I hated that I felt like an irresponsible girl, but a man that good looking was a crime against women. How could anyone expect us to keep our hands to ourselves around that, especially when you added in his charm and devilish smirk?

“Cassandra.”

I stopped, my stomach flipped violently and my ears smoldered. Did he really just say my name? He wanted me to stop, why?

No, no, no! Everything inside of me screamed to stay strong and keep walking. Pretend you didn’t hear him. Run away! He is a player, a womanizer, a flat-out man whore according to his own sister.

Instead of doing the smart thing for once in my life, I listened to my body. To those urges kept dormant since my breakup with Mark over a year ago.

“Yeah?” I asked tentatively, turning back just enough to see him.

“Would you like to join us, sweetheart?” His lips pulled up, spreading into a wide grin. His eyes glistened under the porch light filled with something dark and primal.

Eww! No thank you!

Julia was right. Complete player. What the hell was I thinking?

The smug look on his face remained unfazed as I scoffed and turned back around, heat undoubtedly brightening my cheeks. I left without another word, chastising myself for letting him see even the slightest shred of attraction I felt.

Never again. He was an arrogant jerk and I was not about to be pulled into his clutches.

Chapter Five

The Power of Men

“You’re sure I look all right?” Hilary asked for the fifth time in the last hour.

I glanced up from the sink in my tiny bathroom and grimaced.

Nerves tainted her usually cool poise.

This was not like her at all. I’d seen her get ready for numerous dates with attractive guys and never once did she care about her outfit or how her hair looked, but an invitation to the grand opening of Haven, Caleb’s bar and grill, watch out.

“No, you don’t look all right.” Looking back into the mirror, I swiped on a hint of pearly lip gloss and glanced up at her reflection to my response.

Her eyes narrowed at me.

“You look hot!” I laughed. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

She cracked a slight smile, one that begged to shine brighter, but her body remained noticeably rigid. “I should have worn the green one,” she sighed.

The dress Hilary was wearing looked absolutely flawless on her. A classic little black dress with a soft neckline that flared out in the skirt—showing off her long tanned legs.

I remained silent, swiping on a touch of smoky eyeshadow and deep black mascara. I couldn’t wait until the party was over and I’d have my friend back to her perky, confident self.

Hilary shoved me over and pulled the makeup from my hands just as I finished. I turned to scoff but noticed the corner of her lips pulled up slightly.

About time.

Backing out of the tiny room, I wondered why she was still standing in front of the mirror rolling on another layer of mascara. She started getting ready for tonight’s party the moment she awoke…yesterday morning.

“The sales clerk said it brought out my eyes,” Hilary called out.

I sat down on my couch in the front room. Why she was still stuck on the damn green dress was beyond me.

“And I told you, the one you’re wearing is perfect, now stop worrying.” It’s all I was going to say on the matter. If only she knew the truth about her love at first sight, must buy now, emerald cocktail dress.

I had to admit, the moment she spotted it in the boutique window, I was equally mesmerized. The price tag was a bit steep for my taste, or more accurately my budget, but for the right occasion completely worth it.

Problem arose when Hilary sauntered out from the dressing room and my eyes flew straight to the tiny pooch the fabric created around her midsection.

Growing up Hilary was naturally fit but through college, her figure grew from toned to curvy. She fully embraced her new appearance, as did the local boys.

Over the winter—the last semester of college before graduation—she spent a little too much time inside stressed about exams and fueling up on junk food. Honestly, the weight was hardly noticeable, distributed evenly through her tall body. But this green dress somehow created a less than appealing illusion of a tummy she didn’t have.

So I did what any good friend would do, I lied. Told her it looked great but that the black one we had been looking at earlier was worth trying on as well. The lively sales clerk nodded along with a supportive smile and handed her the new dress.

Once Hilary disappeared behind the black curtain, I turned and gave an appreciative smile, finding the employee with a look of ‘close call.’

That’s right, girls stick together. You don’t send another female out there in a dress that accentuates every flaw she wants to hide. At least I could never do that and it was a relief to see I was not alone in that belief.

Hilary had walked out of the dressing room, twirled in front of the mirror, and watched the black dress flutter around her hips with a building confidence.

“Perfect!” I said, beaming. “Caleb will never be able to resist you in that.”

With a relieved grin, I turned to catch the icy stare narrowed at Hilary.

I winced as the sudden shift in the room. It was distressing. You would have thought the busty, flame-haired clerk saw us robbing the place—at point blank range—her friendly, animated smile replaced with a nasty sneer.

“On second thought, I loved the green one. It really brings out your eyes,” the clerk bit out, feigning sincerity.

Bitch. I wanted to leap off the fluffy ottoman I’d sat perched on for the last twenty minutes and rip out her spiky short hair. Looked like Hilary was in for some competition in the Caleb department.

Luckily, after the best murderous glare I could muster—in the once comrade now bimbo’s direction—the girl retreated without another word.

What was it about men that turned females against each other in less than a second flat?

Shaking the disheartening memory of our shopping trip from the day before away, I looked up to find the clock reading eight thirty. Time to get going.

“Seriously, you look great, now let’s go or we’ll be unfashionably late.” I called out from the living room after slipping on my red pumps and grabbing my clutch. An accessory I always thought foolish living in a small town like Harmony, but I couldn’t resist. It was also the only thing in the expensive boutique I could afford.

My outfit was the complete opposite of Hilary’s. White wash skinny jeans with a white tank top under a grey fitted blazer. I left my hair down, letting it air dry to show off my natural curls. Everyone always seemed to compliment me when I wore it that way. The red heels were as dressy as I was getting tonight.

It was a restaurant opening in Harmony, not Manhattan.

“Ready,” Hilary said.

She stepped out and for the first time all day she stood tall, shoulders back, head up, smiling.

There was my best friend. I knew she was in there somewhere. Well I at least hoped so. Now if I could keep the babbling freak from earlier hidden back in its dungeon once she actually encountered Caleb.

Twenty minutes later we were parked in the back lot of the restaurant. Hilary had spent most of the drive either glancing in her compact mirror or fidgeting with her hair while shifting in her seat.

“Ready?” I asked, switching off the engine and turning in my seat to face her.