Page 81 of Infatuation

“Yeah, pretty much. That andalwayswear cologne. Women are highly sensory creatures. You gotta overwhelm all their senses—sight, sound, smell, touch. It’s primal.” One side of his mouth tilts up.

“Okay, this I understand,” Henn says. “Wear cologne. That’s something I can actually do.”

“Well, as long as it’s therightcologne, yes,” I say. “Wear the wrong cologne, and you’re sunk. The wrong cologne is worse than no cologne at all.”

That cocky grin isn’t going anywhere. “Oh really? Well, what about mine, for instance? Right or wrong?”

I hate to give him the satisfaction, but the truth is the truth. “Very, veryright.” I say. I inhale deeply as if I’m taking in his scent from across the table.

Josh barks the name of his cologne at Henn. “Write that down, man. You heard the woman—she likes my colognea lot.” He licks his lips, assessing me. “Actually, you know what, Henn? If you’re gonna get advice on how to bag a babe from anyone, you should get it from Kat. She’s probably the world’s foremost expert.”

I narrow my eyes. What does that mean? Did he just call me a slut? Or does he think I’m bisexual? “No, I think Josh has lots and lots more experience baggingbabesthan me.”

Josh rolls his eyes. “Testy, testy. Jeez. What I mean is that you’re a babe, so best to ask you. Actually, you’re the best of both worlds. You’ve got avagina(so I’m told—I’m still not sure I believe it)andyou’ve got four brothers, too. So as a womanandan honorary dude, you can give our beloved Henny the femaleandmale perspectives on babe-baggery. Shit, with those credentials, you could probably teach a Learning Annex seminar on the subject, maybe even a twelve-week course.”

I smile broadly. “Thank you for recognizing my expertise.”

Josh nods. “Plus, you’re demonic as hell. If he’s gonna learn the ropes, best if he learns from an instructor who blows shit up, rather than one who plays by the rules. No one ever learned a damned thing from following The Rules. Ever. Am I right?”

I shoot him my most demonic look. “Well, actually, yeah, we’re definitely in agreement about that.”

Josh grins.

“Well, all right, then.” I turn my attention to Henn, popping up from my chair. “Get up, Henny. We’re gonna role-play.” I let my eyes drift suggestively to Josh. “One of my very favorite things to do, actually.” I wink.

The smoldering look on Josh’s face tells me he understands my meaning just fine.

“Come on, Henn. Get up.”

Henn stands warily.

“Okay. We’re at a bar. You see me from across the room. You’re interested in me. Go.”

“Go?”

“Yeah, go. Do what you’d normally do when you see a babe at a bar.”

“You want me to do what I usually do when I see a really pretty girl at a bar?”

“Correct.”

Henn shrugs, beelines to the front door of the suite, opens the door, and leaves the room. Josh and I look at each other and burst out laughing. After a beat, there’s a soft knock at the front door and Josh strides to it, still laughing.

“Thanks,” Henn says, re-entering the room. “Damn door locked behind me.”

I’m laughing so hard, I’m crying. “Oh, Henny, you’re hilare.”

“I think maybe my strategy needs a little fine-tuning,” Henn says.

“Just a little,” I agree. “Okay, so approach me. Come on. Pretend I’m a girl you’re interested in.”

“Well, that’s not hard to do,” he mutters.

“Come on. Just be yourself.”

Henn stares at me for a long minute and then throws up hishands. “I have no fucking idea what to do.” He plops himself into a chair.

“Don’t overthink it. The truth is, it doesn’t actually matter what you say to a woman—it’s all in your attitude. You know how in public speaking, they say to imagine your audience naked?”

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