The Year of Living Shamelessly Read Free Page B

“but anecdotally speaking, it’s not going to happen.”
     
    “I hate to say it, but I agree,” Katie said. Although she would never use the word “anecdotally” like her research librarian friend. “Why else would I wear stiletto boots?” She lifted her leg to show off the five-inch heel. “It’s to be seen, to be noticed. No, it’s to make Ryder’s head snap back and his tongue hang out.”
     
    “How’s that working out for you?” Hilary asked as she brushed the cookie crumbs from her mouth with a napkin.
     
    “Not well.” Katie gave a huff of frustration and leaned back in her chair. “For the past year I have followed every article from every sexy magazine, and what do I have to show for it? Nothing.”
     
    “I wouldn’t say that,” Hilary said. “You have a new attitude, a killer wardrobe and plenty of dates.”
     
    “But I don’t have Ryder,” Katie pointed out. That was her mission. Anyone else was a distraction from her main goal.
     
    “Don’t give up,” Melissa insisted, patting Katie’s hand. “You and Ryder were made for each other. He’s always been there for you. Nothing will ever change that.”
     
    “As much as I would like to believe that,” Hilary said, crumpling her napkin, “Katie has basically served herself up on a silver platter and Ryder hasn’t taken a nibble. I think we should take that as a sign and move on.”
     
    Katie shook her head. “No way. I’m not giving up yet. Just wait and see.” She tapped her finger on the table. “This time next year I will be knee-deep in a wild affair with Ryder Scott.”
     
    Melissa and Hilary exchanged glances.
     
    “What?” Katie asked.
     
    “You have made Ryder Scott your New Year’s resolution for the past two years,” Hilary pointed out.
     
    It was true. Two years in a row and she hadn’t even had a kiss from the guy. . . . Ouch. “And I’ll make it for next year.” She tilted her chin up defiantly. “Who am I to break tradition?”
     
    “Katie, maybe you need to cast your net a little wider,” Melissa suggested.
     
    Katie couldn’t believe that Melissa, her love-will-conquer-all friend, had just said that to her. “You just told me that Ryder and I were destined for each other.”
     
    “I know, but that doesn’t mean you need to wait around until he wises up,” Melissa said. “Ever since your makeover, the men in town have been falling all over you. Why not go for one of them?”
     
    “I’ve tried.” She had purposely dated guys who didn’t remind her of Ryder. That may have been her first mistake. Like Jason, the sexy banker who was the complete opposite of Ryder. Unfortunately, he was more interested in her credit rating than her body. Then there was Brian, the hot young history professor. Brian’s idea of a good time was touring through cemeteries and making tombstone rubbings. “They bored me. But it wasn’t all bad. Those guys must have gotten into a bragging contest because now they all want to date me. I seem to have gotten myself quite the reputation.”
     
    “Deservedly or undeservedly?” Hilary asked with a smile.
     
    “Let’s just say that reports of my bedroom activities were greatly exaggerated.” There had been a couple of times this year when she’d thought she would never achieve her goal of getting Ryder into bed. She decided to “move on” with a man who knew how to treat and please a woman, but in the end the men she’d dated were just pale imitations of Ryder. “But I’m not wasting my time on those guys. I’m not going to settle for second best.”
     
    “Then you need to be aware of your competition,” Hilary decided. “Take a look over there.”
     
    Katie turned around to where Hilary indicated with the tilt of her head. Her heart lurched, excitement tingling in her blood when she saw Ryder. He was talking to someone she couldn’t see when he leaned back and laughed.
     
    She had to smile in return. Katie loved watching Ryder, especially