by Nalini Singh
Molly winked. "Sure. Let's go up."
Having kicked off their shoes, they padded up the stairs toward the sound of other female voices. "We'll be doing makeup and hair upstairs tomorrow morning," Molly told her on the way. "It's sunnier and we'll have a view of the water."
An instant later they reached the sprawling open-plan kitchen/living area.
"Sarah!" Closest to the stairs, Kit came over and kissed Sarah on the cheek.
The actress wore a two-piece in checked red and white, the bottoms little shorts and the bikini top simple but supportive with two thin straps. It gave off a slightly old-fashioned vibe that Sarah liked. Given Kit's profession, her body was flawless, toned and without an ounce of fat.
"Hey there, my fellow CEO. You want a glass?" Thea held up a bottle of champagne, her golden skin glowing in the early-evening sunshine that flooded the area.
The leggy publicist, whom Sarah had always secretly admired for her innate sense of style, wore a sleek red one-piece over which she'd thrown a floaty garment that covered her arms and came to her thighs. The slick-straight strands of her hair were pinned carelessly in a knot at the back of her head, but somehow Thea still managed to look cool and sophisticated.
Thea had intimidated Sarah during her marriage to Abe. That was before she'd learned how ferociously the other woman protected those who were her own--and also how kind Thea could be. It was Thea who'd taken charge of ensuring Sarah's security was up-to-date and who'd brought over her things while Sarah was staying with Molly and Fox.
"I'd kill for a latte actually," Sarah admitted. "I know it's weird, but I've been jonesing for one all afternoon and wasn't able to get to my favorite coffee place."
Thea turned to Kit just as Thea's phone began to ring. "You're faster at the machine." She was on her phone seconds later, no doubt ensuring the media hadn't discovered Molly and Fox's wedding plans.
As Kit cheerfully used the gleaming coffee machine to make Sarah her latte, Sarah smiled at the last woman in the room aside from Molly--a petite blonde whose silky hair came to an inch or two below her shoulders. Seated at the breakfast counter, she was dressed in a cobalt-blue bikini top and a pair of short black board shorts. Her hazel eyes sparkled in welcome at Sarah behind the clear glass of her wire-rimmed spectacles.
"Hi, Charlie," Sarah said. "I meant to tell you--I think I put on five pounds after sampling all those cakes." It had been impossible to resist the deliciousness; Charlotte was one mean baker.
"That was probably her cunning plan all along." Molly jumped onto a breakfast stool beside her best friend. "To make us all burst the seams of our dresses while she remains tiny and adorable."
Charlotte elbowed Molly. "I would kill for your curves," she said before returning her gaze to Sarah. "And yours are seriously dangerous."
Confidence boosted by the friendly atmosphere and the fact all the other women were different sizes and shapes, Sarah smiled. "Thanks. Let me go get into my suit so we can head out to the pool."
It only took her a few minutes to change into the bronze two-piece that was her favorite. The top cupped her generous breasts firmly, then hugged her body to the waist. It also had small ties that caused pretty ruching along the curve of her waist on either side. The bottoms were simple and not too high cut.
Pulling on a floaty beach top similar to Thea's over the outfit, she walked back upstairs just in time to hear one of the women say, "...worried about fitting into the dress?"
Molly's laughter was open warmth. "My dress isn't formfitting, but even if it was, I could still gorge on dessert to my heart's content." She glanced over at Sarah, filled her in. "They're teasing me about the dessert bar I had the caterers come in and set up by the pool."
Taking a sip of the divine latte Kit had made for her, Sarah smiled her thanks at the amber-eyed woman whose skin held a natural bronze glow thanks to her Venezuelan ancestry on her mother's side. "I guess we're all used to brides freaking out about their weight." Sarah certainly had prior to her own wedding--and all it had gotten her was the urge to binge-eat chocolate. "It's nice that you're not." Not that Molly needed to worry--she had a beautiful body, all soft curves and lush sexiness.
"I actually lost a few pounds without trying," Molly admitted. "When Fox and I went on that hiking trip."
"Yes." Charlotte grinned, her gaze wicked. "I'm sure it was the hiking that made you sweat, Miss Molly."
Pretending to strangle her best friend, Molly blushed. Which only made everyone laugh and fueled further teasing until Molly ordered them all out to the pool.
CHAPTER 10
FORTY MINUTES LATER, after a swim in the clear blue waters of the infinity pool lit from below, Sarah took a seat on a lounger under the night sky that had eclipsed the last of the sunlight and tried one of the triple chocolate fudge brownies Charlotte had whipped up and added to the catered items. She groaned. "These are the devil's work."
Charlotte looked over from the neighboring lounger where she was sipping a cocktail. Her face dead serious, she said, "Thank you." Then she set aside her cocktail and used her fingers to make tiny horns on top of her head.
Sarah burst out laughing. And that set the tone for the rest of the evening. She'd never had a night like this, with women who were all close friends with each other... and who'd pulled her firmly into that circle.
Not once did she feel like an outsider.
The conversation flowed freely, as did the desserts and cocktails and food, though Sarah stuck to nonalcoholic drinks. Her stomach was a touch unsettled. Not enough to really bother her, but enough that she didn't want to aggravate it with alcohol.
"The men probably think we have a stripper here," Thea said at one point while she was treading water in the pool, the pool lighting making the water and her suit glow like jewels. "We could torment them by sending updates about our imaginary stripper," she suggested to a round of grins. "He could be wearing a fireman costume."
"Will he bring his own pole?" Charlotte asked with a sparkle in her eye.
Kit nodded. "An important consideration. What is a fireman without his pole?"
"That's like poetry," Thea said. "Where dost thou placeth thy pole?"
Slapping a hand over her mouth when a snort of laughter escaped her, Sarah met Molly's eyes. The other woman began to giggle too, and then it was all over.
In the end, they decided not to mess with the men's heads. Right now, the five males were having their own get-together at Thea and David's place.
"What about you, Sarah?" Charlotte asked innocently ten minutes later, the two of them alone on the loungers while the other women swam. "Are you seeing someone?"
Sarah felt her stomach drop in a steep dive. The correct answer was no, but her brain kept flashing back to how it had felt to be in Abe's arms again, to hear his deep voice in her ear, to see his smile. So right. It had felt so right. Not just the sex. Everything. Speaking to him about Aaron when she barely spoke on that painful subject even to Lola, listening to him speak about Tessie. All of it had felt right.
For the first time in forever, she hadn't felt as if she stood on shaky ground.
She was still fumbling for an answer when Charlotte reached over to touch her hand with her delicate one. "It's okay." Gentle words. "I know sometimes things are complicated."
Grateful for the quiet kindness, Sarah released a breath she hadn't been aware of holding. "How about you tell me about this T-Rex Molly mentioned."
Charlotte's cheeks filled with color, but her grin was wicked and sweet both. "That's what I secretly called Gabriel when we first met. He was my boss." Then, as Sarah listened, Charlotte told her about a relationship that had begun with a stapler thrown at the boss's head.
"He used to bring you cupcakes to say sorry?" Sarah sighed. "That is seriously romantic."
"First he'd drive me insane with his demands--Miss Baird, I need this. Miss Baird, why haven't I got this already?--and right when I was about to scream, he'd bring me cake." Charlotte's cheeks creased. "I
adore him beyond life."
Sarah couldn't help but smile even as her own heart clenched; once, she'd worn her love for Abe as openly on her sleeve. "You two getting married as well?" She nodded at the stunning diamond on Charlotte's finger.
"In just under two months," Charlotte confirmed. "Molly and Fox are going to fly out to New Zealand for it. It's going to be a traditional church wedding." She found her phone, brought up a photo of four gorgeous and built men with their arms around each other's shoulders. "This is my Gabriel." She touched her finger to the image of the biggest man in the group, his shoulders and height reminding Sarah of Abe.
Both could've been linebackers.
Charlotte's Gabriel had black hair and steel-gray eyes, his skin sun-golden. One of the men in the photo looked very much like him except that his eyes were a startling blue. The other two were younger and had a warm brown skin tone, different features, but there was something about them... "Brothers?"
Charlotte nodded. "Sailor, Danny, and Jake." She scrolled through her photos to show Sarah several more not only of the four brothers but of a number of other good-looking men. Most were in sports uniforms that exposed strong thighs and biceps. Whoever else was in the shot, however, it also always featured either Charlotte's fiance or one--or more--of his brothers.
"Gabriel used to play rugby professionally, and his two youngest brothers still do," Charlotte explained. "Sailor does it for fun." The petite blonde shook her head. "Most of Gabriel's former teammates are coming to the wedding, and at least half are currently single. I'm running out of single female friends to invite!"
Shoulders shaking, Sarah took a strawberry from the bowl Kit passed over before the other woman took a seat on the lounger next to Charlotte's. She bit into the juicy red flesh as Charlotte showed off her man and his brothers to Kit. As she'd already guessed, Charlie was head over heels for her "T-Rex," and if the look in Gabriel's eyes in those photos was any indication, he had a serious thing for the woman who'd taken the photographs.
Sarah swallowed and glanced away into the distance for an instant. She'd never had anyone look at her that way--as if she were his heart and his soul and his reason for waking up in the morning. Once, she'd hoped Abe would someday look at her with that depth of love.
That dream had died a hard death, but as the interlude in her kitchen showed, she was still dangerously susceptible to the man who'd been her husband. She'd have to be careful the romance of the wedding didn't seduce her into making a mistake that led her right back into his bed.
Why?
The question came from a sinful, hungry part of her that wasn't the least bit sorry she'd gotten down and dirty with Abe. Her face flushed even now at the memory; she was grateful the other women were too busy nibbling at dessert and chatting about the wedding to notice.
Not wanting to miss out, Sarah wrenched her attention back to the matter at hand and joined in. As for Abe and her response to him, she'd deal with that tomorrow.
THE NEXT MORNING--AFTER A WONDERFUL LATE night where they'd ended up talking for hours--Sarah showered, then put her pajamas back on and joined her friends in the kitchen. Kit had just come in from using another shower in the house and went straight to the coffee machine.
"Need caffeine," she said, her arms held out like a zombie's.
"You want me to do that?" Sarah asked Kit. "I think I've figured out the machine."
"No, let me." Kit yawned. "It'll wake me up a bit more. What does everyone want?"
Two minutes later, while Sarah was quietly and happily listening to Charlotte and Molly discuss the flower arrangements, Kit slid across Sarah's latte.
The aroma was heavenly. "Thanks, Kit." God, it was nice sitting here with women she liked, doing nothing in particular. She did miss Flossie though, but Sarah's pet enjoyed the rare times she got to go to a special "pet hotel" where she hung out with other dogs and had doggie sleepovers.
"What do you want for breakfast, Sarah?" Molly swung off the stool even as she spoke. "I can whip you up some--"
"Sit down!" Charlie's voice was unexpectedly fierce. "This is your wedding day. Act like a bridezilla."
Scrunching up her face, Molly stuck out her tongue at her best friend but retook her seat. "T-Rex is a bad influence on you, Miss Baird."
Sarah laughed at the darkly uttered words before getting up herself.
"Cereal's my usual--"
"No, no, I have something better." Charlie waved Sarah back down and, jumping off her own stool, went around the counter.
Lifting a cover, Molly's best friend said, "Ta-da!"
"Wow, those muffins look delicious." Sarah's stomach rumbled, though she wasn't usually a big breakfast eater. "Apple and walnut?"
"Pear and walnut." Placing one on a plate, Charlotte passed it over.
Sarah went to break it in half using her fingers, felt her eyes widen. "It's still warm!"
"I made them just before." Picking up another muffin, Charlotte put it in front of Kit, the actress having grabbed the stool next to Sarah. "Forget about being a superstar today," she ordered. "You'll still fit your clothes."
Kit drew in a deep breath, the scent of the fresh muffins filling the air. "I surrender." Putting down her coffee cup, she went to take a bite. "You're bossier than you look."
"T-Rex has a lot to answer for."
"Hush up, half of Foxy."
Laughter filled the air as Molly threw a crumpled up napkin at a grinning Charlotte. Once again, Sarah didn't feel the least bit out of place. Not with Molly, Charlotte, and Kit also in their pajamas and Kit stealing a sip of Sarah's latte while the actress waited for her second cup of the morning to brew. Then Thea joined them after her shower and began taking photos with her phone, promising solemnly that the images would never go online anywhere.
"This is for us," the publicist said as she made Molly and Charlotte pose together in their pj's. Both women were wearing boxers-and-camisole combos, their smiles so huge they outshone the sun. "Though"--she tapped a finger on her lower lip, eyes narrowed--"this will also make excellent blackmail material--except shit, Kit, you look far too good even without makeup and Sarah, you're glowing."
"Hey, what about us?" Molly and Charlie said in insulted concern.
A second later and everyone was talking over everyone else, and it was chaotic and fun. When the makeup artist and hairdresser arrived, they all watched Molly get done up--at least until the makeup artist banished them outside for making Molly collapse into giggles.
Sarah's turn came after Kit. She'd brought her own makeup just in case, but the artist had come fully prepared. "Molly told me the skin tones of everyone who was going to be here this morning. Wish all my clients were as organized." The small and no-nonsense Hispanic woman began to open a different set of compacts. "We can still use your stuff if you'd feel more comfortable that way, but I have a product I think you'll love."
"Let's go for it," Sarah said with a grin, the joy around her having infected her own spirit.
The makeup artist did a stellar job.
Then it was time to have her hair straightened as she'd requested, the hairdresser combing the long strands into a sleek updo.
FOUR HOURS--AND A CAREFULLY EATEN LUNCH--LATER, all five of them were ready to head downstairs to dress. After tidying up, the makeup artist and hairdresser left--but not before the makeup artist gave each of them a personalized touchup kit. If Sarah ever ended up invited to a big public event again, she knew exactly who she was going to call to do her face.
She caught Kit's eye once they were in the dressing room. The actress nodded before shooting Thea and Charlotte a meaningful glance. Thea gave a small thumbs-up behind Molly's back while Charlotte winked, then turned to her best friend.
"You need to get into your dress."
Molly shivered. "I love it so much." The other woman did a little dance and went to where the vintage gown was hanging. A creation of delicate lace with cap sleeves and a V-neck, it would--paired with her sultry eyes and deep red lipstick--
turn Molly into the embodiment of old Hollywood glamour.
"Did you get the right underwear?" Kit asked, taking a seat in the beautiful armchair in the corner, the seat cushion a dark blue velvet.
"Yes, I found this really pretty set." Molly showed them the white lace bra. "The panties match."
Charlotte shook her head. "No, that's not going to work."
Molly's face fell. "No? But it's so elegant, and it doesn't show through the dress."
"You can keep it for another day." Thea spoke from her spot leaning in the doorway, her long hair having been fashioned into a romantic knot at her nape. "Today I think you should be demure on the outside and a vixen underneath--give Fox a sexy surprise."
Molly blushed. "I can go through my lingerie--"
"Or..." Charlotte picked up a small box sitting under the garment rail, hidden from view behind the dresses. "You could wear this."
"And this." Thea added her box to the pile, followed by Sarah and Kit, all of them having snuck in the extra boxes in their overnight bags.
"You guys!" Molly's eyes shimmered wetly.
"Don't ruin your makeup," Thea ordered her half sister, but her voice was affectionate, a softness to her features that Sarah had never before seen.
"It's waterproof," Molly protested thickly.
Hugging the other woman, Charlotte said, "Open the boxes."
Molly went from near tears to a hot-pink blush at first sight of the lace lingerie in rich cream: a tiny G-string, a lace bustier with fine boning, delicate silk stockings, a garter belt that would frame her body just right, and last but not least, exquisite lace gloves that set off Molly's gown and would only add to her lushly sensual look when she took off the dress.
Bright red at this point, Molly pointed a finger at them. "I am not putting this on with you as an audience!" But her lips curved and her eyes sparkled. "But thank you so much. I love it."
"Everyone out," Thea ordered. "Only Fox gets to see this masterpiece."
Shouting out fake boos, the four of them stepped outside and teased Molly through the door while she dressed. When she opened it, she'd put on her lovely gown of creamy lace but needed one of them to button it up in the back. Charlotte took up the task of slotting in the tiny fabric-covered buttons, her eyes luminous and totally unshielded--not simply because she was wearing contacts instead of her spectacles, but because her love for Molly was a visible light within her.