Hunks Too Hot To Touch (2 page)

Crossing her legs, Shauntie leaned back in her seat folding her arms over her breasts. “Emerald, I don’t think anything is wrong with saving for a rainy day. I’m lucky enough to have a good career, but I don’t possess the need to run through my money because of it.”

“Hey, I was only─”

“Okay, you two. Stop arguing.” Sapphire jumped in preventing an unnecessary disagreement from happening. “Shauntie, I think I can help you with your roof predicament. One of my co-workers’ brother is a professional roofer. I remember her mentioning over lunch this afternoon that Nash is between jobs right now. I can give her your information to pass on to him.”

Shauntie was a little apprehensive about taking a referral from a roofer without being able to check him out first herself. How did she even know if this guy knew what he was doing? He could make her leak worse.

“I don’t know,” Shauntie answered, truthfully.

“Shauntie, all you have to do is let him check it out. If you don’t like the quote he gives you then you can find another roofer, but you have to get it fixed. You do know that, right?” Sapphire stared at her like she hoped she wouldn’t argue with her.

Sapphire was right. It was a small leak now, but the crisis would only get worse if she didn’t get it taken care of now. She would rather pay a small price now then a huge price later on. She didn’t know what she would do without her friends keeping her on the right track. It took a lot for her to spend any extra money since that incident from her past, but she had to do it for her home.

“Okay, fine.” She sighed giving in. “Give your employee my information and have her brother come by my house tomorrow morning. I can’t let this leak get worse. I’ll be home all day because I’m going to be planting new flowers.” Shauntie wanted this taken care of as quickly as possible. Hopefully, Sapphire knew a legitimate roofer who would have her issue fixed in record time.

“Are we done figuring out ways to help Shauntie out?” Emerald complained as the waitress came back with their drink orders. She placed their drinks down in front of them and left. “I came here to relax after my long day at work. Don’t the two of you want to unwind as much as I do?”

Shauntie glanced at Sapphire then looked at Emerald. “What’s wrong with you? Did something happen at work that you want to talk about?” She knew sometimes Emerald’s job as a medical examiner’s assistant got to her. It wasn’t a job that she would be able to do every day.

“I’m sorry.” Emerald apologized reaching for her drink again. “I don’t mean to be in such a bitchy mood tonight.”

Something was up with Emerald because out of the three of them Shauntie considered Emerald’s personality as the most laid back and carefree which was one of the reasons she was able to do her job so well.

“Tell us what’s wrong,” Shauntie encouraged. Uncrossing her arms she touched Emerald on the back of her hand. Emerald was usually the one in the partying mood anytime they went out for their girl’s night on the town.

The weekends were usually the only time all three of them had free to just talk about their week. Emerald was typically the one with the best stories to tell, but tonight there was definitely a different vibe to her. Something big was up with her.

“Don’t you ever get lonely?” Emerald removed her hand and wrapped it around her drink. “I mean all of us have brilliant and successful careers, but all of us are alone. Sometimes I would like to come home to a good-looking, hunky guy. You know guys who get all sweaty and dirty from hard work. I’m getting bored with the men I’ve been dating.

“Both of you know what I’m talking about, men who would rather be on their cell phones checking their stock options instead of cuddling up with me on the couch. I’m done coming second after anyone’s career. I’m no longer interested in the ‘moving on up’ type of guy.”

“You want to date a man who spends his time outside becoming one with nature?” Sapphire frowned “Why are you thinking about dumping the corporate man for the guys who work outside in front of his office?”

“Emerald, what brought this on?” Shauntie questioned, jumping into the conversation. Here she thought something was wrong and Emerald just wanted to get laid. Sometimes she thought she knew her friends and then Emerald or Sapphire would toss something like this out of the blue and make her wonder if she’d ever known them.

Sitting back in her chair, Shauntie listened to the latest pop song as she took a sip of her white wine. She couldn’t believe Emerald was interested in dating a man who didn’t at least make six figures and have a portfolio. When did her friend stop wanting to date her usual pretty boy and replace him with the working Joe? Emerald’s eyes swung back and forth between her and Sapphire with a mischievous look in them. “Come on, guys. Haven’t you ever seen one of those hot, sweaty men working outside and wondered what it would be like to be with him? I know a couple of times I’ve stopped my car and taken a long, lust-filled lingering look at a couple of the tight asses. Are you telling me that I’m the only one?”

“Yes, you are,” Shauntie answered, instantly. “I’ve never thought about dating any of them. Why would I be looking for a relationship when I get everything I need from my job?” Was Emerald really serious about this? Did Sapphire think the same thing too?

“Shauntie, can you really be so caught up in your career that you don’t miss the touch of a man’s hands on your body?” Emerald said staring at her with disbelief. “The scent of his skin right after he’s just gotten out of the shower, or better yet how his warm mouth feels as he kisses the back of her neck?

“You can’t say that you don’t. Out of the three of us, you’re the one who hasn’t been in a relationship for almost three years. You can’t continue to eat and sleep your career. I know there has to be some days you hate going home to a huge empty house. You’re a liar if you say you aren’t a little lonely and in the need of some male company,” Emerald tossed at her

Moving her drink around on the table, Shauntie wondered why tonight was turning out differently than she thought it would.
Why was it becoming the ‘why didn’t she have a man’ show
?

Why couldn’t Emerald get it through her thick skill? She wasn’t in need of a man because she was quite happy being alone. She didn’t need to come home and have someone there waiting for her.

Her life was going down the path she wanted this time in her life. Besides, most men she was a little interested in, more than often got intimidated by her being a doctor. More than a handful of them hated she made more money than them. They couldn’t handle the pressure of dating a professional woman and never called her out for a second date.

On those rare occasions, the men who did call her back only wanted her to buy them things or use her for networking; because those guys with the powerful jobs only wanted to move up even more within their circle of friends. They weren’t the slight bit interested in becoming involved with a woman who was their equal or to some extent more successful than they were.

For the time being Shauntie was done with dating. All she thought about these days was working and helping her clients that needed improvement to their failing eyesight.
Why should she mess up her uncomplicated life now with complications?
She had come to terms with the fact she might be single for the rest of her life and she was beginning to accept it. Now, Emerald had to bring up finding a man tonight and she wouldn’t let it go until she got her point across.

Emerald’s looks fitted her spunky personality from her short black hair, curvy body, cat-like eyes and her light mocha skin topped off by the a beauty mark on the right side of her cheek. Shauntie didn’t understand why her girlfriend was in search of a man.

Her friend was truly stunning and most men would love to date her opinionated friend. Sometimes Emerald was a force to be reckoned with when she put her mind to something. However, those qualities were what made her so unique because she didn’t let anyone or anything stand in her way.

Shauntie constantly thought of herself as a take charge kind of woman, but Emerald had both her and Sapphire beat when it came to getting what she yearned for. Anytime she got an idea inside of her head, Emerald didn’t release it until she achieved it and it didn’t matter how long it might take her. Emerald would get it sooner or later. Glancing to her left, Shauntie watched from the corner of her eye, her other best friend, Sapphire Rhodes play with her bottle of beer. She and Sapphire had formed a friendship in the ninth grade and it had only grown stronger over the years. Sapphire was the polar opposite of Emerald when it came to looks. She was tall, thin and so perfect that she could have made millions being a runway model; however, instead of a flashy career with a lot of fans and women craving to be her Sapphire decided her chosen career path was to become a dentist. Ever since she could remember back to her teenage years, Sapphire always dreamt and talked about going into a giving profession, so she could help people who were less fortunate than her.

Many people instantly misjudged Sapphire because of her stunning looks and thought she had a snobby attitude. However, she was so gentle and sweet which gave her the personality she needed to make a perfect and understanding dentist.

“Shauntie, what do you think about my idea?” Emerald asked, staring at her with a hopeful look on her face.

“What idea?” Shauntie inquired, confused. What had she missed?

“Shauntie, will you stop daydreaming and pay attention. You missed a good conversation. I was telling Sapphire how professional men aren’t very comfortable with us being in the same league as them. The more I’ve dated them, the more clearly this plan of mine started to form in my head. Why shouldn’t we try something new and different?”

“Are you really serious about dating a working man? Do you know any men who don’t work sixteen hour days? I’ve never seen you date a man who wasn’t at least a partner or working his way towards that goal. Can you tell me the last time you dated a plumber or window washer?” Shauntie knew that Emerald wouldn’t be able to give her an answer.

Emerald probably couldn’t count them on one hand. Her girlfriend only dated attractive and rich men who drove Jaguars, not dump trucks. She wouldn’t last two days with a man who couldn’t take her out to a fancy meal.

Why was she trying to change her ways now? Emerald had been fine up to now doing what she was doing.

“No, I can’t.” Emerald snapped, glaring at her. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t change my ways and date a nice guy who isn’t more interested in his stock broker than me when we’re out on a romantic date. Sapphire is just as tired as I am with dating money bags men too. That’s why she agreed to go along with my plan.”

Plan...what plan was Emerald talking about? One of her friends should fill her in on what was going on and fast. Shauntie wasn’t in the mood to listen to any more of this craziness. She could have stayed at home and debated where she was going to place her Christmas tree this year.

“You do know that you’re something without a man at your side?” she asked, looking at both Sapphire and Emerald. “Sure, it’s wonderful to have someone to talk about your day with when you come home from work but if I don’t have it I won’t feel like less than a woman.

“Sapphire, I don’t even know what you are agreeing to but I don’t think you should do it. You know how you are about things. You love jumping in feet first and then you change your mind at the snap of a finger.”

“Shauntie, before you shoot my plan down, at least let me explain it to you. I mean it’s really good and you’re going to love it.” Emerald grinned at her from across the table which was usually a very bad sign.

Lord, what was about to come out of her friend’s mouth.

“See, this plan is going to be foolproof because all of us will get everything we want. I swear you’re going to love it. Sapphire and I decided to find our ‘perfect hardworking man’ before our favorite holidays. Sapphire’s is New Years’ Eve, mine is Valentine’s Day and yours is Christmas which means you better get your butt moving if you want to find your man.”

Get her moving? Hold on a damn minute! She’d never agreed to anything like this? She wasn’t looking for anyone at all.

“I never agreed to do this with the two of you,” Shauntie pointed out. “I’m fine just the way I am. Don’t include me in this crazy plan of yours.”

Out of the three of them, Shauntie knew she had to be sensible person and not jump into this without thinking it through. She wanted more than a hot body in her bed. She’d vowed to herself never to go down that path again. She’d learned her lesson once and she wasn’t about to make that mistake again...not in this lifetime.

“Sapphire, are you truly serious about doing this with Emerald? Come on. You know how crazy this sounds?”

Sapphire shrugged as she pushed her untouched beer away. “I think it might be fun. For once we can be the ones hunting down a man. Emerald didn’t say we had to marry the guys by our favorite holidays, only get them in our lives. What’s the big deal?

“We only want to have a good time. I’m only twenty-eight years old and I’ve spent over half my life in school. Don’t you think it’s about time we get to have some fun? Why not try to find a sexy man to spend our favorite holidays with?”

The passion in her friend’s voice shocked the hell out of her. Sapphire was usually so laid back and reserved. Shauntie was truly speechless. She couldn’t believe Sapphire could have forgotten about
him
. Her best friend
knew
about her last bad relationship with J.T. and yet she was ready to toss her back out there to the wolves.

After everything that happened to her, she thought Sapphire would understand why she wasn’t interested in getting back out there into the dating pool. Well, it didn’t matter at all to her if Emerald and Sapphire wanted to go out man hunting. It wasn’t any of her business, but her participation shouldn’t have been assumed.

“Girls, I’m sorry. I don’t have any right to judge either one of you” Shauntie wanted to get off the topic and on to something else. She didn’t need the memories of J.T. and how badly things ended between them rushing back to her. Not after she’d spent so much time getting the asshole out of her head. “Have fun looking for your men, but I’m not going to participate.”