The Scheme

As soon as I stepped into the establishment, Trey spotted his friend while my eyes zoned in on Kendy, already sitting at the bar and looking so smoking hot I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Not like she hadn’t looked good in scrubs, but she was dressed to perfection tonight, and I hadn’t realized how hot her body was under her plain blue scrubs.

Before I could even figure out what I was doing, I was walking toward her, my feet moving against my own free will. Apparently, not talking to her tonight wasn’t even an option.

***

KENDY

The club bounced with the hip-hop music playing in the background. If Dr. Klein had chosen this place on a Saturday night, I had picked the right man. Because Kendy-Mendy loved her some hip-hop-hooray.

I pulled down my white scoop-neck halter and bobbed my head to the beat. I’d had to leave the panties at home since my dress wrapped my body in a tight vise and I didn’t want any panty lines. I was convinced tonight was my night, and he’d be mine for the taking.

My knees bounced as nervous butterflies stirred in the pit of my stomach. To say I was excited was an understatement, as evidenced by my overly large grin, but my stomach was in knots. The center of my palms began to sweat as I tried to keep the bouncing to a minimum.

I hadn’t had my sights on a guy in a long time. My pain was too great and it was easier to hide behind men who wanted nothing more than a quick lay. But now, I was done hiding my pain in one-night stands. I’d been looking for certain qualities in my forever male, and Dr. Klein possessed them all.

The truth was, he made me nervous. I wanted him so bad that the confident Kendy transformed into a school girl with a big crush when I was anywhere in his vicinity.

I’d been sitting here for so long, the ice in my Long Island ice tea had already melted. The only thing that was keeping my mind occupied were the three attractive males eyeing me from across the bar. A couple of them had offered to buy me drinks, but I didn’t want to do small talk, so I’d been upfront and told them I was waiting for someone.

When my phone vibrated in my pocket, I knew before I took a glance that it was Sarah. Suddenly, my smile vanished and worry seeped into my skin. She hadn’t responded to my last four texts, and I hoped she was okay.

My face fell as I saw the text.

Sarah: Sorry, babe. I’m not feeling well. I have this major stomach virus and everything I put in is coming out.

I lowered my head, hunching over to type her back, and released a heavy sigh of disappointment.

Me: It’s okay. I hope you feel better.

I leaned against the bar as my excited mood from earlier quickly faded. Why hadn’t she messaged sooner, preferably before I’d left the house?

My selfish side wanted to tell her to take some medicine and get her ass over to Bartlett’s ASAP. How the hell would I do this without my partner in crime?

We had rehearsed our lines and everything, and now my wing woman was unavailable. This blew.

I felt my full-on Kendy pout coming to the surface. I looked around, but I didn’t see the entourage of doctors that Dr. Klein was usually with, so I knew they hadn’t shown up yet. I didn’t even have a game plan, because Sarah was supposed to start the night cracking her random corny jokes. My job was to sit back and relax until he noticed me. I gritted my teeth as a shadow of disappointment crossed my face.

Now, what was I going to do?

I bit my pinky nail and tried to formulate a plan. Maybe a, “Fancy seeing you here”?

I shook my head and cursed at my lame, cliché line. Maybe I should just go home.

All talk . . . no action. I realized my bravado only surfaced when Sarah was around, especially when it came to Dr. Klein.

Before I could let my negativity take over, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

“Well, well, well. Look who I found.”

I cringed. My night had just turned from bad to worse. Slowly, I spun around and locked eyes with the blue-eyed culprit staring back at me, sporting a cocky smirk.

Brian.

I didn’t even try to hide my scowl. “Great, just great. I hate my life.”

He sighed dramatically, resting against the bar right next to me. “We’re ru

I shot him a look and he laughed, which only piqued my a

His eyes raked my body, landed back on my face, and then he beamed with approval, which shifted my mood.

With a small sly smile, I rested my hand on his bicep and noted the well-defined muscles straining against his fitted white button down. My eyes focused on his face, pretending I wasn’t even remotely affected as I squeezed his arm, not noticeably hard, but just so I could feel how firm his muscles were.

Any woman had to admire a man who took care of his body and it looked like Brian did that well. I came closer until we were inches apart. Suddenly, his smile faltered and his look started changing. His eyes raked me in with a lust I was all too familiar with.

My chest was almost touching his, and I knew I had his undivided attention. It was as if he wanted to eat me for di

I blinked a couple of times, still admiring the view in front of me. I wasn’t totally immune. No doubt, he was one attractive male. Just not the one I’d come for, I silently reminded myself.

I threw him a seductive smile. “Listen, I’m saving you the trouble. I’m too much woman for a good boy like you to handle.” I waved my hand to motion him to the other side of the room.

After a beat, he composed himself. “I think you have me pegged all wrong, Kendy. Who says I’m a good boy?” A mischievous grin crept up his face, the kind of smile little boys used when they were hiding something.

I laughed, because only good boys would say that sort of thing. “Because I’ve done boys like you. I know your kind. Plus, I certainly don’t take second servings.” I scrunched my nose as soon as the words left my mouth, my face flushing pink. I had no filter. I should come with a muzzle to keep me from saying things I shouldn’t be saying.

He just laughed, but I bit my lip. I hadn’t meant to sound so crude, or for it to come out like that. I knew he’d been heartbroken when Beth had chosen Kent.

I softened and tried to recover. “I’m sorry.”

“No big deal.” He shrugged, seeming unaffected. Maybe he was over her.

But what I said had been rude—honest, but still rude.

He seemed like a good catch. He just needed some coaching.

I straightened on the stool, ready to do him a favor. “Listen, Brian. Let me give you a word of advice. Quit being so nice.” I shifted so my leg brushed against his side, shooting a tingling sensation up my thigh. “Most women want either a bad boy or a rich boy, neither of which you are.”

There was a glint of amusement in his eyes as I spoke, which urged me to continue. “You can’t change the rich thing, but you most definitely can change the good thing. So if you want to find a good girl, be a bad boy, because women want to change that bad boy and will stay put. We get bored too easily with the good ones. It’s not that much fun. Trust me on this.”

I flipped my hair to the side, exposing my neck. His eyes flickered to my bare skin and I smirked, loving how I’d grabbed his attention. “I know how to play the game, so you’d be good to take my advice.” I patted his arm and nodded twice.