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thick forearms were dusted with light brown hair that Janie happened to know also covered his impressive pecs. For all she knew, it covered more than that, but she hadn’t found out yet.
    The question was, did she want to?
    A lot of women did. When Otto took her to the movies or to the Silver Spur to dance, hungry eyes watched him when the other girls thought she wasn’t looking. Most Konigsburg females undoubtedly believed she was one lucky lady.
    Janie mentally gritted her teeth. She was one lucky lady. Otto was a catch. They’d been dating now for almost three months, and she knew he wanted to take their relationship to the next level because he’d told her so in exactly those words.
    Janie wasn’t sure why she didn’t quite feel like doing that. After all, the number of months for her current dry spell was now stretching into double digits.
    Maybe because making out with Otto hadn’t inspired much more than annoyance when he slobbered in her ear, although she’d also had a vague ache around her stomach. It could have been desire, but it could also have been the nachos they’d shared earlier.
    Janie sighed. Her mother would tell her she was being silly. Her friends would tell her she was being picky. Well, some of her friends would tell her that. Janie had a feeling Docia wouldn’t.
    Docia had found her prince, although she’d had to put up with a lot of toads before she did. Docia’s wedding was a daily reminder that princes were out there somewhere, and a daily reason not to settle for less.
    “You ready to go there, sweet thing?” Otto’s voice sounded like his throat had been buttered, particularly around Janie’s mother.
    “Yes, I am.” Janie gathered her clutch bag and a butter yellow stole she’d picked up at the weaving shop downtown. Her white strapless sundress splashed with bright red poppies always made her feel perkier than usual, particularly since it didn’t look like something she could wear to church on Sunday.
    Otto hadn’t really noticed the dress. Or anyway, he hadn’t said anything about it. Maybe he wasn’t into perky.
    “Oh Janie, don’t you look lovely.” Her mother gave her a quick hug.
    Well, a mother compliment was better than no compliment at all. On the other hand, her mother had said more or less the same thing when Janie had headed off to her senior prom in the Disco Drama dress that still ranked as her biggest fashion disaster.
    Otto cocked an eyebrow. “Nice dress.” He sounded like he’d just noticed she had clothes on.
    Janie gripped her purse more tightly and headed toward Otto’s glistening black monster truck. The row of chrome lights on top of the cab glittered in the setting sun.
    “So are you coming to The Wedding?” she asked as she hauled herself up to the front seat. The truck’s tires seemed to increase in diameter every time she climbed into the cab.
    “What wedding is that?” Otto climbed up beside her easily, sliding his key into the ignition.
    Janie stared at him. “Docia’s wedding. Next week. She said you hadn’t RSVPed.”
    Otto frowned slightly. “She’s taking that RSVP thing seriously? I mean, hell, who knows whether they’re coming or not this far in advance?”
    “It’s a wedding!” Janie grasped her purse tightly and worked on keeping that grating edge out of her voice. “They have to know how many people are going to be there so they can plan and order the food.”
    “Oh, okay, I guess.” Otto shrugged, glancing sideways. “I don’t think I’ve got anything else going on then. You want to go with me?”
    “I’m Docia’s maid of honor,” Janie said through clenched teeth. “I’ll already be there.”
    Otto shrugged again. “Well that makes it easier. We can hook up afterwards at the reception.”
    Janie smoothed out the slight marks her nails had made in the leather of her purse and worked on keeping her breathing steady. “Right. Just remember to RSVP.”
    “Ah, hell, sweet thing, you just tell ’em I’m