The bartender slid the drinks in front of her. She drank the shotand forced herself to concentrate on the burn as the alcohol went down herthroat. It was a momentary distraction from the pain plaguing her heart.
Fuck!Why can’t I get her out of my head? She took a pull on her beer. Because she’s gorgeous andyou’re in love with her, dumbass. After knowing Grace preferred menfor all these years, why was she stillin love with her? The knot in her stomach reappeared as she remembered howshe’d asked Grace to reconsider marrying Brent the week before the wedding. Theunderstanding in Grace’s eyes was clear when Dex had choked out her reasons,professing her love. Tears had immediately streamed down Grace’s cheeks, andDex hadn’t been able to contain hers for much longer than Grace had. Aftercapturing Dex in an embrace, they stood together through moments of silence andplenty of tears from both of them.
Then Grace had released her, regained her composure, and told Dexthat, although she loved her and that she would be in her heart forever, shewas in lovewith Brent. Her feelings for him outweighed her feelings for Dex. It had been ahuge blow. Dex had been holding out for a miracle to sweep in and change herdestiny, but it hadn’t happened. Grace had made it perfectly clear that herfeelings for Dex were purely platonic, and Dex had been forced to accept thereality of their situation. The day had been very emotional for both of them,but their conversation had been necessary to provide closure for her to moveon, and now that was exactly what she intended to do.
The place was unusually full tonight, with a surprisingly mixedcrowd of people. The sexy blonde that slid onto the barstool next to her wasthe last person she’d expected to appear. The place had the usuals, as well asa few newcomers, but hot, single women weren’t usually among them.
“Can I buy you a drink?” the blonde asked.
“I’m good. But thanks.” Dex turned and stared into her startlingblue eyes. They were almost the same color as the royal-blue dress she waswearing, which fit her curves spectacularly.
“I hope you don’t mind if I sit next to you. This is my first timehere.”
Dex smiled. “You’re fine. So you’ve really never been here before?”
“No. Just had a late appointment over this way and stopped in fora drink afterward. It’s been a rough day, and I’m not in the mood to get hiton.”
Seemed reasonable enough. “I understand that.” Dex lifted her beerin acknowledgment. “I think you’re pretty safe here.” She took a drink.
“I’m Candice,” the woman said as she shifted sideways in herbarstool and crossed her legs.
“Dex,” she said, trying to keep her focus on her beer instead ofthe long, lean legs displayed next to her.
“Dex,” Candice repeated. “That’s an interesting name.”
“You have no idea,” she said, shaking her head.
Candice raised an eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?”
Dex explained to her about the unconventional way her parents cameup with her name. They seemed to pull names out of a hat for their children,naming them after sports figures, movie titles, or the evergreen they’d seen orbeen planting during the timeframe each child had been conceived. Candice justhappened to be from Canada and had actually heard of the obscure Canadian hockeyplayer Dex had been named after. She also chuckled a bit about people gettingit confused with the serial killer TV show. Dex hadn’t gone into the tormentshe’d endured in her youth because of it. That would be too much informationfor a lovely stranger. With a brother named Ransom, after a crime-thrillermovie, and an older sister named Juniper, her life could be pure hell at times.She’d been tempted more than once to take on a serial-killer persona just toget the kids off her back.
The one Candice really found funny was her sister’s name, Juniper.From that point on, she began naming everyone who sat down at the bar afterevergreens. The tall girl with the skinny legs and gobs of wild hair becameWillow. The short, dark-haired guy with the flattop next to her became Hedge.The funniest was a tall, stocky, red-haired, bearded guy she named Redwood. Hedefinitely fit the description. Dex had to admit it was kind of fun and hadunexpectedly lightened her mood. The bartender smiled and shook his head. He’doverheard the whole conversation and seemed to be equally amused as hecontinued sliding drinks in front of them.
After a few more drinks, they left the bar, and Dex walked Candiceto her car. At least that was her intent, but they ended up in the darkenedparking lot with Candice pressed against her Ford Explorer, making out instead.She reached inside Dex’s jacket and tugged her closer, indicating she was morethan willing to go further. When Dex reached under Candice’s dress and found nopanties, only wetness between her legs, she took what was offered, sliding herfingers through the silky warmth and pushing them inside. Candice clutched her,pressed her face into Dex’s shoulder, and moaned. Dex closed her eyes and foundherself imagining Grace in her arms, under her hands, clenched around herfingers as they worked her arousal, and she went with it. Candice came hardagainst Dex’s hand before she slumped into her, apparently satisfied.
“That certainly turned my day around.” Candice smiled and glanced upinto Dex’s eyes. “Can I get your number?”
She was sweet and beautiful, but Dex found it hard to make eyecontact with her. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. I mean…” Sheswallowed hard. “This and earlier inside was really fun. There’s just someoneelse I’m not quite finished with yet.” Whatan asshole I am. Dex expected Candice to be upset. She couldn’tbelieve what she’d just done. But Candice only smiled and seemed to understand,and she didn’t press.
“Okay, then.” Candice took out a piece of paper and pen, wrote hernumber down, and handed it to Dex. “In case you ever get over her…Or just needa distraction.”
Dex smiled and nodded. But that wasn’t going to happen. She’d
