Chapter Thirty-Two #2
Starr sighed. “We were taking it slow, but that man is a decadent dark-chocolate sundae, and I couldn’t resist.”
The others cheered and peppered her with questions, asking if things were serious and if their girls knew and offered support by sharing advice like, When it’s real, that’s how fast it happens.
Starr lowered her voice and said, “The girls don’t know, but I think we’re both falling, and we’ll probably tell them soon.”
Shauna felt a pang of jealousy as the others gushed about how happy they were for Starr. Get a grip, Flores. That’s the difference between true love and a contractual arrangement. She tucked away those wayward feelings.
“I need to take your orders and get back to work,” Starr said.
“Before you take our orders,” Chloe said. “Can everyone make it the last Sunday of the month for the book club meeting? It’s going to be at Indian Neck Beach.”
Shauna pulled out her phone and checked her schedule, while the others talked excitedly about the Paris-themed meeting. She was glad to see she wasn’t scheduled to work that day, and said she’d be there, too.
After placing their orders, they sipped their mocktails, chatting about books, and the girls told her more about the book club. The conversation moved from that to Brennan’s upcoming birthday party on Saturday. The girls were thrilled to hear Zander had already asked Shauna to go with him to it.
“And don’t forget you’re coming to my wedding in November, with or without my brother,” Madigan said.
“How could I forget that?” Shauna said, although she didn’t want to think about going without Zander.
But did she really have to? She and Zander had become incredible friends above all else.
They could attend her wedding as friends, couldn’t they?
It wasn’t like after they ended their marriage they’d be on the hunt for long-term partners.
She told herself they could, and joined in for the rest of the wedding conversation.
Their lunches came, and as if Zander knew Shauna was thinking about him, her phone chimed with a text. She’d sent him a video of a cat patio earlier and had said Kitty needed one.
Zander: What does it say about me that you’re thinking about my Kitty while I’m thinking about yours?
A devil emoji popped up.
Shauna’s cheeks burned.
“Girl,” Madigan said, drawing out the word. “What is in that text?”
“Nothing.” Shauna tried to tamp down her smile, failing miserably, and quickly pocketed her phone.
“I love when Tank texts me nothing,” Leah said, and the girls laughed.
“Seriously,” Shauna said. “I sent him a picture of a cat patio that a guy built outside his window. It’s caged in, so his cat can get out, and I told Zan that Kitty needed one.”
“Don’t encourage him,” Chloe said.
“Zander is the last guy I would ever think would buy clothes for a pet,” Emerson said.
“He loves Kitty,” Shauna said.
“I think it’s a cute idea,” Madigan said.
“It would be a cuter idea if Kitty had a friend to share it with,” Sid suggested. “We have some adorable kittens at the rescue.”
“Don’t get sucked in,” Reese warned. “She’ll have you adopting six of them before you know it.”
The girls laughed.
“Zander would have to build another closet if he gets another cat,” Shauna said. “Kitty has a bigger wardrobe than I do.”
“That’s because he’s a great cat dad,” Madigan said. “He’d be a great baby dad, too.”
“Mads, give her a break,” Sid said. “On another note, who’s going to Bikes on the Beach this year?”
There was a collective “We are” from Madigan, Chloe, Leah, and Reese.
Shauna hoped the girls didn’t notice she hadn’t responded. The event was after the end of her and Zander’s arrangement, and she didn’t want to think about it.
“It’s too close to my due date,” Emerson said. “But I’ve heard some wild things about that event.”
“You mean that it’s a total meat market?” Leah asked.
“Or that women walk around in shorts smaller than Marybelle’s?” Chloe asked.
“And guys rev their engines like it’s mating season?” Madigan added.
“From what Blaine told me, it is mating season for most of the guys,” Reese said.
“He’s not wrong, but it’s still fun,” Madigan said.
“They’ve got two bands lined up this year,” Sid said. “And Brandon Owens is playing, which means the music will be good. What about you, Shauna? Are you going?”
“Zander mentioned it, but it’s after our agreement ends, and Brian will be home by then, so…”
“Oh, right,” Madigan said apologetically. “It might be uncomfortable for you to be around Zander if you’re not…you know. How is Brian?”
“I don’t know,” Shauna said. “He asked me not to visit. Recovery is really hard.”
“I can only imagine,” Madigan said. “That’s a bummer about Bikes on the Beach, but if you decide to go, you hang with us.”
“Thanks.”
“Shauna, have you and Zander talked about what happens after the end of your arrangement?” Leah asked.
“Is it going to be too weird to be around him after?” Sid asked. “I can see how it would, but I hope you’ll still hang out with us.”
“Like I said, Zan and I are just having fun,” Shauna said more confidently than she felt. “I’d like to keep hanging out with you guys. I’ll just have to see what life is like when the time comes.”
“Sounds good,” Madigan said. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting something to wear from Dixie and Jace’s Leather and Lace line for the event…”
Shauna listened to them chatting about shopping for the event, and she wanted to be part of it.
If only her grandfather had asked for six months instead of two.
That was a thought she’d never imagined having.
But that wasn’t a reasonable thought, either.
Once Brian came home, he’d need her more than he ever had, and she wasn’t about to let him down.
A bittersweet ache took root in her chest with the realization that once he came home and her arrangement with Zander ended, nothing would ever be quite the same again.
THE PERKY brUNETTE behind the counter at the gym set Zander’s copies of the membership papers in front of him and said, “You’re all set. Would you like a tour?”
The out-of-the-way gym Shauna was a member of was smaller than any he’d ever been in. From where he stood, he could see the whole damn thing. Weights and aerobic equipment in a big open room, a sign for locker rooms to the left, and classes to the right.
“No thanks, I’m good, but I do need my…” He saw the familiar plastic-rectangular thing behind the register, but fuck if he could remember the word for it, and the brunette was looking at him like he was her next meal. “My, uh…” He gritted his teeth, nodding to the little plastic fucker.
“Oh, sorry. It wouldn’t be good if I kept your credit card.” She glanced at the card, then smiled flirtatiously as she said, “With a name like Wicked and all those tattoos, I bet you’re all kinds of trouble.”
“I’m the best kind of trouble there is.” He snagged his card and cocked a grin. “Just ask my wife.” He let that sink in before thanking her for her help and heading for the classrooms.
It was easy to find Shauna’s pole class. All Zander had to do was follow the glances of the guys checking out the women between sets and the thumping beat of the music coming from the classroom.
He spotted Shauna standing beside a pole, gripping it with both hands just above her head.
Her face was a mask of deep concentration as she pulled her legs up, toes pointed away from the pole, lifting them straight and high, then lowered them over her shoulders as she did some kind of upside-down spin that made his brain stall.
She hooked an ankle around the pole in a slow, controlled twist, her gorgeous muscles flexing.
Her ponytail nearly brushed the floor before she flipped upright and spun, arching with the movement like she’d been born to do it.
Zander was mesmerized by her fluidity, the arch of her back, and the sheer strength of the woman he was lucky enough to have in his life, and in his bed.
At least for now.
She caught sight of him as her feet met the floor, and a flicker of confusion clouded her eyes, but it quickly morphed to relay, What the hell are you doing here?
Damn, he liked that scowl. He lifted his chin, grinning. Don’t give me rules, darlin’, because I’ll just break ’em.
It was Wednesday night, and he had church in half an hour, but he’d timed it perfectly.
The class ended, and there was a flurry of activity in the room as women gathered their belongings and checked him out through the glass.
Shauna rolled her eyes. She stalked out of the classroom with three other women, who eyed him with interest.
“Ladies,” he said, earning smiles, and reached for Shauna’s hand. “Hey, Angel. You looked great in there.” He pulled her into a kiss, staking claim for the dudes checking her out.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was edged with disbelief, but her lips twitched like she was holding back a smile.
“I just joined the gym.” He held up the membership papers.
Her eyes widened. “You joined this gym?”
“Yup. We said we were going to work out together.” He folded the papers and put them in his back pocket.
“Right, but don’t you have church tonight?”
“Yes, but I wanted to bring you this before I went.” He reached into his front pocket and pulled out a small canvas pouch. Curiosity rose in her eyes as he handed it to her.
She opened the pouch and turned it over.
The delicate gold bracelet with the triangular charm slid into her hand, and her breath caught.
“Is this…?” Voice full of hope, she turned the charm over, her dark eyes glassing over at the sight of Cap’s inscription.
“Zander,” she whispered. “How did you find it?”
“I called every pawn shop on the Cape.” He took the bracelet from her palm, and as he secured it around her wrist, he said, “I thought I was too late. But this morning I remembered you and Brian had lived in Wareham. I figured if he knew a drug dealer there, it was worth a shot calling local pawn shops, and that’s where I found it. ”
She threw her arms around him, hugging him tight. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
He’d carried a knot in his chest ever since she’d told him about her missing bracelet, and it hadn’t loosened until he’d had it in his hand. “I think I do.”