgeous lady friend?” Sharon asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

“From those pictures I saw on Instagram, I think they’re a little more than friends,” Hazel laughed.

“You don’t write smut like this if you haven’t been doing some research,” Dorrie winked, and I wanted to disappear underneath the table.

I sat there and watched them as they kept talking over each other. I wasn’t sure how to even get a word in edgewise.

“Sign me up for that research,” Hazel laughed loudly.

“My husband looked at me like I was crazy when I bought him handcuffs for his birthday,” Sharon told us. “We can’t all have young bucks like Dorrie.”

My eyes widened as they kept going. Chase had the biggest smile as she kept glancing from them to my continuously reddening cheeks.

“I told you Tinder would be worth my time, Hazel, but no, you refused to believe me,” Dorrie taunted.

“I don’t think any of us expected a swipe-right connection with that fine specimen,” Hazel whispered, nodding toward the door to the shop. A blond man with some gray creeping into his hair was staring in our direction. He was tall and fit; I was impressed that Dorrie hadn’t found a creepy one.

“Wow. He is very handsome. Nice catch,” Chase laughed as she introduced herself and started signing their stack of books.

“He’s French. I knew I had to keep him after the first date. The things that man can do with his tongue,” Dorrie told her as she leaned in.

I coughed as they all looked in my direction, and they broke into raucous laughter.

“Wonder what he thinks of our shirts,” Hazel mused as she straightened out the plain gray long-sleeved blouse.

“I don’t care what my husband thinks of the shirt. He said I could get my motor going however I’d like to as long as I come home to him to get my tune-ups,” Sharon laughed.

“I’m sure he’s ready to check your oil with his dipstick,” Hazel giggled. “Especially with that new prescription, he came home with.”

“Oh, my God. You, ladies, are amazing,” Chase laughed. I was at a total loss for words.

“We can get you an extra shirt if you’d like,” Dorrie offered, laughing as they all looked at each other.

“Should we show him?” Hazel smiled as she looked over at me.

“Of course,” Sharon laughed loudly and then winked at me.

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