What had she been thinking last night toagree to lunch with Kyle?
She tried to blame her poor decision-makingskills on beer and tequila, but most of her buzz was gone by whenthey arrived at her house, and her thinking wasn’t impaired.
No, it hadn’t been the alcohol. Her poorchoices were because of the man, the smell of peppermint, and herdesire to see him again. She tugged at the collar of her shirt asshe recalled his arms around her while they danced. The strength ofhim, the heat, and the smell all combined to frazzle her mind andlower her defenses.
Now, she was paying for her lust with anxietyand self-flagellation. It was a great way to start the day.
The door to Lucy’s room opened, and a prettywoman with brown hair stepped out. The woman glanced at her andducked her head shyly before scurrying across the living room. Shepicked her shoes up from beside the door and left without saying aword.
Lucy glided out of the room as soon as thedoor closed.
“Who was that?” Melanie asked.
“Kathy?”
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
Lucy grinned. “I’m trying to remember. Ithink it was Kathy, but it might have been Kelly or… maybeRachel?”
“Yeah, because those all sound so muchalike.”
Lucy chuckled as she strolled into thekitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. She added some milk andthen enough sugar to cause a toddler to bounce off the walls forten days straight.
“Kathy and Kelly both begin with a K atleast,” Lucy said.
“Kathy could be with a C.”
“True.”
“Will we see Kathy/Kelly/Rachel again?”
It was a stupid question, but Melanie askedit anyway. Call her foolishly optimistic, but she retained hopeLucy would find love. One of them had to, and Lucy saw a lot moreaction than she did, so the odds were in her favor.
“Doubtful,” Lucy replied.
“One of these days, you’re going to fall inlove.”
Lucy leaned her hip against the counter andblew on her coffee as she stared at Melanie over the rim. “Maybeone day someone will be strong enough to tame all thisawesomeness”— she waved her hand in the air in front of her smallframe—“but not today, and certainly not Kathy with a K.”
“Is that the name we’re sticking with?”
“For now.”
Melanie laughed; having Lucy to talk to easedsome of her anxiety, and she relaxed as she sipped her coffee.
“So what happened with tall, blond, and I’dlike to break him last night?”
“He walked me home.”
“And?”
“He kissed me on the forehead, and we saidgood night.”
“That’sit?”
“That’s it.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “You’re so boring.”
