previous Tansy tales can be found under the Prince Charming and Clare category.

“You know, Ray, I’ve been thinking,” Tansy began.

Ray slid a wineglass onto the wooden rack above the sink. “About going home? Do you have a home?”

“I’m going to think you don’t love me.” She leaned forward on the bar and her V-neck burgundy sweater slid down showing ample cleavage, which he ignored. When he moved on to another task, she shrugged and sat back up on the stool. “Do men like women who primp?”

He looked up at her, his left eye narrowing as he looked at her quizzically. “Primp?”

She gestured with her right hand as if cupping her blond curls. “Primp. You know, those girls who always check their look in the mirror on your car visor and apply that little extra peach lip gloss that their hair gets stuck in. Isn’t that disgusting by the way?”

He nodded. “Gotcha. So what does this have to do with anything?”

“I’m thinking about becoming a primper.”

“And you want me to pimp your primp?”

She laughed broadly. “As if. Do you think Dominic would love me if I primped?”

Ray sighed. He spread his arms out and leaned his hands against the bar and looked her directly in the eye. “Tansy, I’m really tired of you coming in here talking about Dominic.”

“Is that because you secretly love me and are jealous?”

“You seriously hydrogen-bombed that relationship and you need to get over it.”

“Are you asking me out?”

“Fingernails on a blackboard.”

“That’s sexy.”

Ray held up his palm and shook his head. “I’m not sure why I try.”

Tansy swirled her finger around the rim of her margarita glass and placed the salt laden tip between her lips. “Because you secretly love me, Ray.”

“As if.”

end 11/9/2016

S. Darlington