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She tensed, and scooched over on the couch. “Nothing much. Work, and trying to get Cal sorted out.”
“No gentlemen calling?” Carson asked. She sat on the wingback chair across from her. She had changed out of her lingerie right after her photos were complete. Unlike Penn, who traipsed around in a short, silky robe enjoying that it was acceptable, at least today, to walk around partially undressed. However, everyone had the essentials covered out of consideration for Sterling’s little sisters.
“No, I don’t have time for gentlemen,” Veronica said evenly.
“Bullshit!” Madison called from her computer.
“Excuse me?” she grumbled. Madison was a big traitor.
“I call bullshit, too,” Penn said. “And I think I know just what we can do to pass the time until the men get here.”
Penn stood and walked over to where Madison sat at her laptop. “May I?” She tapped on the keyboard after Madison handed it over, and made a few clicks. Without raising her head, she asked, “When is your birthday?”
“May 25, 1985,” Madison blabbed. They’d compared IDs when they were carded trying to get into the club before their burlesque graduation show—as ridiculous as that was.
“Why do you need my birth date?” Veronica went over to them, and that’s when she noticed she was feeling woozy. She’d had at least a bottle of champagne to herself.
But she sobered up quickly when she realized Penn was on an internet dating site, in the process of creating Veronica a profile.
She squealed in protest. “I do not like using sex toys on the beach!”
“Have you ever tried it?” Penn questioned with a raised brow. When Veronica didn’t answer, she giggled. “Then don’t knock it ’til you have.”
Penn clicked more and typed more, and with each click, Veronica grew more nauseous.
“Madison, can we crop one of your photos and use it as her profile?”
“Sure thing.” Madison leaned in and with another click, the picture had been uploaded to the site.
“Do not press publish, Penn!” Veronica’s stomached tightened, and not in a good way. “Do not press—”
But it was done. Her profile was out there for men to stumble upon.
“This is ridiculous. What type of man could I possibly find on the internet?”
“Internet dating is very popular,” Surrey piped in. “Just ask Lee and Anne Marie from that commercial. They seem to be really happy together.”
“Or Tanya and Joshua,” Sydney added. The two of them giggled at each other girlishly, in contrast to the sophisticated, haute couture hairdos and outfits they’d donned for their photo shoots.
Sterling laughed. “Veronica. It’s just a profile. It doesn’t mean you actually have to date anyone.”
“So, this is where the party is.”
Panicked, Veronica turned toward the library door. Jack sauntered in, followed by five more male bodies.
Finn, Neil, Cole, and her brothers, Mark and Cal, loitered in the entryway. Cole, Neil, and Mark each held a twelve-pack of beer. Finn held a bottle of whiskey. Empty-handed, but not for long, Jack crept over to Sterling and enveloped her from behind. He whispered something in her ear and she giggled.
“Guys, this is Madison, our photographer,” Sterling introduced her friend. Veronica was appreciative the ladies had adopted Madison into the fold so quickly.
The crowd dispersed in twos. Jack and Sterling slinked away to the corner. Neil joined Carson on the chair. Cole followed Penn to the makeshift bar.
“Don’t you ladies look lovely,” Jack said as he twirled around his fiancée.
Veronica had covered up, but her cleavage still tumbled over the neck of her robe. When Mark noticed, his eyes nearly bugged out of his head.
Cole placed the twelve of beer on the table, pulled one out, and twisted off the cap. Before taking a swig, he called, “Hey, V.”
Finn finally acknowledged her. He zeroed in on where she stood. She lifted her hands to her chest trying her best to cover her cleavage, but his eyes roved over her body, a heat-seeking missile touching every inch of her bare skin. She looked down at herself. There was a lot of bare skin.
