Chapter 18 #2
Was he genuinely curious or was he trying to distract her? Regardless, it was rude to ignore him. “Yeah, we’ve worked at the same place for a few years now.”
“What do you do there?”
“I’m the executive director of marketing.”
“That’s really cool.” He nodded, but she could tell he wasn’t really listening or engaging in the conversation, which made her think he was distracting her from Carson and his mysterious phone call with Charlotte.
“Do you even know what that is, Jack?” Sandy crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive move.
“She’s in charge of marketing. I do know things, Sandy.”
“How long have you known Carson for?”
“Since we were both hired around the same time, three years ago.”
“Oh, are you guys in the same department or just the same building?”
“Same department.”
“Were you a SEAL as well or another performing mammal?” Jack gave her a strange look while Sandy just laughed.
“More like a monkey, if you ask me.” Sandy snorted.
“Ha-ha,” Jack said without humor. “I was in the Army. Ranger to be exact.” Jack stood taller, giving her a once-over.
“Much better than your performing mammal, was it? I was as stealthy as a panther, strong as an elephant, and I’m just as long too.
” He smiled and winked. A look Allie was sure worked on many women but not her.
“Oh please,” Sandy muttered next to her. Allie could hear her eyes rolling. “Then how did you get injured, huh?”
Jack scowled at her. A look Sandy mirrored. Thankfully, Carson’s phone call had ended, and he rejoined the group to prevent the two from coming to blows.
“We need to get going,” he stated, giving Jack a pointed look before turning back to look at her. “I’ll talk to you later?” He gave her a questioning look.
“Yeah, I’m in meetings the rest of the day, but I’ll be home on time, so we can talk then.” “Alright, I’ll talk to you then.”
Sandy elbowed Allie. She thought it was incognito, but everyone saw it. Sandy added a throat clearing on top of that. Allie was going to die of embarrassment. “Would you like to come over for dinner?”
Carson hesitated, glancing between her and Jack.
Did her asking him out in front of people embarrass him?
She was sure his coworkers already knew they’d slept together; there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
“Yeah, sounds good. I’ll be finished up at the office around five or so. Should we say six-thirty?”
“That works for me.” That gave her enough time to go shopping after work. “Bye. It was nice meeting you, Jack.”
“You too.” He smiled warmly at her then Sandy, who only scoffed at him.
She grabbed Sandy by the arm and dragged her away. “Did you have to do that?”
“Yes,” Sandy replied matter of fact. “Jack is an ass. I can’t wait for him to meet a woman who doesn’t fall at his feet and instead, puts him in his place.”
“Not Jack, though you’re right about him. Way too cocky. I meant making me ask Carson out.”
“You were worried he’d forgotten about you; obviously, he didn’t. Now you have a date tonight. We need to pick an outfit and some dessert.” Sandy fanned herself.
“Would you stop?” Allie hissed, pulling her hand down.
She never should have told Sandy about that.
Now she was never going to live it down.
“I never should have told you that. I am never telling you about my sex life again,” Allie threatened, though they both knew that was a lie.
Allie was clueless with men, and Sandy was an expert.
“Yeah, right. You secretly love telling me all these details, letting me finally live vicariously through your life.” Sandy wrapped her arm around her shoulder. “Look at you, baby bird, leaving the nest and in the world of men.”
“I’ve dated men,” Allie grumbled, though not many and most had been losers, but she had dated.
“No, you’ve dated boys. Carson is a man. An experienced man who knows how to treat a woman and not a bumbling college kid just trying to score.”
She wasn’t wrong. “What would I do without you?” Allie asked, wrapping her arm around Sandy’s lower back.
“Die an old woman with a bunch of cats and a lifetime supply of ice cream and wine.”
Why did Sandy have to say it like it was bad thing? “Wine and ice cream aren’t horrible.”
Sandy snapped her fingers. “And that’s what you need to get for your date tonight.”
“Wine and ice cream?”
“Just the ice cream. Just think about the cold on your nipples. They’ll pucker up to hard little buds, then his hot mouth can lick it up.” Sandy shuddered as if she was conjuring up the image, hopefully with a man other than Carson.
“Oh my God, Sandy, stop. We are on a public street,” Allie protested, looking around frantically for curious gazes.
“No one’s listening.”
“I am,” a guy behind them said, pointing his finger up in the air. He looked to be in his mid-sixties and mostly balding. “Let me know if you need a hand, little lady.” He gave her a wink.
“Hey, back off, pal, she’s mine.” Sandy pulled her along. “Come on, honey.”
“Can I watch?” They both ignored the man. Perve. Allie and Sandy weren’t lesbians nor experimented in college. Though Sandy was a great wingman for getting Allie out of some awkward situations with sleazy guys in college who didn’t like taking no for an answer.
“Let’s go to my house after work. I have the perfect outfit in mind.”
Sandy and her outfits, but Allie knew better than to argue. The last outfit choice had been a success. Maybe the next one would be even better.