“What’s wrong?” Kenzie asked, concern filling her eyes.
Junie dropped her gaze, unable to look friends in the eye. She’d just been going on like an idiot about that stupid kiss. She didn’t want to believe it, but what if it hadn’t meant as much to Tanner as it did to her if what Cherry said could be believed… which it couldn’t.
Since no giant eagle swooped down to grab Junie and fly her away, all that was left was to answer Kenzie’s question. “That was Cherry. She said Tanner’s at The Red Barn, and that he wanted to play with her.”
Poppy sat up straight. “That bitch!”
Kenzie leaped to her feet and planted her hands on her hips. “No way is Tanner with her. Believe me, my brother hates that woman as much as we do. She’s just trying to get back at you for having something she can’t have.”
“Of course she is,” Junie agreed. “But it did sound like she was at a bar or club of some sort. And why would she call if she wasn’t there?”
Poppy shook her head. “I can’t believe he’d do anything with her.”
Junie bit her lip. She didn’t want to believe it either. This was her heart on the line.
Cherry was sneaky, and she wanted whatever she thought was Junie’s. But Junie had to be sure. There was only one way to find out. “Are you two thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Are you thinking of drowning your sorrows in Rocky Road ice cream?” Poppy asked.
“Of course she isn’t!” Kenzie said. “Come on. Let’s get ready and go! We’ll have to get all dolled up and get our sexiest outfits on.”
Junie bit her lip. “You guys will be in a lot of trouble if you go down there. Think about it, Kenzie. If Tannerisdown there, do you really believe he’ll just say hi and let you strut around in a sexy outfit?”
Kenzie looked up and put a finger under her chin, tilting her head to one side as if giving the question serious consideration. Then she grinned and said, “Don’t know, don’t care. You are not going down there alone. Besides, if we all go down there dressed sexy and fine, I’m thinking that I’m not the one he’s going to be looking at.”
“We’re coming with you,” Poppy said firmly.
And that was why Kenzie and Poppy were her besties. “Okay, it’s a free country. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Poppy was grinning way too much for Junie not to be suspicious. “Okay, Poppy,” she demanded, “what are you so happy about?”
“If we’re right and Cherry is just yanking your chain, I was just picturing what Tanner’s reaction will be to you showing up dressed all sexy.”
It was Junie’s turn to swallow hard.
“I guess we’ll find out,” Junie said, pretending her stomach didn’t fill with butterflies at the verythought.
Forty-five minutes later, the three of them stood outside The Red Barn. The main floor was the usual rowdy country bar—loud music, line dancing, the smell of beer and fried food. But Junie’s eyes kept drifting toward the stairs leading down.
Junie’s stomach was in knots. This was such a bad idea. What was she going to do if she saw Tanner with Cherry?
Junie glanced down at the outfit her friends had insisted she wear. She’d never dressed like this before in her life. The blush pink babydoll dress was stretchy and semi-sheer, barely skimming the tops of her thighs. She slept in pajamas that covered her more than this did. Add to that the white thigh-high stockings with the tiny pink bows, the soft leather ankle boots, and the thin leather choker with the dangling heart, and she looked like she’d stepped out of a Sailor Moon cartoon.
She was really counting on the fact that, as long as she stood by her friends Barn Kitten and Strawberry Shortcake, no one would give her a second glance.
At the bottom of the stairs, a serious-looking man with a tag that read “Dungeon Master” stopped them. “Sorry, ladies. This is a members-only club. And I would remember if you three were members.”
“Oh, well,” Poppy said. “I guess we’ll just have to go home.”
“Hold on. My brother, Tanner, is inside, and I really need to talk to him. You know, family emergency,” Kenzie said.
He eyed them and sighed. “Do you always dress like that for family emergencies? Not that I’m complaining.”
Junie stood up straighter. This wasn’t getting them anywhere, and she needed to find out if Tanner was here. Time to cut to the chase. “If only members can get in there, how can we become members if we can’t go inside?”
The Dungeon Master studied them for at least a millennium. Though to be fair, he spent most of that time staring at Poppy. Shaking his head, he gave a deep sigh. “I’m gonna regret this,” the man muttered. “But I do know Tanner’s here. If you get into trouble,he can deal with you. But you’ll have to fill out an application first. I’ll get you the forms. Just don’t make me regret it.”
After one more heated glare, he opened the door, carefully locking it behind them before walking them over to a counter to get the applications. As he handed them out, the man scowled at Poppy. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing, little girl?”
