Perfecting the Odds by Brenna St. Clare Read Free Book Online Page A

attorney extinguished any chance of a long term, or even committed relationship. In fact, she would engage in no more than two “stands”, and only if the man had an elite stand between his legs and the sexual prowess of a god, said Eve.
    “ I wear the badge proudly. It’s Saturday night at ten. You think Diane would watch the rug rats?”
    “MA! I need some help, please ,” Robby interrupted Karis’s response.
    Karis held her hand over the mouth piece. “Okay, Robby, I’ll be right there.”
    “I don’t even have a costume. What would I go as? A wife in mourning?” Karis snorted, imagining a cross between a nun and June Cleaver.
    “Damn it, Karis. I’m not trying to get you to forget him. I just want you to …I don’t know… live a little, have some fun.” Fun. There was that word again. Karis gave up trying to convince Eve that widows usually stayed that way for years, maybe even forever. And she could have argued that Robert would never again live a little because she knew that ship had sailed as well. It was just recently, in fact, that she convinced Karis to take off her wedding ring. According to Eve, Karis was way too young to settle into the eternal widow role, and she needed to exude single even if she wasn’t ready for partnership.
    But it wasn’t necessarily that Karis didn’t want to date. She just couldn’t imagine being with another man. After some behind the high school bleacher mistakes, she’d only been with Robert, and for nearly seventeen years. She wouldn’t know how to date if it was scripted for her. Besides, there was only one other man who entered her thoughts and fantasies besides her late husband. But that’s all he was, a fantasy.
    “Fine, Eve. You win. But you have to find me a costume. I have zero time this week. And I swear, if you get me some goddamn Playboy Bunny costume, I won’t go.” Karis could hear Eve’s stifled chuckle.
    “Yes, Sister Karis, I will buy thee a modest garb to wear to our engagement.”
    “ Thank you, your bitchiness. I have to go help Robby. You’re the DD on Saturday. I plan to get at least buzzed since you’re the one dragging me to this godforsaken thing.”
    “Se e you Saturday about 8:30.” With a click, Eve was gone.
    A Halloween Party.
    Just what Karis needed.
    That , and a frickin’ hole in the head.

Chapter 7  
     
    Sixty essays graded, one Boy Scout meeting, a gymnastics class, and an impromptu living room viola performance staring Grace later, the weekend arrived. An hour and a half later, Karis and Eve walked through the all too familiar door of the Underground Tavern, inundated by loud chamber music, fake spider webs, crepe paper and (yip-ee) smoke...at least it was fake this time.
    “We meet again, you son-of-a-bitch,” Karis muttered to the staircase leading down to the club. She glanced down at her two-inch heels, quite high for her, and growled.
    “ Lighten up. Think fun,” Eve nagged, easily making the decent in her size six stilettos.
    “ Right. It’s going to be a blast as I roll head over ass exposing my, in your words, ‘neglected vijay-jay’, to everyone in the bar,” Karis said, palming the walls for support as she eased down a few more steps.
    Eve turned and shrugged. “It’ll be good advertising.” Karis couldn’t help but laugh loudly at Eve’s crude humor. She never ceased to lighten Karis’s mood.
    The bouncer requested Karis’s ID, and arrogant pride welled within her. Damn right, she thought. Thirty-four and still carded. Probably protocol, but she’d take it and lock it away for one of those days she felt like an old hag.
    Her license safely tucked back into her wristlet, Karis scanned the room vomiting orange and black from every possible crevice. Dry ice billowed from the corners of the dance floor, pulsing with giggly twenty somethings wearing every naughty costume possible from fairy tale heroine to teacher.
    Well, that’s just wrong , she thought. Is a teacher even a fantasy? If