by Kay Lyons
There was that word again. Sighing, she watched the bartender walk over to a customer who was hiking her petite self up onto a bar stool. The woman wore a navel-revealing tank top stretched low across perky boobs, and her waist would have made Scarlett O’Hara turn as green as her window-curtain dress.
Jenn had had a waist. Once.
“Artificially enhanced,” Suzanne suddenly murmured from beside her. “Gets ’em every time.” She leaned against the bar and made a face. “’Til they get up close and personal, and realize most of them are hard as rocks.” She waggled her eyebrows and grinned. “Have I ever introduced you to Nick?”
“Nick?”
Suzanne inclined her head toward the bartender, who was now completely engrossed with Perky Boobs. “No, but that’s okay.”
“What, you don’t like gorgeous men?”
“On magazine covers, sure. But in real life they’re not for me.”
“Oh, really. Why?” Suzanne demanded, the glint in her eyes stating loud and clear that if Jenn put herself down or said the wrong thing, she was going to hear about it.
“Um…” Jenn took in Nick’s thick black hair. “I prefer blondes?”
“Your ex had brown hair.”
“Exactly. See what I got for choosing a brunette?”
“Uh-huh. You know, a little self-confidence goes a long way. You’re great with your students, but put you with adults and you freeze and become a wallflower.”
“Kids are more fun. And wallflowers are…important. Who else can watch everyone’s purses and make sure the punch bowls are filled?”
Suzanne shook her head at her. “I’m not going to win, am I?”
“Not tonight.” Jenn smirked. “I’m on a roll.” And in a mood. It takes a lot of courage to lie through one’s teeth.
“So I see. The others are saying it’s time to do the deed. Kim has to leave early and finish packing.”
“Me, too. Leave early, I mean. It’s been a long day. Let’s go tease them with Hawaii, then I should head home.”
Suzanne blocked her exit. “Suck it up, chick. Escape is not an option. Come on, you can’t leave us here alone. As the newbie hires, you, Amy and I have to close this party down, remember? Show the others what we’ve got?” she insisted, holding her hands up and dancing to the music.
“What you’ve got. How does Hawaii compare to sitting at home eating Doritos every night or…or Jane. Did you hear? She’s going to Paris with her daughter. And Serena’s going on a missionary trip with her husband. Amy’s heading to Machu Picchu, Glenna’s going on a tour of Tuscany and Jody’s visiting Disney World with her family. There’s not going to be anyone left in Beauty this summer.” She sighed dramatically. “Guess I don’t need to lie about my plans. It’s not as if anyone is going to be here to know one way or the other.”
Suzanne laughed. “Want a little cheese to go with that whine? Come on, it isn’t that bad.”
“Are you sure I can’t just tell them I signed up for a human-development class for my master’s and be done with it? It’s plain, it’s boring…It’s me.”
Suzanne made a sour face. “This summer is your first taste of freedom in how many years?”
“Five,” Jenn admitted reluctantly. “Well, eight if you count two years of dating and the months until the divorce was final.”
“And you don’t think it’s time to have some fun? Kick up your heels a bit?”
“My divorce-care class taught me that it’s normal to feel anxious this way. They say it’s really important not to jump into relationships or projects too soon, because newly divorced people have a tendency to do impulsive things and regret them later.”
Suzanne nodded. “That’s all well and good, but I don’t think by jumping they meant for you not to pick your feet up off the ground. Your divorce was final last December.”
“Great Christmas present that was,” Jenn muttered. “Besides, who would want to date me like this?”
“Okay, you want to hear me say it? Fine. I’ll admit you’ve put on a little weight but—”
“A little?”
“You still look great. Tell them exactly what you told me at school—that this summer is the Summer of Jenn. Have a makeover, then go to class and get out and about and when you meet a nice guy, you’ll realize you’re worrying for nothing.”
“I do like the sound of that.”
Suzanne wrapped an arm around Jenn’s shoulders and prodded her toward the tables. “Stick with me, kid. We’ll get you through this yet.”
Jenn’s heart thudded in her chest, and she braced herself to face the group. She needed a nudge, something to get her sufficiently psyched to carry out her ideas about rejuvenating herself, body and soul. Trip or no trip. But what? Everyone knew a person had to have the right mindset to diet and exercise, and hers was seriously lacking motivation. All she wanted to do these days was drown her sorrows in chocolate.
And then she saw him.
Standing at the table surrounded by her friends, she noticed Todd at the entrance. He hadn’t gained an ounce since their divorce—if anything he looked better than ever. Then Todd turned to his side and snagged hold of his beach-bunny mistress and Jenn watched as the man she’d supported through med school, the man she’d spent way too much time on, waiting for him to call, to notice her, to care as he was supposed to care, lowered his head for a blazing kiss from the skinny bimbo who was barely out of high school.
“Jenn, what are you doing this summer? Come on, tell us!”
She felt Suzanne’s hand on her arm. “Are you okay? You look a little—”
“I’m taking my life back,” she whispered, her voice growing stronger as anger and mortification coursed through her veins. She’d been such an easy mark. Someone to play mommy and take care of everything from laundry and cleaning and bills until the perfect trophy wife showed up. Well, not anymore. “This summer is all about me.” She nodded firmly to confirm her words. The Summer of Jenn. Oh, yeah, she liked that.
* * *
Read THEIR SECRET BARGAIN and the rest of the TAMING THE TULANES series! Simply click on the links or ask for them wherever books are sold.
* * *
TAMING THE TULANE SERIES:
SMALL TOWN SCANDAL
THEIR SECRET BARGAIN
CROSSING THE LINE
THE NANNY’S SECRET
SOMEONE TO TRUST
THE STONE RIVER SERIES:
WORTH THE WAIT
NOT BY SIGHT
THROUGH THE VALLEY
LEAD ME NOT
CHRISTMAS AT HOLLY WOOD
THEIR CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
SECOND CHANCES
MONTANA SECRETS SERIES
HEALING HER COWBOY
IT HAD TO BE YOU
HERS TO KEEP
MILLION DOLLAR STANDOFF
HIS CHRISTMAS WISH
THEIR SECRET SON
SMALL TOWN SCANDALS SERIES
BRODY’S REDEMPTION
FALLING FOR HER BOSS
WITH THIS MAN
More books:
Secret Santa
COMING SOON!
Secret Santa II
For more information about Kay Lyons, please visit her website at www.kaylyonsauthor.com. You can also find her at the following:
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About the Author
Kay Lyons always wanted to be a writer, ever since the age of seven or eight when she copied the pictures out of a Charlie Brown book and rewrote the story because she didn’t like the plot. Through the years her stories have changed but one characteristic stayed true— they were all romances. Each and every one of her manuscripts included a love story.
Published in 2005 with Harlequin Enterprises, Kay�
�s first release was a national bestseller. Kay has also been a HOLT Medallion, Book Buyers Best and RITA Award nominee. Look for her most recent novels with Kindred Spirits Publishing.
For more information regarding her work, please visit Kay at the following:
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@KayLyonsAuthor (Twitter)
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