TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT - SPIDER

 

Howdy! This week "spider" is our word prompt. Dale is not quite the innocent bystander she looks like. She has a secret. Let's find out what it is. Thanks for stopping by. Check out the other stories, which you can find HERE.

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As she approached the buffet, Robbie entered the room. They locked gazes. He gave her a polite nod.

Dale made a quick salad at the salad bar, then took a seat in a corner, praying he wouldn’t join her. As if reading her mind, he joined his fellow Kings, Trunk Mahoney, and Bullhorn Brodsky. She was close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“So, Robbie, which hot chick is cooking turkey for you this year? Or are you eating a tv dinner?” Bull asked.

“I’ve been invited,” Robbie said, then took a bite of his sandwich.

“Yeah? Who’d invite you? Not one of your one-night stands?” Trunk asked.

“They are not one-night stands,” Robbie said.

“Yeah?” Bull said before picking up a French fry.

Trunk shot a look at Dale. “So. Who invited you?”

“Never mind.”

“I don’t believe you. Tell us.” Trunk pressed.

Dale’s appetite went South.

“If you must know, Dale.”

Trunk widened his eyes and stared directly at her. Damn, Robbie. Why couldn’t he shut up?

“I guess you got lucky, again!” Bull said, shaking his head.

“Shut the fuck up! She’s right over there, she’ll hear you. And, if it’s any of your business, no, I didn’t. We’re just friends.”

“Not for long,” snickered Bull.

“Fuck you, Brodsky.”

Dale shoveled her salad in her mouth and then downed her coffee. As she cleaned off her tray, a deep voice behind her and a hand on her arm stopped her.

“I’m sorry about that asshole Brodsky.”

She faced Robbie. His aftershave teased her nose. She didn’t realize how tall he was. He lowered his gaze to hers and her pulse jumped. For a second, she thought he was going to kiss her.

When he leaned in, his breath was warm on her ear, and his shoulder rubbed up against hers. “You haven’t given me your address.”

She rattled it off in a wobbly voice.

“Great. Pick you up at seven?”

She nodded. He shot her a warm smile that sent a zing all the way to her core. He turned and strode out of the room, leaving a void. She let out a breath. The man was sex on legs.

Another masculine voice snapped her out of her reverie.

“Dale, you’re not falling for the guy, are you?”

It was Trunk Mahoney.

“No, no.”  

“That wasn’t part of our bet. You were just supposed to make him think you were falling for him.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Right, right.”

“Then drop him. Stomp on his worthless heart.”

She’d pushed the stupid bet out of her mind, sort of, and let her guard down. Robbie’d sneaked into her affections.

“Don’t you need a hundred bucks?” Trunk laughed. “At the first sign of tears, his, I’ll pay up.”

Dale bit her lip, thinking,  What have I done? I’m just like a spider who eats her mate.