“’Night, Jane.”
He walked out, uncomfortable, hard, and grinning.
CHAPTER FOUR
“You’re going out with Will Griffin?”
Jane looked around. “Shhh. I didn’t say that. And I don’t want anyone to know.”
The one thing Jane knew about the teacher’s lounge at the high school was that it was the worst place to tell anyone anything, because teachers were the most horrible gossips in town. And in Hope, once word got out about something, everyone knew.
But Jane had to tell someone, and who else but her best friend, Chelsea, who coincidentally used to be Will’s girlfriend.
“I wasn’t going to tell you at all, considering your history with Will. I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it.”
Chelsea waved a hand at Jane. “Don’t be ridiculous. Will and I were ancient history three years ago. And we’re still friends, so it’s not like I’d hate you for going out with him. Hell, you need to go out with someone.”
“Come on. Do I look that desperate?”
“No. And that’s the problem. You look resigned to your fate, like you don’t deserve to go out. And that’s just sad, Jane. When Will and I broke up, did I sit at home and waste away?”
Jane laughed. “Hardly. But you’re a stacked redhead and you’re never lacking for offers. Besides, you broke up with him.”
“Hey, we dated for a year. It hurt when we broke up. But we never saw each other. He worked nights, I worked days, and I like a social life now and then. It didn’t mean I didn’t care about him, you know.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make light of your breakup. I remember how hard it was on you. I know you cared about him.”
“I did. But it was nothing like you and Vic, and I realize that. I wasn’t left by a husband, and I don’t have kids. It’s not the same thing at all. But even if it was, that doesn’t mean I’d have to stop living. You might be a mother, and yes, that’s a priority for you, but you’re still a woman, Jane. You have needs.”
Chelsea emphasized the “needs,” and after last night’s kiss, those needs had been reawakened. Boy had they ever been reawakened. She’d lain awake practically all night, sweating and flopping around on her bed, her body tingling in places it hadn’t tingled in a long time.
Even before Vic had left, there’d been no sex. He’d been too busy boozing it up and hanging out with his drug buddies all night long, and she’d spent all her time worrying about him. When they’d been together, there’d been arguing. She’d gone so long without a man she’d forgotten what it was like to be held and stroked and—made love to.
“I’ve probably forgotten how to do it,” she said to Chelsea.
Chelsea laughed. “I don’t think you forget how to have sex, but trust me, if you need instruction, Will’s very good at it.”
“This is bizarre, talking to you about having sex with someone you’ve had sex with.”
“Like I said, honey. Ancient history.”
“Apparently not, if your memories are vivid.”
“Hey, a girl never forgets great sex.” Chelsea waggled her brows.
“If it was that great, why don’t you start seeing him again, now that he’s working days?”
Chelsea shrugged. “He was great and all, but we’re just not a match. We’re better as friends. I can definitely see the two of you together, though. There’s a tender side to him that matches well with you.”
Jane picked up a carrot and mulled it over while she munched.
“Maybe I should take a walk on the wild side.”
“Now you’re talking,” Chelsea said.
The lunchroom had cleared out, so Jane felt freer to talk. “Just one good orgasm and I’d be good for a year or two.”
“There you go.”
She thought about it for a minute. “Then again, maybe he just wants to take me to a movie.”
“Honey, the way you described that kiss? I don’t think ‘just a movie’ is what Will has in mind.”
Jane smiled. “Maybe not.”
“So that’s a yes?”
“Yes. As soon as I lose ten pounds. Because no man is going to see me naked the way I look now.”
“Jane,” Chelsea said, giving her a hard stare. “You’re hot and curvy and you have legs a mile long. You’ve always been way too harsh on yourself. I’m going to give you an assignment. Tonight, get naked and stand in front of your mirror and tell yourself how lush and gorgeous you are.”
Jane laughed. Chelsea didn’t.
“You’re kidding, right?
“Nope. Do it. Tonight.”
“I do not look at myself naked.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because…because it’s stupid.”
“It is not. Every woman should look at herself naked and tell herself how gorgeous she is. Pick out your good points and highlight them.”
Jane stared at Chelsea, who had the most beautiful red hair that didn’t come from a salon, the most gorgeous br**sts that any human—man or woman—could appreciate, and a tight, toned body that Chelsea worked on with yoga. Of course she had no problem looking at herself naked. Jane, on the other hand?
“I don’t think so.”
“I do think so. You just haven’t looked at yourself in so long, and haven’t had a man appreciate that beautiful body of yours in so long, that you’re picking out imaginary flaws. Tonight that ends. Get naked. Do inventory. And tell yourself that you’re beautiful. Because you are. Obviously Will thinks you’re hot or he wouldn’t have been kissing you last night.”
“I’m…mushy.”
“You are not. You run around like crazy after those kids and at school. You get more exercise than the average woman. I think when you give your body a critical look, you might be surprised.”
“I think I’ll be depressed.”
Chelsea huffed out a frustrated breath. “Do it. That’s an order.”
She sighed. “Fine.”
“And when Will calls you for that date, you say yes.”
She would, but she still wasn’t sure about the sex part.
* * *
When she got home that night after working at the gym, something was different, but she couldn’t put her finger on what it was.