“Well, thank God for Jack! Now, the first thing we’ll do is get rid of the key under the planter. And even though I’ve never been fond of Todd, I don’t think he’d actually break in, do you?”
Liz gave her head a skeptical tilt. “Before yesterday, I would have agreed with you. But now, I’m not sure. He seemed to be off the deep end, and I think I’ve underestimated how nuts he is over this breakup. He just can’t seem to accept it.”
Lynda looked pensive, thoughtful. She rubbed her thumb over the back of Liz’s hand. “Honey, I truly love having you here and I want you to stay as long as you want, okay? But I just have to ask—do you think it’s wise for you to be living so close to him if he’s acting as crazy as you say?”
Liz sighed, tired of worrying about Todd, wishing he would just go away. But it wasn’t that simple. “Well, since yesterday, I’m not sure it’s wise at all. So I’m going to be actively looking for a new place, and until then, well…I guess I just have to hope for the best.”
“I’m glad you have someone like Jack looking out for you.”
“So am I, Lynda, but…”
“But what?”
She let out a sigh. “But it’s hard not to feel like a burden to him. He’s very protective and I’m so thankful he cares, but I also don’t want to depend on him to look out for me with Todd forever, you know? When the time comes that he wants to end the relationship, I don’t want worries about Todd to make him stay with me if his heart isn’t in it.”
Lynda gave a solemn nod. “I understand what you mean. But from where I sit, Jack doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Maybe he’s…here to stay.”
Another kernel of hope—but Liz just couldn’t let herself believe that Jack cared for her in a deep, lasting way. If she did, she’d end up feeling stupid as well as hurt in the end. She’d been there before and she didn’t want to go there again. She wanted desperately to come out of this thankful for the passion they’d shared, not sorry. “Maybe, but I don’t want the situation with Todd hanging over our relationship. So the sooner I can get my own place, somewhere away from Todd, the better I’ll feel on all counts.”
“Well, you know I’ll help any way I can. And I’ll miss you when you go.”
Liz summoned a small smile for her friend. “Thanks, Lynda. You’re the best.” Then she gave her head a curious tilt. “So, how was your night? Did you come home with any beads?”
“Oh, honey,” she laughed, “you wouldn’t believe my night.” She placed her hand on Liz’s nylon-covered knee.
“Try me.”
Lynda’s eyes widened slightly. “Well, let’s just say I ended up in the arms of a very handsome and well-hung college boy before the night was through.”
Liz blinked. “Going for the young ones now, huh?”
Lynda shrugged. “What they lack in finesse they make up for with enthusiasm. And how about you? Any new adventures with your hot P.I.?”
Liz regretted the blush, but couldn’t stop it. One of these days she’d get past her old shyness, but for now, it kept rearing its head from time to time. “Actually, we’ve been doing lots of naughty things together, but I suppose the most noteworthy is…”
“Yes?” Lynda prodded, wide-eyed.
“We had a three-way with his best friend.”
Lynda’s mouth dropped open and Liz was actually pleased to have shocked someone generally so unshockable.
“A very sexy blonde named Ty,” she went on. “You’d love him. We had a very…memorable time together at Jack’s place and…”
“And?”
“And…having two men at once was the most amazing experience of my life. I would definitely recommend it.”
Lynda broke into a broad smile. “You, my friend, have come a long way in a very short time. And maybe I’ll just take that recommendation, coming from such a trusted source.” She winked. “I’m proud of you, honey, for loosening up so much, for learning to enjoy your sexuality. And I bet Jack is just in heaven.”
* * * * *
Liz suspected the French Quarter was the only place in the world she could get out of her car in a leather mini-dress and black leather boots and walk up the street without feeling out of place or self-conscious.
Even so, though, she felt changed in this outfit, as if she were someone different than she’d been a few days before. The sleeveless dress stopped high on her thighs and closed in front with a two-way zipper that could be adjusted from the top or the bottom. So she’d lowered the top to show considerable cleavage, and she’d raised the bottom as high as she dared without getting arrested. The supple leather hugged her every curve—her breasts felt heavy and big pressing against the tight fit. Her pussy tingled in the warm breeze, only a few short inches from being exposed.
The boots looked downright sinful with pointed toes and silver stiletto heels. They rose up over her knees, yet the short dress still showed plenty of thigh. She’d accessorized with large silver hoop earrings and a black choker, as well as more eye make-up than usual. As she approached the bar where she’d planned to meet Jack, she felt like walking sin.
She quickly felt all the eyes upon her—men who wanted to see what a woman like her would do to them in bed, and women who were perhaps curious of the same thing. A week ago she couldn’t have worn this outfit. Even when she’d walked into Jack’s office that first day, dressed so sexy and acting so brazen—that was nothing compared to this. The heat of knowing she
