Page 15 of Too Good to be True

"No, I mean that's not the guy . . . Never mind."

"Oh fuck!" Francesca covers her mouth with her hand, realizing the meaning behind my words. Her eyes grow wide as saucers. "Fuck! You ho!" she laughs. "There's someone else? Walker, Ian, andanotherguy?"

I look around, mortified at her words. "Keep your voice down."

"I want deets. Now."

"There are none. I ran into a guy in the hall last night, and we talked a little. I thought that's what you saw."

"Oh, hell no. I saw you and Walker waiting to be checked in. Since his hand was on your thigh and you didn't slap him or scream for him to get off you, I figured there was something there."

"There's not. He's not my type. He's too . . . physical for me."

"But Ian's your type?" Her eyebrows and voice rise up. “I hearhishands are magic,” she teases.

I shrug. "I don't know. He's really cute, and I'm having a good time with him, but I can't get this other guy off my mind. I felt like there was something there."

"It looked like there was something there with Ian."

I nod and look around for my mystery man. For either man.

"Yes, but you thought there was something there with Walker, too."

"I guess I’m worrying for nothing. You don't need my help. I'm going to rejoin my future husband. He promised me a lap dance. Want to come?”

“Um, I’m not sure about that. Thanks, but I'll wait here for Ian. You go have fun.”

"Okay. I'll send him back to you."

Chapter 7

Istand alone for allof ten seconds before a panic attack comes on. I feel eyes on me. Watching. Staring. Laughing that I'm by myself, and I have no idea where Francesca disappeared to.

I feel too vulnerable standing still. I go upstairs, give Sam and Francesca’s names to the bouncer, and find an empty VIP booth. Hopefully, Ian will know where to look for me.

There's a reddish tint to the lighting upstairs. It’s not as loud. You could actually have a conversation here. A curved, rounded bench covered in velvet sits on one side of each table. This area has women in tight red and black corsets, short, puffy black skirts, sheer black stockings, and shiny black high-heeled thigh-high boots serving drinks to the tables. Large round pillar tanks filled with water and fish are spread around the room.

---