Club Fantasy by Joan Elizabeth Lloyd Page B

and awkwardly using chopsticks with the other, trying not to spill down her shirt. “Thanks anyway.”
    â€œI wish you’d give it a bit of thought. I know the other guy and he’s really nice. He’s not Glen, of course, but he’s intelligent, interesting and has a great sense of humor. It would be a great favor to me.”
    â€œWhy are you so anxious to set me up?” Jenna asked, deciding to tuck a napkin into the neck of her sky blue tee shirt.
    â€œI worry that you’ll spend a few months here, then scurry back to the safety of Seneca Falls, having experienced nothing of what there is to experience here.”
    â€œAnd that’s sex, right?”
    â€œIt’s variety. It’s men, good food, good conversation, flirtation, and that wonderful heat when two people begin to dance around the attraction they feel. And, yes, it’s sex.”
    Jenna squirmed under Chloe’s scrutiny. “I’ve been sexual. Glen and I had some pretty wild times.”
    â€œYeah, you told me,” Chloe said, raising a quizzical eyebrow.
    Slightly annoyed, Jenna said, “Stop putting me and Seneca Falls and Glen down like some collection of small-town people with nothing exciting ever happening. It’s not like that.”
    â€œI’m only quoting you, Jenna. You said you were here to experience things and this is how. Wouldn’t you feel like a horse’s ass if you went back and discovered, sometime down the line, what you’d been missing? There’s more to life than Glen. You’re chomping at the bit to do something but you’re too chicken to reach for it.”
    Jenna sat back and put her spoon and chopsticks down. She wanted to rail at Chloe, tell her that she should mind her own business, but she also was enough of a realist to accept that some of what her friend was saying was true. She had come to New York to grow, to reach out for things. “This would be just a date,” Jenna said finally. “No prior commitment or understanding. No tacit agreement for sex afterwards.”
    Chloe made a face. “I wouldn’t do that to you,” she said, putting her utensils down. “Not a chance. Harry is a thoroughly nice guy who I’ve been seeing for several months on and off. His friend’s name is Brand and he’s in town from Dallas. As a favor to Harry I arranged a friend for Brand when he was last in New York. The four of us had dinner, went to a movie, and that was that. No strings. No nothing. Stop being so suspicious. Yes, I want you to get out and experience life but whether or not you get laid is completely up to you.”
    Jenna had to smile at Chloe’s blunt language. “I’m sorry I got so carried away.” She realized that people at nearby tables were leaning closer to hear the rest of the conversation so she lowered her voice. “That’s the second time this week. I guess I’ve got ulterior motives on the brain.”
    â€œNo problem,” Chloe said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “So, will you come with us? We’re thinking of seeing that new Jack Nicholson film.”
    Jenna let out a long breath. “Sure. Okay. That sounds fine.”
    â€œGreat. I’ll call Harry when we get home.”

Chapter 4
    A fter a delightful evening with Chloe, Harry, and Brand, Jenna lay in bed thinking about the way her life had progressed since arriving in New York City just a week before. She’d had dates with two different men and had had fun with each. Where Toby was serious and sexy, Brand had been just plain fun. She and Toby had discussed a myriad of subjects, while with the foursome earlier that evening she had laughed more than she could remember. Harry and Brand tossed one-liners back and forth, keeping the women laughing with genuine good humor.
    Toby was very attractive and sexy looking and made her heart skip a beat or two, and, while Brand was ordinary looking, with