Surrender

Page 79

Heck, for that matter, she’d be satisfied if she could find a man who sparked even half the interest that Rafe inspired. She refused to believe he was the only man alive who could turn her knees to jello.

“I’m on hair duty,” Miley called as she walked in the bathroom and grabbed the curling iron, flat-iron and several bottles of hairspray. Ari cringed, knowing how long it was going to take her to get her hair back to normal.

“Cool. I’ll do makeup,” Shelly said as she grabbed the beauty bag.

“That leaves me to pick out the outfits,” Amber said with way too much enthusiasm.

“Sit,” Miley stated as she led Ari to the table. Within seconds she was twisting Ari’s hair into a series of tight loops and pinning them to her head. Once her hair was off her face, Shelly started applying makeup.

“Don’t make me look like a hooker this time,” Ari insisted.

“We’re just trying to help you get laid. Be grateful,” Miley snapped as she tugged on a piece of her hair.

“I don’t need help,” Ari grumbled.

“That’s where you are so wrong. If anyone has a stick higher up her ass, I don’t know where to find her. Relax. We’ll have fun tonight. ”

“Why does it seem to be your mission to hook me up?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re all in marital bliss and we want to spread the joy,” Amber said as she joined them. The three women burst out laughing at her joke.

“It’s more like we’re trapped in suburbia and we get to live vicariously through you,” Miley admitted.

“Are your marriages that bad?” Ari asked with concern.

“Oh, Honey, you know we’re just kidding around. We all love our husbands and our kids, but honestly, each of us got married too young and didn’t get to play as much as we wanted, so it’s fun to have a single friend we can pimp out. Not one of us would cheat on our husband’s, though. I promise you that,” Amber said solemnly.

“Fine. You’ve made me feel bad for you, now. Do what you want, but I’m warning you that I have two left feet. No matter how good you try and make me look, it won’t matter when I step all over some poor shmuck’s toes. ”

“Ari, you’ll look so smoking hot, he won’t care what part of his body you’re stepping all over, just as long as he can touch you,” Amber said with a whistle.

By the time they left the house, Ari was almost too embarrassed to be out in public. The dress she was wearing hugged her curves like a second skin from her cle**age showing top to her hips. There, the bright red material flared out until it ended at mid-thigh. As if that wasn’t bad enough, there was a slit in the side that would show the world too much of her goodies if she turned wrong.

“Quit fidgeting. It ruins the siren effect,” Miley snapped.

Ari had to admit, she did feel sexy. Never had she owned something so daring. Her feminine assets were on display, but since the other women were dressed almost as sexily, she didn’t feel out of place. Besides, they had connections at the club, personal body guards, so nothing could go wrong. That was, nothing could go wrong unless your friends told the bodyguard to let men manhandle you.

“Okay, we got here early enough for the dance lesson. I hope it’s a good one tonight,” Shelly announced as she climbed from the rig.

“No one said we were taking dance lessons. I’m afraid to even move in this dress, let alone swing about,” Ari gasped in horror.

“Ari, you promised to be a good sport. If you go back on your word then we won’t lay off you all month. If you just go with the flow tonight, we’ll leave you alone forever,” Amber said, though her fingers were crossed behind her back.

“You swear that you promise?”

“Of course. I just want to add that I’m hurt that you feel the need to even have to ask,” Amber said as she turned and walked away, making Ari feel instant guilt.

“I’m sorry. I’ll quit griping and just enjoy myself,” she called out as she caught up to the girls.

“Good. That’s what we want to hear,” Shelly said as the door was held open for them.

Ari was a little suspicious by their instant forgiveness, but the low smoky lights of the club caught her attention and she forgot all about their little tiff.

“Darlings, you got here just in time. Pierre is about to start the lesson so hurry on over. You know how he hates to be kept waiting. Tonight it’s the Cha Cha Cha. ”

Ari turned to find a small man wearing way-too-tight pants, who seemed to be herding them toward the back of the room.