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Nina

It’s quitting time, and I am so ready to let my hair down and have some fun!

I go into the hospital locker room, and I decide to go ahead and take a shower and change before I even leave the hospital. After I blow dry my hair and get dressed, I hear the door open.

“Nina! Are you ready? Let’s go!”

“I’m almost ready. I’m just finishing my makeup.”

“Oh wow! Nina, you look great! Is that a new outfit?”

“Yes,” I turn in a circle so my friend can see how my new dress hugs my curves. It is form-fitting, and it makes me feel so sexy. The color of the dress is a shimmery blue, which matches the bright blue streaks in my dark-colored hair.

I glance down at my three-inch high heels; they sparkle with each step that I take. I’ve painted my toenails a bright hot pink and I have on a silver toering that flashes like my shoes.

The high heels still don’t make me that tall, as with the heels, I’m only 5‘3.”

I have multiple silver bracelets on my wrists; they jingle and flash as I move my arms.

As I put the third coat of mascara on my lashes, I look over at my friend, Anna.

“You look great, too, Anna.”

“Thanks. Okay, let’s go. The girls are meeting us at Shot in the Dark in thirty minutes. So we just have time to get there. They have a live band tonight! I am ready to p-a-r-t-y!”

I smile at my friend’s enthusiasm, grab my backpack and purse then follow my friend to the parking lot.

“Come on, let’s go. My turn to drive, remember?”

“I remember.”

We get into my friend’s Prius and head to the pub. When we arrive, the parking lot is packed. We have to park across the street. We can hear the music booming as we approach the entrance.

I’ve been to Shot in the Dark before. It’s an upscale sports pub. Lately, they are becoming known as the place to be as they’ve invited some really good local bands to play live. They also opened up their back rooms to allow for dancing. I can’t wait to join the fun.

“Nina, they said they’d save us a place near the front. Follow me!”

I can barely hear Anna’s voice above the loud music that is blaring out of the speakers. I start to automatically move my body to the beat as we weave through the crowd.

“Hey, Doll, where have you been all my life?”

I laugh as I extricate my arm from the hand of the guy standing beside me.

“That’s a very old pickup line. Good luck with it!” I yell as I continue to follow my friend until we’re almost near the slightly raised stage where the band is set up and playing.

“Anna, Nina, over here!”

We finally see our friends as they wave us over.

“OMG! Nina, that dress! Girl, you will be going home with someone tonight. You look positively sex-y.”

We all hug and then I order a drink. I get a rum and Coke. I gratefully take a sip, and the cool drink feels good going down.

I feel my body sway to the rhythm of the music as my Latino roots embrace the powerful beat of the music.

“The band is really good! They’re local, right? What’s their name?”

“They’re Night Music,” my friend yells back, “And the guys are hot too! Check out the guitarist and the guy on the keyboard. I want to be a groupie!”

I laugh at her antics, but my eyes dutifully check out the muscular blonde who’s playing lead guitar. He’s handsome but not really my type. I slowly run my gaze over each of the band members, and then my eyes fall on the keyboard player. He’s big and tall, with dark hair. I can’t really see his face all that clearly from here, but his body looks like he works out. His shoulders are broad, and his arms are muscular; he’s wearing a T-shirt that hugs his muscles.

I look over at my friend, “I see what you mean!”

We both nod approvingly as we listen to the music. I raise my arms over my head and give in to the beat as I sway my hips.

I keep an eye on the keyboard player as his fingers fly over the keys. He’s good. Very good. The entire band has a good sound. I look around and notice everyone seems to be enjoying the band’s performance. Everybody loves their song, ‘You know you want me.’

I see an old boyfriend who loves to dance; we broke up but remain good friends. The one thing we have in common is we both love to dance. He’s a great dancer, and he’s Latino like me; we even won a few dance contests when we were together.

“Nina, girl, you look good. Come and dance with me. The band’s good tonight.”

“Okay, Hector.” I take another sip of my drink and then set it on the tabletop. I grab Hector’s hand that he’s holding out, and we begin to dance.

It’s been a hard week, and I’m finally off for the entire weekend. So, I don’t try to hold back. My body flows to the music, and Hector expertly guides me around the floor. Soon, the other dancers are moving back to watch us.

I look over at Hector; he and I both love the attention. I see his eyebrows go up questionably, and I nod. That look asked me if I wanted to join him in putting on a show. My nod said yes, let’s do it!

He begins our old dance routine. I swirl around on the dance floor and shimmy my hips; I flow to the music and the rhythm of the dance. I block out everything but the music, and I let my body naturally flow to the beat. It’s so freeing. It’s also sensual and sexy, and I hear the crowd as they approve of our moves. I throw my head back and let my hair flow down my back as I embrace the dance.

When the music and the dance come to an end, I’m left in Hector’s arms as he dramatically lowers me near the floor. I throw my arms out to the side, and we end in a professional pose.

I hear the crowd clap and holler as I hold the pose, and then Hector is helping me up. We smile at each other, and then he leads me back to my friends.

Hector, always flashy, bows and then kisses the back of my hand.

“Thank you for the dance, Nina,” he winks, then whispers, “Why did we break up again? I know it had nothing to do with compatibility as we move together so well.”

“It was because you have a wandering eye, and you cheated on me, Hector,” I remind him casually. He didn’t break my heart; he just wounded my ego a bit. I’ve never truly been in love.

I’m a love ’em and leave’em type of gal. I’m still young, I like to date and I like to flirt. I have no desire to settle down anytime soon. I have plans, and right now, I don’t have time to be in a relationship.

I get a few more offers to dance, but the guys are not in the same class as Hector, and we mostly just sway to the music. When they ask for my number after the dance, I shake my head and let them down with a smile.

“Sorry, I don’t give out my number.”

“How will I call you later then?”

I wink and give the guy’s hand a squeeze to let him down easy, “You don’t. But thanks for the dance.”

I rarely have a guy be too persistent. They typically can tell I’m not interested in anything more permanent.

My friends and I keep dancing. We keep the drinks coming, too.

“Nina, time for another rum and Coke or just water?”

“Water, please. It’s three glasses of water to every rum and Coke.”

“I tried that once, but I prefer the buzz I get from alcohol.”

I shrug and continue to enjoy the music. When my friends come back with my water, I gratefully drink it down. I love to dance, but I also know it’s important to keep hydrated.

“Nina, the band is on their last set. I want to say hello to the lead guitarist. Will you go backstage with me?”

“Anna, are you sure? He’s probably used to groupies… who want to say hello to him,” I use my fingers as quotes.

“Please?”

“Okay.”

She’s off-limits, but I’m about to make her mine.

What could possibly go wrong?

The Company Board of Directors makes it clear: Clean up my act!

So, when I”m caught in a compromising position, I do the only thing I can think of, I lie and tell the world we”re engaged.

But here”s the kicker.

Haley isn”t just any woman. She’s my best friend’s younger sister and completely off-limits.

Now, we’re playing house, pretending to be madly in love.

Yet, the more I try to keep my distance, the more I find myself drawn to her infectious laughter and fiery spirit.

And the biggest problem?

I might just be falling for her, and if my lies unravel, I could lose everything, including the only woman who’s ever made me want to be more than just a playboy.