“Fine, yes. I want you to know that I’m not going willingly and I’m very upset with you.”
“I can live with that.”
Ari watched as Amanda sauntered away, obviously pleased to have gotten her way. Ari was stuck going out dancing with the girls. At least Amanda had promised it was a classy Latin club where her brother was a bouncer. Ari had threatened their lives if there were any more roofie attempts on her.
“Let’s go. Miley and Shelly are already in the car. My husband took the kids to a movie so my house is where we’re getting ready. I have the perfect outfit for you.”
“No way are you dressing me slutty, Amber,” Ari yelled as she chased after her friend. She had to protest even though she knew she was going to lose in the end. It seemed to be the story of her life.
The girls chattered on about how amazing this club was the entire half-hour drive to Amber’s place. Ari had to admit, if only to herself, that it did sound kind of fun. She’d ignored the messages from Rafe all week, and tonight was a good time to go out dancing and see if she could find a man who’d spark her interest as much as he did.
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.
“Donnie, it’s been too long. We’ve missed you,” Miley said as she kissed him on the cheek.
“That’s because I’m a one of a kind, gorgeous. Now go,” he commanded as he smacked her on the butt. Ari quickly followed, not wanting to get left behind.
“Hurry. Hurry. You four are holding me up. If Donnie hadn’t insisted his friends were coming, we could have been well into our lesson by now.”
Ari was stopped in place by the stunning dance instructor. His pants were too tight, as well, but that was a blessing for every female in the room.
“Are you going to stand there gawking all night, princess, or are you here to learn?”
Ari was mortified as her friends laughed while pulling her to the front of the room.