Jo Leigh - One-Click Buy - September Harlequin Blaze

“That’s wonderful!” Katie jumped up to give her friend a hug. Truly, she was happy for Tanisha, but there was a pity party going on inside Katie’s stomach. She felt so left out.

“He took me to a Red Sox game and there it was up on the scoreboard during the seventh-inning stretch for the whole world to see. Tanisha, will you marry me?”

“Ah,” Katie said, “the grand gesture.”

“Girlfriend, let me tell you, it was a dream come true.”

“I thought you told me once that you weren’t the marrying kind.”

Tanisha waved it off. “That was before I met Dwayne. The right man can change your mind about anything.”

“Tell me,” Katie muttered. She thought she’d found the right man and she’d changed, but then he’d turned out to be the wrong man and she felt like a total fool for following her heart.

“We’re getting married next June,” Tanisha chattered. “And, of course, I want you to be my maid of honor.”

“Sure, sure.” The smile froze to her face.

“I tell you, Katie-” Tanisha grasped both her hands in hers “-I’ve never been so happy.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Tanisha canted her head. “Are you all right?”

“Fine.” Katie forced herself to look perky.

“How was your weekend in Fiji with Liam?”

Katie shook her head. “Don’t ask.”

“Not good?”

“I don’t want to talk about it. This is your day. Tell me all about Dwayne.”

Tanisha shook a finger at her. “Nuh-uh. You’re not getting off that easy. Something is bothering you. You’re not your usual self. Sure, I’m happy, but I want you to know I’m here for you, no matter what. So spill it. What happened in Fiji?”

Katie shrugged, trying to act nonchalant in the hopes that it wouldn’t hurt so much. Quickly, she told her about the Martini dares and how she’d used Liam to complete them. And how upset he’d been when she confessed what she’d been up to. “Was I so wrong?” she finished, lacing her fingers together nervously.

“Not to my way of thinking, but some guys have issues about being completely honest.”

“Liam is definitely in that camp,” Katie said gloomily.

Tanisha shook her head. “I’ve never seen you this torn up over a man.”

“I’ve never felt like this over a man before.”

“Seriously, Katie, you’re not going to let this misunderstanding come between you two.”

If anyone but Tanisha had told her this, Katie would have been inclined to make light of her feelings for Liam. But this was Tanisha, who’d started at Sharper Designs on the same day she had. Who’d let her sleep on her couch when Katie’s condo was being fumigated. Who brought over Chinese food when she was down in the dumps and doled out sharp-witted advice.

She owed Tanisha the truth. Had to open herself up to someone. Tanisha had proven she was her friend.

“It’s too late. I mean, even if he did forgive me for deceiving him, I don’t know if I can forgive him for walking out on me. The least he could have done was stay and fight.”

“Don’t judge him too quickly. Some people withdraw when they’re upset. That’s what happened with Dwayne and me.”

“The one time I finally break down and have sex in a bed, I go and fall in love,” her voice cracked.

“What?” Tanisha’s eyes rounded. “Did you say the L word?”

Miserably, Katie nodded.

“Oh, sweetie,” Tanisha said with such a look of pity on her face that Katie wanted to crawl into a hole and pull dirt over her.

All the years she’d spent playing the field and having fun, keeping her heart safely out of the fray, had come to a crashing end. She was no longer immune to the slings and arrows of love.

And it hurt so bad.

“I’m okay. I’ll be all right. I don’t want to rain on your parade. How about we go out tonight and celebrate your pending marriage.”

“Ooh, I’m sorry.” Tanisha made a face. “We’re going over to my folks to tell them in person. Tomorrow night, maybe?”

“Sure.” Katie bobbed her head. Thankfully, her cell phone rang at that moment. She pulled it from her pocket as Tanisha went off to flash her engagement ring to the rest of their coworkers. “Hello?”

“Katie?”

“Yes?”

“This is Lindsay Beckham,” came the cool polished voice of the Martinis and Bikinis president.

Great. It was the person responsible for her downfall. “What is it?” she asked, only barely managing to control her snippy tone.

“I’m afraid there’s been something of a mix-up.”

“A mix-up?”

Lindsay paused. “It’s totally my fault. I take full responsibility.”

“For what?”

“The last dare I sent you?”

“Yeah?”

“It was meant for one of the other women.”

Katie let out a bark of laughter. “That’s hilarious.”

“Excuse me?”

“Because of that last dare, my life is ruined.”

“Ruined?” Lindsay repeated. “Are you sure you’re not overstating the issue?”

“You told me to confess!”

“No, I told Sherry to confess.”

“But you sent Sherry’s dare to me, so it had the same consequences as if you’d sent it to me.” Katie’s hand was shaking. From anger, from sorrow, from the whole sheer craziness of it. “You know what? I wish I’d never set foot in your bar. I wish I’d never met you and your Martini group.”

“This is worse than I thought,” Lindsay said. “I’m sorry, I never meant for this to happen. If you’d let me make amends-”

“Nice of you to offer, but unless you know how to superglue a broken heart, there’s not much you can do. I’ve got to get back to work now.”

“I hope you won’t give up on Martinis and Bikinis just because of this little snafu-”

“Bye,” Katie said, and hung up, never feeling more wretched.

IN A VAIN ATTEMPT to boost her spirits, Katie made a beeline for the pet shop after her awful day at work. She couldn’t wait for the salve of seeing Duke’s sweet face and happily wagging tail.

“Hey, pup,” Katie cooed as she walked up to the window. Only to find it empty.

Duke wasn’t there.

You waited too long. Someone else bought him.

The disappointment that came over her was perplexing. Why did she care so much about that dog?

Maybe they hadn’t sold Duke. Maybe the store owner had taken him out for a walk. Katie pushed inside the pet store, hoping that was, indeed, the case.

“Hello,” greeted the friendly faced woman behind the counter.

“Hi.”

“You’re the one who’s always coming in here to play with the cocker spaniel, aren’t you?”

Katie nodded. “I noticed he wasn’t in the window.”

The woman’s eyes lit up. “Someone bought him, only an hour or so ago.”

You’re too late. That’s what happens when you’re afraid to commit.

A lump welled in Katie’s throat and she had to blink hard to keep from crying. God, this was so stupid. Getting misty-eyed over a puppy who wasn’t even hers. “Did he go to a good home?”

“A very good home.” The pet-shop woman nodded. “The man said he was buying him as a surprise for his girlfriend. Apparently she’s always wanted a dog, but circumstances have prevented her from owning one until now.”

“It’s good he’s found a great home.” Katie forced a smile. “I’m happy. So happy.”

Quickly, she turned and hurried from the pet shop. She thought of the dog collar Liam had given her. She’d never get to use it on Duke.

She didn’t feel like heading home, but she didn’t want to go to a bar by herself. Not knowing what else to do, she headed for the park.

She walked down the path sniffling into a tissue, telling herself she was sad because Duke was no longer in the window. Denying that her sorrow had anything to do with Liam.