Page 51 of Call Me Irresistible (Wynette, Texas 6)

“And don’t even think of using me to discourage Sunny Skipjack.”

“Subject to discussion. That woman scares the hell out of me.”

“She doesn’t scare you at all. You just don’t want to deal with her.”

“Is that all?”

“No. I’d need to talk to Lucy first.”

That caught him by surprise. “Why would you have to do that?”

“A question that once again proves how little you know me.”

He reached in his pocket, pulled out his cell, and tossed it to her. “Go for it.”

She tossed it right back. “I’ll use my own.”

He pocketed his phone and waited.

“Not now,” she said, starting to feel more frazzled than she wanted to be.

“Now,” he said. “You just told me it’s a precondition.”

She should kick him out, but she wanted him too much, and she was predestined to make bad choices when it came to men, which was why her female friendships had always been so important. She shot him a dirty look, the closest she could get to a face-saving gesture, and stomped toward the kitchen, where she banged the door behind her. As she grabbed her cell, she told herself she’d take it as a sign if Lucy didn’t answer.

But Lucy answered. “Meg? What’s up?”

She sank down on the linoleum and pressed her spine to the refrigerator door. “Hey, Luce. I hope I didn’t wake you up.” She unstuck a Cheerio she’d dropped that morning, or possibly last week, and crumbled it between her fingers. “So how’s it going?”

“It’s one in the morning. How do you think it’s going?”

“Really? It’s only midnight here, but since I have no idea where you are, it’s a little tough to allow for time differences.”

Meg regretted her testiness as Lucy sighed. “It won’t be much longer. I’ll . . . tell you as soon as I can. Right now everything’s a little . . . confusing. Is something wrong? You sound worried.”

“Something’s wrong, all right.” There was no easy way to say this. “What would you think about—” She pulled her knees tighter against her chest and took a deep breath. “What would you think about me hooking up with Ted?”

There was a long silence. “Hooking up? As in—?”

“Yes.”

“With Ted?”

“Your former fiancé.”

“I know who he is. You and Ted are a . . . couple?”

“No!” Meg dropped her knees to the floor. “No, not a couple. Never. This is just about sex. And forget it. I’m not exactly thinking clearly right now. I should never have called. God, what was I thinking? This is a total betrayal of our friendship. I shouldn’t have—”

“No! No, I’m glad you called.” Lucy actually sounded excited. “Oh, Meg, this is perfect. Every woman should have Ted Beaudine make love to her.”

“I don’t know about that, but—” She pulled her knees back up. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”

“Are you kidding?” Lucy sounded almost giddy. “Do you know how guilty I still feel? If he sleeps with you . . . You’re my best friend. He’d be sleeping with my best friend! It’ll be like getting absolution from the pope!”

“You don’t have to sound so broken up about it.”

The door opened. Meg quickly lowered her knees as Ted ambled in. “Tell Lucy hello from me,” he said.

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