“Me, too,” said Cindy.
Yuki grinned and patted the stool next to her, and as Cindy flung herself onto the seat, Yuki said, “Tell me all about that bended-knee proposal in front of God and all his angels.”
Cindy laughed and Yuki leaned in to hear all about it — and Cindy didn’t spare any detail.
Yuki had always liked Rich. It was rare to find a guy who was both movie-star gorgeous and not in love with himself. Yuki knew Rich to be the opposite of a narcissist. He was a genuinely sweet guy of the old-fashioned, chivalrous kind. Perfect man for Cindy.
And now Yuki was dating a cop, too.
A married one.
“Hey, I’ve done all the talking,” Cindy said. “I think that’s a first. Tell me something I don’t know.”
Yuki blurted, “I’m going out with Jackson Brady.”
“No. You are not,” Cindy said. “Are you kidding me?”
Yuki took a look around to make sure Brady hadn’t come inside the saloon while she wasn’t looking.
“I swear. It’s true.”
“Holy cow,” Cindy said, the shocked look on her face saying that she was way impressed. “Tell me everything. Don’t leave out a word.”
Yuki laughed, then filled her friend in on the whole story: the conferences with Brady regarding the Martin case, their first date at First Crush, a cool wine bar and restaurant, perfectly named. And she told Cindy about her date with Brady Friday night at Renegade.
“He told me things about himself that were pretty revealing.”
“Did you sleep with him?” Cindy asked.
“Everyone is so interested in my sex life. Why?”
“Well, did you?”
“No. No, I didn’t. But I wanted to.”
“When are you seeing him again?”
“Well … if I remember correctly, Saturday night,” Yuki said, with a coy smile.
“Hah! Well, I have a feeling you’re going to have another chance to get his clothes off. Jeez. You’d better tell me all about it, girlfriend. I’m not kidding. This, I gotta hear.”
The waiter carried their drinks to a small table by the window. He brought their lunches right after that, saying, “Please be careful. These plates are hot. Can I get you ladies another drink?”
Yuki passed on a second beer and removed the onions from her burger and cut it in half. “I find Brady tremendously attractive,” she said.
“Who doesn’t?” said Cindy, taking aim at her fries with a ketchup bottle, thwacking the bottom. “He’s like Don Johnson in that old show Miami Vice. Tubbs. No, Crockett.”
“One problem,” Yuki said.
“Only one?”
“He’s married. Lindsay says.”
“Wait. He’s married? And he didn’t tell you?”
“No, but he will. Don’t forget what I do for a living.”
“Be careful, Yuki. You’re hooked, you’re cooked. That plate is hot.”