Well? Why not?

The sting of her recent divorce and the utter betrayal that had been fixed firmly in her mind as she considered Stacy's apparent proposition. She'd given him everything she had to offer, been the best kind of wife as she saw it. Supporting, self-sacrificing, and generous. But it turned out Richard had only seen their marriage as a duty because he'd impregnated her.

Kathleen regretted all of it. Being that bastard's well-mannered conservative wifey that he could take to his work functions. Playing hostess to his buddies or colleagues whenever he wanted to bring them by the house. She'd sacrificed all of her hobbies and interests and several career advancement opportunities so that he could climb his own ladder that much faster. At the time she'd thought it was fine because it was all for the family.

Well, so much for all that.

Kathleen locked eyes with herself in the mirror. It was time she took a big bite of life. No more playing it safe, no more living for anyone else.

She turned the lock and opened the door a crack, then stepped backwards to press her back to the mirror, savoring the thrilling butterflies in her stomach. 'What am I doing? This is crazy.'

But crazy was exactly what Kathleen wanted to cleanse her palate of that bastard ex-husband. She bit her lip as the door swung open. The clerk, Stacy, slipped inside and shut it behind her with the soft *ka-click* of a standard lock. Then she turned to Kathleen.

She grinned, taking in the full sight of the half-naked young woman. She spoke in a hushed tone so as not to be overheard outside. "Oh, ho! Look at you. Hot damn, girl. You'd never know under all that frumpy fabric you were hiding such a body. You're lucky you came in when you did, momma's girl. I'll get you everything you so clearly need. Everything your momma would never have let you have."

She closed the distance between them and brushed a hand across Kathleen's waist, the other hand slipping beneath the half-dressed girl's curtain of long hair to cup her neck. Stacy was an inch or two taller than Kathleen, and their proximity **** the shorter girl to lift her chin to maintain eye contact.

Kathleen's heart pounded so hard in her chest she feared it would explode. Her cheeks felt hot.

Still grinning, Stacy lowered her mouth very close to Kathleen's ear, physically trapping the girl against the wall as she spoke. "Now, I've gotten into trouble making assumptions before, so before I really touch you, I need to hear you ask for it."