<span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Ravi;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;">Was she? She hadn't had a close friend since she moved to St. Louis, and even before that, the last time she really had a girlfriend had been at the start of her relationship with Lucas. And back then her relationships had been regulated by her mother. God, what was she, some porcelain doll to live life through rules that created a protective bubble around her? At least now she was living by rules of her own making, and she was <em>trying</em> to make friends. Ardy counted. And so did Colin, because he was her best friend, ever, knowing just what to say to make her smile a little more. Of course he had to go and mention the night before when she had felt particularly daring and it had her cheeks heating up all over again. <br/><br/>Apparently it was beyond hope that the blush would fully die tonight. Every time the color eased from her cheeks even a little it was surging back and she made a little sound when he squeezed her rear in his hand. It wasn't at all proper to do in the kitchen but it... was nice, and made her shiver slightly at the memory of his hand lightly impacting on her skin the night before when she had been on her hands and knees with him behind her. That it had taken her eight months to offer that position didn't matter, she had done it and heavens it had been worth it. <br/><br/>She felt him stiffen slightly in surprise, heard the footsteps and looked up at Colin's expression before turning to face Ardy. Yup, he found her attractive, because there was no hiding the instant reaction and Bee's stomach did an odd twisty thing that wasn't particularly comfortable. She was starting to wonder if anything tonight would be comfortable for her. <br/><br/>Or would go at all according to plan. <br/><br/>Ardelia's wittiness only had her blushing all over again, particularly at the thought of a quickie and she disentangled herself from her fiance, taking steps back from both of them almost like a cornered rabbit might, right up to the point of brushing her back against the oven. She had to stop there, shrinking into the oven wasn't exactly the most brilliant of ideas. "Uh... no, that is um... we don't... I... the chowder is done, so if you two go sit I'll bring the salad over first." From stuttering she fell back into what she knew, hostess, and she found that smile locked firmly back into place the panicked, nervy Beth, disappearing beneath the hostess mask that might have a few things in common with the Stepford Wife type. Her mother could have been the poster child for that psychotic place. Red cheeked she turned, giving them both her back to check and make sure the salads were ready, which of course they were but she just wanted them to sit down. and to not have to see if they were attracted to each other, because considering a mutual attraction wasn't something she felt up to just now.</span></span>