Page 95 of Irresistibly Wicked

Starr sighed. “We were taking it slow, but that man is a decadent dark-chocolate sundae, and I couldn’t resist.”

The others cheered and peppered her with questions, asking if things were serious and if their girls knew and offered support by sharing advice like, When it’s real, that’s how fast it happens.

Starr lowered her voice and said, “The girls don’t know, but I think we’re both falling, and we’ll probably tell them soon.”

Shauna felt a pang of jealousy as the others gushed about how happy they were for Starr. Get a grip, Flores. That’s the difference between true love and a contractual arrangement. She tucked away those wayward feelings.

“I need to take your orders and get back to work,” Starr said.

“Before you take our orders,” Chloe said. “Can everyone make it the last Sunday of the month for the book club meeting? It’s going to be at Indian Neck Beach.”

Shauna pulled out her phone and checked her schedule, while the others talked excitedly about the Paris-themed meeting. She was glad to see she wasn’t scheduled to work that day, and said she’d be there, too.

After placing their orders, they sipped their mocktails, chatting about books, and the girls told her more about the book club. The conversation moved from that to Brennan’s upcoming birthday party on Saturday. The girls were thrilled to hear Zander had already asked Shauna to go with him to it.

“And don’t forget you’re coming to my wedding in November, with or without my brother,” Madigan said.

“How could I forget that?” Shauna said, although she didn’t want to think about going without Zander. But did she really have to? She and Zander had become incredible friends above all else. They could attend her wedding as friends, couldn’t they? It wasn’t like after they ended their marriage they’d be on the hunt for long-term partners. She told herself they could, and joined in for the rest of the wedding conversation.

Their lunches came, and as if Zander knew Shauna was thinking about him, her phone chimed with a text. She’d sent him a video of a cat patio earlier and had said Kitty needed one.

Zander: What does it say about me that you’re thinking about my Kitty while I’m thinking about yours?

A devil emoji popped up.

Shauna’s cheeks burned.

“Girl,” Madigan said, drawing out the word. “What is in that text?”

“Nothing.” Shauna tried to tamp down her smile, failing miserably, and quickly pocketed her phone.

“I love when Tank texts me nothing,” Leah said, and the girls laughed.

“Seriously,” Shauna said. “I sent him a picture of a cat patio that a guy built outside his window. It’s caged in, so his cat can get out, and I told Zan that Kitty needed one.”

“Don’t encourage him,” Chloe said.

“Zander is the last guy I would ever think would buy clothes for a pet,” Emerson said.

“He loves Kitty,” Shauna said.

“I think it’s a cute idea,” Madigan said.

“It would be a cuter idea if Kitty had a friend to share it with,” Sid suggested. “We have some adorable kittens at the rescue.”

“Don’t get sucked in,” Reese warned. “She’ll have you adopting six of them before you know it.”

The girls laughed.

“Zander would have to build another closet if he gets another cat,” Shauna said. “Kitty has a bigger wardrobe than I do.”

“That’s because he’s a great cat dad,” Madigan said. “He’d be a great baby dad, too.”

“Mads, give her a break,” Sid said. “On another note, who’s going to Bikes on the Beach this year?”

There was a collective “We are” from Madigan, Chloe, Leah, and Reese.

Shauna hoped the girls didn’t notice she hadn’t responded. The event was after the end of her and Zander’s arrangement, and she didn’t want to think about it.