“Duh. Like I couldn’t see that written on both y’all’s faces.”
“Yeah, well, your face is telling quite a story as well. I can’t wait to hear all about Spain. I hoped you behaved yourself.”
“I did not. And just to be clear, I was a misbehavin’ fool. In fact, guess who joined me over there.”
“No.”
“Sí.”
“What, you had a dental emergency?”
“I’ve learned that there are all kinds of emergencies a good dentist can fix.”
“What about Dan?”
“After the martini, darlin’. Hell, better make that two.”
Cris joined the ladies for about twenty minutes before saying his good-byes and letting them get on with their weekend. Over dinner, Pia, Flo, and Becca caught up on all that had been going on in their lives since leaving the Weapons workshop and forging out on their own into the big, bad world of men and romance. After their meal, they took their drinks and moved the party upstairs so they could speak freely and enjoy themselves without feeling inhibited by nosy strangers.
They changed into pajamas, got cozy, and continued their reunion. After poring over the scrapbook Flo had put together chronicling their stay in San Francisco, the conversation turned decidedly personal.
The older women listened with love and concern as Becca admitted to her disastrous hookup with Nico Jones and the distressing things she and Cris later learned about him.
“Turns out that he was playing on both teams, as Cris put it. I’m just glad I was safe. Cris made me get tested for HIV, and thank God it turned out negative,” she revealed to a chorus of relieved sighs.
“Like I said, safe is sexy,” Pia reiterated.
“I thought that being a hot girl and hanging out with a hot guy, I’d feel different. But I didn’t—at least not in a good way,” Becca admitted.
“Maybe because you weren’t really bein’ a hot girl—you were only actin’ like one. I tell ya, since I’ve been home, so many of Joey Clements’s lessons have started to make sense. Like the only way to feel good about yourself is to be yourself. But the problem with that is sometimes other folks don’t like it or can’t handle it. But you can’t let that stop you from bein’ you.”
“I guess I still have some more things to figure out.”
“Honey, you’re still a baby. You don’t get that kind of wisdom until your butt is flappin’ behind your knees like mine. Beauty or wisdom. That’s the trade-off.”
“I did learn something else,” Becca said in a sly tone.
“What’s that?” Pia asked.
“I like sex.”
“You know what, darlin’? I think I’ve learned that same lesson,” Flo said as the three exchanged spirited high fives.
“Just no more jumping into bed with somebody just to make yourself feel good,” Pia added.
“Unless you’ve got a toothache,” Flo said with a saucy grin.
“Flo, you’re married,” Becca scolded.
“Yeah, well, about that. Technically, I still am, but I made a decision while I was in Barcelona. Hell, I think in the back of my mind I made it soon after I got home from the workshop. Some people lose their hearts in San Francisco, but I found my sensual self, and damn it, I like the old gal. So I’m not settlin’ anymore. I’m gonna live my life and live it well.”
“Without Dan?” Becca asked.
“I tried really hard when I got back to Texas, but Dan just isn’t the man for me anymore. I know that now.”
“Is Clay?” Pia inquired.
“Darlin’, I don’t know that for sure either. And frankly, it doesn’t really matter. On a whim, I called him from the airport while I was waitin’ for my flight to Spain. He said he couldn’t stop thinkin’ about me and I told him the same thing, and three days later we’re dancin’ the night away at some little club with a view of the Mediterranean Sea, and then the next day nibblin’ our way through the Museu de la Xocolata. Ladies, you gotta love any city that has a museum dedicated to the aphrodisiac qualities of chocolate.”
“Girl, you are now an international weapon of mass seduction. You go, Miss Flo,” Pia said.
“And you’re practically a married woman and a grandma! Seems like the world is spinnin’ in reverse.” Flo said, laughing.
“But what about Clay?” Becca wanted to know.
“Right now, Clay is just the steppin’-stone I need to move forward into the new Flo. We’ll see what happens down the line. But if Barcelona is any indication of my life to come, I’m gonna need a new panty patrol trip while I’m here in New York. I’m thinkin’ pink. Hot pink.”
The ladies burst out laughing as they raised their drinks to the middle of the table and toasted themselves and their obvious progress.
“Well, speaking of the panty patrol, I have something for all of us,” Pia declared, jumping up and retrieving the three gift boxes from her luggage. “One night I was sitting around watching The Wizard of Oz and it dawned on me that the three of us are very much like the characters in that movie,” she said, passing each one of her friends a beautifully wrapped box. “We went to the Emerald City, a.k.a. San Francisco, to find the great Wizard of Oz—”
“A.k.a. Joey Clements,” Flo chimed in.
“Exactly. Each of us had issues about men that brought us to her workshop, where we thought we were just going to learn how to flirt and attract the men we wanted. Instead, we were forced to look at ourselves as real women and not just the roles we play while wearing a skirt.”
“It was like going to girl school,” Becca said.
“Exactly, but even though we learned a lot there, we needed to come home to really master the lessons.”
“I’ll buy that,” Flo concurred.
“So open your gifts. Becca first.”
Oohs and aahs mixed with throaty giggles rose to the ceiling as Becca opened her box to find a pair of hot red boy shorts embroidered with the saying “Smart Is Sexy.”
“So, I’m the scarecrow?” Becca asked, not sure if she should feel complimented.
“Only in that you needed to find the wisdom to go with your sexy new persona. And you did,” Pia said, giving her a gentle squeeze on the arm. “There’s no sexier combo than brains and a body, and now you’ve got both.”
“Thanks. Okay, you go, Flo. I’m guessing lion all the way,” Becca said.
“It was the big Texas hair,” Flo quipped, ripping open a box containing a pair of electric blue satin panties with “Bold Is Sexy” on them.
“They aren’t hot pink, but—” Pia apologized.
“They’re perfect. And you are absolutely right. I might be as loud as a lion, but I was a real scaredy-cat when it came to gettin’ what I wanted out of my life. I had to find the courage to step away from a marriage that wasn’t fulfillin’.”
“This is fun,” Becca said, laughing. “And what about you, Pia?”
Pia unwrapped her box to reveal “Love Is Sexy” sewn across the front of a fuchsia-colored thong. “I’m like the tin man. I needed a heart.”
“And that you definitely got,” Flo remarked.
“It’s crazy. I was so mad that Dee tricked me into attending the Weapons of Mass Seduction workshop. And I had such an attitude. I knew I was rusty, but I really thought I already had and knew it all when it came down to the whole sensuality, flirting, sex thing. But I was so wrong.
“Before the celibacy, I wore the underwear and a signature scent, I lit the candles and sprinkled the rose petals, and once setting my sights on a guy, I knew how to work it until he was in my bed. But what I realized after the workshop was that I was basically just setting the stage and playacting.
“I came to WMS a know-it-all. But when I came home, life sent me on a journey to learn it all, and now hopefully I’ll spend the rest of my days living it all.”
“Here, here,” Flo said, raising her glass.
“Flo, maybe you can trade with Pia for the thong. It’s pink,” Becca suggested.
“Dar
lin’, I may have dropped a ton or two, but my butt still is not thong-ready. First we’re gonna have to address the twin canyons I got gracin’ not one but both cheeks.”
“Well, ladies, it looks like we are fully evolved weapons of mass seduction,” Pia proclaimed.
“That’s right. Look out, world! We got heart, we got brains, we got courage, and sexy drawers to boot!”
“And we are definitely not in Iowa anymore!” Becca chimed in as they each stood up and twirled their panties in lacy salute.
The Sensual You Self-Test
1. Shopping, you fall in love with a fur vest. You’re not sure if it’s real or faux, so you:
a) Bury your nose in it and smell.
b) Run your fingers through it.
c) Check the label.
2. Given a free hour, you would:
a) Get a massage.
b) Listen to music.
c) Clean the house.
3. You’re staying at a swanky resort with forty minutes until checkout. You decide to enjoy the balcony and catch a few rays. Do you:
a) Strip down au naturale?
b) Lie out in your clothes and let your face get sunkissed?
c) Find some shade and recheck your itinerary?
4. You’re in the elevator on your way up to an important meeting. A sexy, suggestive song is playing. How does the music affect your mood?
a) You’d get into the music and exit feeling energetic and aroused.
b) You’d briefly enjoy the music and the mood and memories it evokes and then put your game face back on.
c) You’re totally focused. Your mood wouldn’t be affected at all.
5. The first thing you notice about a new acquaintance is:
a) The tone and timbre of his voice.
b) His physical appearance, body, and wardrobe.
c) What he adds to the conversation.
6. Which of the following have you done in the past month? (Circle all that apply.)
a) Put on perfume, even though it wasn’t a special occasion.
a) Taken a long, candlelight bath.
b) Tried a new food.
b) Listened to music other than when driving in a car or doing chores.
c) Sorted your sock drawer.
c) None of the above.
7. How do you feel about public displays of affection?
a) Love them. Any place, any time.
b) I enjoy them where appropriate.
c) Please. Get a room.
8. What qualities are you most looking for in a lover?
a) Passion and adventure.
b) Looks and humor.
c) Stability and wealth.
SENSUALITY SCALE
SUPERSENSUAL (Mostly A’s): You are a pleasure-driven individual. You enjoy living life through your senses. Because your senses are usually linked to your emotions, you are inclined to be emotionally passionate. Your lifestyle allows you to experience a life of maximum pleasure, but it’s important to keep yourself in check, because the search for pleasure can be addictive. So to find happiness, seek balance. Too much of a good thing isn’t always so good. But when properly directed, you have the innate ability to use your senses to thoroughly enjoy everything this life has to offer.
SOLIDLY SENSUAL (Mostly B’s): You have found a balance between absolute self-denial and complete indulgence. You are able to enjoy and even lose yourself in the sensual aspects of life, but you aren’t totally pleasure-driven and know how to keep your emotions balanced. You are able to stay focused and to persevere, even while acknowledging the sensory pleasures around you. Continue to live in the moment and you will intensify your sensual side.
TOO SENSIBLE TO BE SENSUAL (Mostly C’s): You are not a very sensual person and probably enjoy more intellectual or practical pastimes. You appear to be tenacious, persistent, and goal-oriented. Like the supersensual, you need balance. You can expand your pleasure quotient by getting out of your head and exploring your world through your senses and by acknowledging how your body feels at any given time. You have only one life, so just make sure that you are not missing out on some sensual pleasures of the moment by always trying to understand.
The Flirt Test
1. What’s your most important flirting tool?
a) Your body.
b) Your personality.
c) Your smile.
d) Not sure if you have one.
2. The last touch you add before leaving for a party is:
a) Glossy lipstick that draws attention to your mouth.
b) A funky, quirky handbag.
c) A charm bracelet that sparkles and jingles when you gesture.
d) A breath mint.
3. You see a man you’d like to meet. You:
a) Sit where he can see and enjoy your come-hither eye contact.
b) Pass him a joke sans the punch line, with the suggestion he come over to hear the rest.
c) Have a friend go tell him you’d like to meet him.
d) Wait until he leaves and ask a friend later who the person was.
4. You and your lover are sitting across from each other at dinner. He is seductively maintaining eye contact. What do you do?
a) Immediately ask for the check and get to a private place ASAP.
b) Hold his gaze and seduce him right back before playfully sticking out your tongue.
c) Stare back for a while, smile seductively to let him know you’re feeling him, and then look away.
d) Start talking so he’ll stop staring. All that gawking is uncomfortable.
5. A man offers to buy you a drink. You ask for:
a) Sex on the Beach.
b) The same beer he’s having.
c) Champagne—it’s flirty and sophisticated.
d) Tell him no thanks, and buy your own drink.
YOUR FLIRTING STYLE
SEXY FLIRT (Mostly A’s): You’re a woman who sees what she wants and takes it. You’ve got all the right tools in your bag of tricks, and you know the signs and signals to attract what you want when you want it. In the right dose, you are pure power. Be careful about taking your sexy flirtation too far. Being too sexually overt can cause a multitude of things to occur: you can embarrass yourself, make other women dislike you, and make promises to men you don’t intend to keep.
AMUSING FLIRT (Mostly B’s): Your allure is your quick wit and wicked sense of humor. You can feel at home in a sports bar or at a poker game. You entice a man by making him feel comfortable around you. And though your “buddy” approach is less direct than those of other femme fantastiks, it can be just as disarming. By not playing the games other girls play, you lower his guard, and before he knows it, he’s hooked. But watch that you don’t become one of the guys. Find ways to let him know there is a lusty woman sitting beneath that Jets jersey.
ADORABLE FLIRT (Mostly C’s): You’ve got a sparkle about you that attracts attention as soon as you enter a room, but you prefer not to be too aggressive when you meet a man who interests you. Instead, you tend to be subtler in your seduction, sweetly letting him know you’re interested but letting him initiate the pursuit. By allowing this man to feel like a man, you’re respecting his feelings and protecting your own reputation. With this light approach, know exactly what you want so your feelings are clear to him. Otherwise, you may be left smiling by yourself while some devastating diva walks away with your man.
FLIRTING FLOP (Mostly D’s): Ouch! You’re flirtability quotient is dangerously low. And lack of confidence may be the enemy lurking within. Remember the golden rule of flirting: People find you attractive when you make them feel attractive. So concentrate on making your object of desire feel special and watch your confidence soar as he returns the favor. Now get out there and practice. You’ll be successfully flirting in no time.
The Red Hot Night Sensuality Questionnaire
Knowing what turns your senses on is the key to planning a sexually sensual evening. Take a minute to answer the following questions for both yourself and your partner and
use this information to plan and ignite a red hot night.
1) My/his favorite color is:
2) The fabric I/he like(s) touching my/his body is:
3) I/he love(s) the smell of:
4) My/his favorite musical instrument is:
5) My/his favorite food is:
6) My/his favorite vacation spot is:
7) My/his favorite body part of his/mine is:
8) Given a free hour I/he would rather:
a) Watch TV.
b) Listen to music.
c) Try a new recipe.
d) Get a massage.
About the Author
LORI BRYANT-WOOLRIDGE is a fifteen-year veteran of the television broadcast business and the recipient of an Emmy Award for Individual Achievement in Writing. She is the author of the bestselling novels Hitts & Mrs. and Read Between the Lies and is a contributor to several top anthologies, including Gumbo: An Anthology of African American Writing. She is also a founding member of the Femme Fantastik Tour. She lives in South Orange, New Jersey, with her family. Visit her Web site at www.loribryantwoolridge.com and the WMS blog at www.weapons-of-mass-seduction.blogspot.com.
ALSO BY LORI BRYANT-WOOLRIDGE
Hitts & Mrs.
Weapons of Mass Seduction Page 30