Soaring and Saucy (HOTSHOTS #2)

Chapter 1

1

STEPHANIE

Louisville, Kentucky

“We’re doing it – and I’m not taking ‘NO’ for an answer, Steph.”

Stephanie looked over at the other teller at the bank and sighed. This was probably the best and worst job in the world, and the only reason she stayed was because her friends tried so hard to draw her out of her shell.

“Not this again, Natalie.”

“Uh, yes – we are absolutely talking about this again,” her friend said in open frustration, looking at her… and then Lila’s head popped out over her shoulder.

“Told you she’d back out.”

“I’m not letting Steph back out.”

“She’s backing out,” Lila sang.

“No, she’s not. Have a little faith in your fearless leader.”

“Some leader…”

“Lila!”

“What?” Lila blurted out, laughing. “Steph, are you coming with us or not? I mean, hello? That weekend is Thunder over Louisville, and we’re closed. Caaahhh-looooosed,” she enunciated, drawing out the word. “We literally have an unexpected three-day weekend, and three ‘single-and-ready-to-mingle ’ ladies could have a little fun out of town.”

“Y’all should go,” Stephanie smiled nervously. “I don’t want to hold you back. You know I clam up when it gets busy or crowded. Remember last year when we went to Waterfront Park for the concert?”

Both women got knowing expressions and said in unison, “ Ohhhhh ” – which did not make Stephanie feel any better. They had been dancing, having a great time, and she had been sitting at the back of the crowd on a picnic blanket with a homeless man who said she looked like his daughter— for two hours .

A police officer walked by, rescuing her by telling her to take her things and go to a local shelter. The officer had assumed she was a vagrant, too. Ouch . Yeah, her fragile ego could not take another hit like that one. It was so hard being… me , she thought wretchedly.

Plain brown hair, simple brown eyes, too thin lips, and then Fate decided to up her game, giving her a mole on the end of her nose, making it come to a point – on an already too pointy nose. Yeah, compared to Lila and Natalie, she felt dowdy.

There was a saying that if everyone else was having a grand time in the crowd, then you were definitely the third wheel watching their purses, their seats, the blanket, whatever… and she did.

They certainly didn’t mean it that way, but Stephanie just kinda fell into that role easily because she wasn’t a partygoer, she wasn’t a wild one, nor did she get as much attention as her friends – who were simply gorgeous.

“Look,” Natalie said in a hushed voice, looking at her. “The three of us are going, and that’s final. We fly out Thursday night, we’ll share a hotel room, have fun Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – and then fly in late Sunday night so we can be back to work on Monday. I’ve got it all planned out.”

“You have to come with us,” Lila whispered excitedly. “Come on, it’s Fleet Week, and we are going to be surrounded by sailors in uniform who are ready to have some fun. There will be shopping, tours, we can go to a museum…”

“Bars and nightclubs,” Natalie interrupted as both women looked at Stephanie, smiling brightly. “I’ll buy the drinks, but just come with us.”

“You know I don’t drink.”

“Which is why I’m offering. Hellooo? Cheap date.”

Stephanie sighed heavily as her shoulders slumped. Maybe she could go see a museum or Central Park – it wasn’t like anyone was going to assault her or be a threat. Besides, it would be nice to get out of town away from all the chaotic traffic of that weekend. Half the city would shut down for the massive fireworks display, and she didn’t want to be in any of that mess.

Going to Derby with the girls three years ago, having infield tickets, was enough to get her to steer clear of any events surrounding the ‘Fastest Two Minutes in Horse Racing .’ Yeah, it would be nice to escape at least once because then it wasn’t back-to-back weekends confined in her little apartment. It would only be once, and then the season was over.

“How much are the tickets?” Stephanie sighed – and both girls rushed her, hugging excitedly.

“They are fifty-nine bucks each way, carry-on bag only. I’m getting the booze and food all weekend. You get the cab fare to-and-from the airport. Lila is getting the hotel room because she’s got points to burn up and we’re going to stay in a snazzy section of town not too far from the harbor where all the ships will be parked.”

“Docked,” Stephanie corrected, smiling. “Ships don’t park, they dock.”

“See? We need our girl to come with us.”

“Fine. I’ll buy my ticket – but I insist on one tour or museum.”

“Done.”

Two weeks later, Stephanie was immediately regretting giving in and feeling completely overwhelmed. Louisville was a speck on a map compared to New York City in all its glory.

She had never seen so many people in such a rush. There were buildings, banners, and billboards everywhere… and the lights! There were glowing arrows, neon signs, windows illuminated, streetlights, and massive screens that shone or flickered right above scrolling marquees proclaiming news updates, features, or highlights. For someone who broke out in a sweat when the traffic pattern of the highway changed due to construction, this was a bit much .

Understatement. Of. The. Year.

“Oh well, crappola,” Natalie winced, looking at them sheepishly in the cab that was currently honking at other vehicles nearby, since they were stuck in traffic at nine o'clock at night.

The city that never sleeps, Stephanie immediately thought to herself before speaking up. “What’s wrong?”

“The ships pulled in yesterday morning, and I thought they were going to be here this morning.”

“So?”

“Soooo all those lonely boys might have already gotten it out of their system.”

“Gotten what out of their system?”

Natalie and Lila looked at her, then at each other, and burst out laughing wildly and to her horror, the cab driver started chuckling from his seat, too. If she could crawl into a hole right now, she certainly would.

“You’re kidding, right?”

Stephanie didn’t deign to answer that question – instead, she gave them both a flat look with her lips pressed together. Both women’s eyes got huge in their faces.

“Seriously?”

“Nooo way…”

“Honey, you’re twenty-nine.”

“So?” Stephanie blurted out defensively. “So what?”

“You’re… innocent ?” Natalie whispered under her breath in disbelief.

“I don’t want to talk about this,” Stephanie sputtered, completely mortified as the cab driver looked at her in the mirror. “Eyes forward!” she snapped before slapping a hand over her mouth and looking at her friends. “I’m not discussing this, and it’s not like it’s a disease. I’m selective.”

“Honey, let’s be clear, virginity is not an antique that gets more valuable over time – dusty , crusty , and rusty … yes! But more valuable or precious – absolutely not.”

“Not everyone shares that line of thought. I don’t believe in sex before marriage,” Stephanie said primly, ignoring the shocked look on Natalie’s face or the upset one on Lila’s.

“I don’t believe in being trapped by a piece of paper.”

“Well, we certainly differ there – because I can’t imagine marriage feeling like a trap.”

“Then you’ve never been in a bad marriage,” Lila chimed in disgustedly. “How about we agree to disagree – and later on, when some schmuck treats you like garbage, or you get laid for the first time without a ring – we’ll talk.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“You’re pretty confident of that,” Natalie chuckled, poking her in the midriff. “Aren’t there any urges wanting to come out in play?”

“Oh my gosh,” Stephanie exclaimed nervously, looking at both of her friends with new eyes. “Y’all have fun, sow your wild oats, and handle your own urges. I’ll just watch our purses, hold the table, and sip on my non-alcoholic mixed drinks that have served me well for the last eight years.”

Pausing as the taxi came to a stop, she looked at her friends. “Just be careful out there, okay?” Stephanie prompted.

“Just try to have fun and live a little,” Lila countered, smiling as they all started to pile out of the car. “We only mean the best for you and want you to have as much fun as us. I plan on checking in, dropping my bag in my room, and marching directly into the middle of that throng of hot, white uniforms over there.”

Natalie whistled loudly to get their attention – and sure enough, several heads turned in their direction. Oh yes, her friends were planning on ‘partying’ hard this weekend, which made her the chaperone.

“Let’s go check in,” Stephanie urged, tugging on an arm as both women waved happily toward the men.

“We’re on our way, boys!”

“No, we’re not…”

“I’m a thirsty girl, and I see me a nice tall glass of water…”

“You should be on meds…”

“I am – birth control,” Lila quipped, and both women burst out laughing as they waltzed inside, linking arms with Stephanie and dragging her with them. “Come on. I need to forget just how bad my life sucks…”

Heaven help me. It’s going to be a long weekend.