“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He leaned in, kissed my cheek, shook Vance’s hand, grabbed his cappuccino then he was gone.

I watched the door close behind him then I turned to Vance. “I have to get to work too,” I told him, feeling weird at what he’d witnessed, weird as in exposed.

He nodded, his arm came around me and pulled me to his body. Clearly Vance didn’t feel weird.

“Don’t forget, you’re trainin’ with Luke at five thirty,” he reminded me.

I shook my head. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I have to go to the mall. Buy a party outfit.”

Vance grinned. “Not sure Luke will accept the mall as an excuse.”

“I’m not sure I care if Luke will accept it or not.”

“Five thirty,” Vance said, still grinning.

“Crowe, I need to go to the mall.” It sounded almost but thankfully not quite like a whine.

He didn’t answer my question, instead, he said, “I’ll meet you at your house in time to take you to the party.”

“We don’t know when or where that’ll be.”

“I’m sure we’ll find out.”

I was sure he wasn’t wrong. Most of the party planners were in the very same room and he worked with their boyfriends.

“All right,” I gave in.

“Pack a bag. I want you at my place tonight.”

That got a Grade Three flutter right off the bat. I wanted to see where Vance lived. I knew I shouldn’t want to but I did. I also wanted him to “want” me at his place. I knew I shouldn’t want that either but I did.

And it was my birthday so I should get what I wanted.

It was then my emotional Rottweiler started panting and whining.

Damn.

“Vance –” I started.

“Pack a bag.”

My eyes narrowed. “Seriously, you’re going to have to do something about that macho-speak.”

“Jules, pack a bag.”

I frowned at him. He stared at me.

Then I gave in.

“All right,” I said.

He kissed me again softly and I was a bit disappointed at getting a soft, sweet kiss. Not that it was a bad kiss, not at all, but it was my birthday.

When his head moved away, he was wearing his shit-eating grin like he knew my thoughts.

“Later, Princess,” he said.

Then he was gone.

No sooner had he vanished then the Rock Chicks descended.

“Let me see that bracelet,” Indy said, grabbing my wrist. “That’s gorgeous! I want one!”

“I see you didn’t break up with Vance last night,” Jet said, smiling at me.

“I did,” I told her, “he just kinda ignored me.”

She was still smiling.

Whatever.

“I have a problem,” I told them, “I need to go to work and I need to train with Luke at five thirty and then there’s the party and somewhere in between, I need to go to the mall and get a party outfit.”

“You have a lunch hour?” Indy asked immediately, dropping my wrist.

“You’re training with Luke?” Ally asked, eyes wide.

“Yeah, but it’s only an hour,” I told Indy, “and, yeah, but against my will,” I told Ally.

“Doesn’t matter,” Indy said, “meet us at Cherry Creek Mall. By Aveda. Noon. We’ll sort you out,” Indy said.

“But –” I started.

“Noon,” Indy repeated.

“I wanna train with Luke,” Ally put in.

“Everyone wants to train with Luke,” Jet replied.

We all looked at each other. Then we all started giggling.

Once we were done giggling, Indy and Ally went back to work but Jet walked me to the door checking out my bracelet.

I looked at her.

I wanted to ask but I didn’t want to ask. I wanted to know but I didn’t want to know.

Oh hell, I just went for it.

“Jet?”

Her head came around to look at me. I stopped and so did she.

“Yeah?”

“What’s it mean when I guy holds your hand?” I asked.

Her fingers were around my wrist, they moved to wrap around my hand. “It means he likes you,” she replied.

“What’s it mean when he’s a guy like Vance?” I went on.

Her hand squeezed mine. “It means he really likes you,” she repeated.

“What’s it mean when he’s a known player and a guy like Vance?” I kept at it.

She reached out and grabbed my other hand. “Jules, it means he really, really likes you,” she said softly.

I sighed. “I was afraid of that.”

She smiled at me. “I told Roxie and I’ll tell you, trust me on this, don’t fight it,” Jet said.

My voice got low. “I have to.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, I just do,” I lied. I knew perfectly well, I just didn’t want to share.

She nodded. “I understand.”

I blinked at her. “You do?”

“I’ll tell you about Eddie and me sometime. Actually,” she said, her eyes getting bright, “I take that back. Fight it. It’s much more interesting that way.”

“For who?” I asked.

“All of us,” she grinned, “including you.”

Hmm.

That did not sound good.

* * * * *

The girls (and boys) and I swung into the doors at King’s only ten minutes late from my lunch hour.

We’d just conquered Cherry Creek Mall and in the trunk of Hazel I had a new party outfit (with shoes); a new nightie to take to Vance’s on my sleepover; two new sets of very sexy underwear; a cute pair of cords I didn’t really need; a couple of t-shirts I really didn’t need; a fantastic new blouse I really, really didn’t need; and a serious new pair of ass-kicking boots.

This was accomplished because it wasn’t just Indy, Jet and Ally who met me at the mall, Roxie, Daisy, Tod and Stevie had come with.

I stood in different fitting rooms in different stores and they threw clothes at me. In came clothes, out went clothes. Some would go scout other stores and whisk me away on the trot if they saw something I had to try on.

I didn’t need to train with Luke that evening. I’d had the workout to end all workouts at the mall.

But my party outfit was killer and the shoes were amazing.

We’d all just made it through the door when May came trotting up to us, hands moving around in circles at her side, highly agitated about something.