And she couldn’t exactly blame them?
That was not in the plan, and she needed to get her head on straight right now. She hopped up. “Does anyone need any wine?” she asked when everyone turned to stare at her.
She sighed in relief when a few women held out their wineglasses. She’d done some hard-hitting “research” to find the best wines to pair with cupcakes. According to the internet, it was more about the effort than the execution. Any wine was good with cupcakes as long as it was plentiful and free-flowing. She’d gone with a nice Moscato. The women seemed to have no complaints. They downed it liberally in between bites of cupcakes.
Jada scanned the room one more time. Overall, everything looked good and the women seemed satisfied. Granted, they were just happy to have a place for their discussion, but she wanted them to have fun and be comfortable as well. A home away from home. Maybe tell their friends and come back.
Kendra nodded. “Let’s get started. This story follows Becca, a horse ranch owner, and Carlton, who had the misfortune of being named after a character on a sitcom, but has overcome that giggle-worthy fact to become a successful owner of several boutique hotels. He comes to stay at her ranch because he’s thinking about buying it and turning it into a bed-and-breakfast dude ranch, and shenanigans ensue, as they often do in romance novels. So Becca and Carlton meet cute when he literally falls at her feet.”
“Which is the exact opposite of what usually happens in romance,” said a woman named Cara, according to her name tag. The other women nodded.
“Thank God. What woman doesn’t want some fine-ass man at her feet?” said Alex, another club member.
“Yes, girl, yes,” another woman named Lydia said, holding up her hand for a high five.
“When Carlton arrives at the ranch, he doesn’t tell Becca why he’s there,” Kendra said. The group groaned in unison. Jada didn’t blame them. Every romance reader knew when a love interest kept secrets, doom was sure to follow.
“What do you think about that, Donovan?” Kendra asked.
All eyes turned to him. To his credit, he didn’t wilt under the attention. He’d clearly regained his footing and, unlike her, wasn’t obsessing about that moment when they’d been close enough to kiss. “Well, I’m usually a fan of honesty is the best policy. However, he had just accidentally overheard her conversation saying she would never listen to anyone trying to buy the ranch and would throw them out at the first opportunity. He’s also not sure he wants to buy the ranch. He was only there to get the lay of the land.”
Jada had heard enough. “Dude, come on. He wants to buy the ranch. We all know that.”
“He knows he doesn’t want to get his ass kicked before he can even say hello.”
The women laughed. Of course they did. Jada rolled her eyes. She would not be taken in by his charm. She didn’t even want to admit he had charm.
“Have you always been honest with your girlfriends, Donovan?” Lydia asked.
He nodded without hesitation. “Yes, I have.”
“Is that true, Jada?”
She considered him. Considered how he’d treated her from day one, and how he’d never been less than forthright with her. And how she appreciated it. “Yep, he’s never been afraid to let me know what was on his mind.”
He didn’t even try to hide his smirk. Her eyes narrowed. Then they rolled when the club members sighed as one. Now they’d have visions of Prince Charming dancing in their head. And maybe so do you.
Jada shook her head. Okay, again, that was enough of that ridiculous thinking.
Thankfully, Lydia turned her attention elsewhere. “What about you, Nicholas?”
“I believe that honesty is the best policy,” Nicholas said, rubbing the back of his neck, “which hasn’t always served me well when it comes to ending a relationship.”
Kendra’s eyes narrowed. “So you’re the love ’em and leave ’em type?”
“Well…”
“Yes,” Donovan chimed in. Everyone laughed.
Discussion continued with Donovan and Nicholas giving their male point of view about the story, with the women good-naturedly boo hissing every time they defended Carlton for not admitting the truth even though he had several opportunities to do so. They all agreed that Becca and Carlton were perfect for each other.
Inch by inch, tension melted out of Jada’s shoulders and hope beat back the nerves in her stomach. The wine flowed and the cupcakes were downed with unbridled appreciation. Success was officially within her grasp.