Page 124 of Sins of a King

“Didn’t want to marry him, huh?”

“Not that simple. She was having an affair,” I said. Flynn didn’t need to know it was with her fiancé’s father. Not all information was necessary—so I was learning.

He sighed. “Maybe I should caution Duncan.”

“It’s all your fault, really.”

“My fault? Why?”

“Ash and I were supposed to hang out tonight, just us girls, and watch the burlesque show. And now she’s probably in bed with a hot Scot, ruining him for the rest of his life.”

“Hot? You think Duncan is hot?”

“Not as hot as you, darling.”

“I should hope not,” Flynn huffed.

I smiled.

I invited the burlesque dancers up to the suite where we’d had our slumber party for a major catch up session. So much had happened since that night it felt like I was living another life.

“So what’s it like being married to Flynn Campbell?” Alia asked as she reached for another Oreo.

“Pretty good,” I said with a smile.

“That’s it? That’s all we get?” Alia demanded.

“I’m not giving you sex details,” I stated. “Because I know that’s what you’re really after.”

“You know me well.” Alia grinned.

“You married a wealthy, successful, sexy Scot,” Shawna said. “Yeah, I bet being married to him is just ‘pretty good.’ Let me tell you about the last guy I went on a date with…”

“He can’t be worse than the guy I dated before I met my husband,” Renee chimed in.

I listened as the ladies recounted their horror stories of dating in Manhattan while we ate junk food. It made me exceptionally grateful that I’d once been too caught up in the academic life to date. There were some real duds out there.

“Why are you so quiet, Jamie?” Alia asked the petite, shy brunette. She was the new cocktail waitress who also danced that had been hired to replace me. And Chelsea.

Chelsea. That bitch had tried to stick me with a syringe.

Jamie blushed. “Oh, you know…”

“We don’t know,” Renee said. “Which is why we’re asking.”

“I met someone,” she admitted. “He’s wonderful.”

All conversation and direction turned to Jamie who was bright red and gushing over her boyfriend. “He’s so sweet and wonderful and…” she babbled on and on about the man she was seeing. “But he doesn’t like that I’m a dancer.”

“It’s not his choice,” Alia said. “It’s yours.”

“I really like him,” Jamie admitted. “What do I do?”

I reached over and took her hand. “If he really cares for you, he won’t make you give up what you love to do.” I knew she wouldn’t hear me. When you were wrapped up in someone, you never heard what others were trying to tell you. Jamie might fall head over heels in love with this guy, and she might quit dancing. I hoped that didn’t happen, but we all had to make our own mistakes.

“Just don’t do anything drastic,” Renee said.

“Yeah, like marrying him after only knowing him for a few months,” Alia teased with a look in my direction.