Page 26 of February

“Sure,” Bridgette said, not wanting to lie to him but not being able to tell the truth, either.

“How long will she be here?”

They walked over to their desks.

“I don’t know. Why?”

“She’s…”

Bridgette rolled her eyes and said, “Hot?”

“Yeah. Sheis, right?”

“Dan, she’s not your type, trust me,” Bridgette replied as she lifted her bag off the desk.

“Do you think it would be bad for me to ask her for a drink? Would your parents be mad?”

“I think she only drinks top-shelf, and I know what you make working here, so, unless you’ve got some trust fund I don’t know about, I’d save your timeandyour money.”

???

“Where’s Kyle?” Jill asked Melinda as they walked into the piano bar.

“She’s talking to her sister on the phone. She might join later, but she has some work to do on the house, so she probably won’t.”

“She has other people working on the house,” Bridgette pointed out.

“The other house. She’s going to rent out her grandmother’s old place. It needs a little work, too, but it’s stuff she thinks she can handle, so she’s trying to save money.”

“She’s rich. Why worry about that?” Jill asked.

“Ky’s not like that.” Melinda nodded toward an empty booth in the dimly blue-lit bar. “She just got that inheritance. She’s stillnot used to having money to spend on things. Besides, I amnottelling her to hire anyone if there’s a good chance I’ll get to see my girlfriend wearing just a sports bra and shorts and maybe even a toolbelt, with sweat all over her body.”

“You’re picturing that now, aren’t you?” Bridgette asked as she laughed and sat down.

“I am. Can you blame me?”

“Nope. Sheishot. I’ve always thought so,” Bridgette replied.

“Speaking of hot… What do you think abouther?” Jill pointed to a woman who was sitting at a nearby booth with four other women.

“Cute,” Melinda said.

“Yeah,” Bridgette agreed.

“Should I go talk to her? She’s got a group of women around her. Why do we always travel in packs?”

“Because men,” Bridgette answered.

“Yeah,” Jill said as she continued to stare at the woman. “Oh.”

“Oh, what?” Melinda asked.

“I was just looking at the blonde, but…” Jill nodded. “The brunette is…”

Bridgette followed Jill’s glance. A brunette woman with light-blue eyes had turned to watch the pianist begin playing. Jill had good taste. The brunette was gorgeous.

“She’s hot,” Bridgette noted.

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