Three Little Words. Susan Mallery

both jumped when she told them to. And it was pretty darned great to watch.

      “We were talking and I wanted to kiss this guy,” Consuelo said. “But I remembered that guys are supposed to make the first move.”

      “I’m not sure he’d mind you kissing him. He’d probably be happy.”

      “What if he’s not?”

      “Any—” She started to say “straight guy” only to realize that hit a little too close to home for her. “What’s he like?” she asked instead.

      “He’s sweet,” Consuelo murmured, glancing at her feet, then back at Isabel. “Smart and funny. Cute. A good guy. I like him. But I’m not a soccer mom. I don’t know how to be normal. You know, like you.”

      “Ordinary and boring, you mean.”

      “No. The kind of woman a man wants to be with for more than sex. I don’t want to be a conquest. I want to be...”

      “In a relationship?”

      Consuelo nodded slowly. “He’s the first guy I’ve liked in a long time. But he’s nothing like me.”

      “Isn’t that a good thing? Opposites attract and all that?”

      Consuelo sighed. “I should just go kill something. I’ll feel better.”

      “That’s certainly one solution,” Isabel said slowly, hoping her friend was kidding. “Or you could take a chance. Go out with him a couple of times. See where it leads.”

      “Maybe. Is the sex different?”

      “Excuse me?”

      “Between normal people? Without the threat of danger or death?”

      Isabel opened her mouth, then closed it. “I’m so the wrong person to ask. I’ve never had dangerous sex.”

      “Right. It’s mostly indoors and in a bed.”

      Except for those few experiences in Billy’s truck, yes. “You prefer it outdoors? You can ask the guy. I’m thinking he’ll be thrilled to be flexible.” This was ridiculous. Talk about the blind leading the blind. “Maybe you should ask someone else about it. Someone more adventurous.”

      “I don’t want anyone else to know. You won’t say anything, will you?”

      “No.” First, because she’d given her word, and second, because there wasn’t anything to say. She didn’t know who they were talking about or what Consuelo was nervous about.

      “Any guy would be lucky to have you in his life,” she offered. “The next time a guy you like asks you out, say yes. If you want to kiss him, kiss him. If he reacts badly, please don’t kill him.”

      Consuelo got an odd look on her face. “You’re saying I shouldn’t have sex with him and then slit his throat.”

      Isabel laughed. “Probably not.”

      But instead of chuckling in return, Consuelo shook her head. “I’m never going to get this right,” she muttered, before stalking away.

      Isabel stared after her, not sure what on earth had just happened.