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EVE GAVE THE taxi driver the address. As she watched through the window as the city lights flickered past, she felt a twinge of guilt. She should have told Dylan the truth. He wouldn’t have been happy, but at least she would have avoided any misunderstandings.
I’ll tell him next week, Eve promised herself. Once she settled into a routine and could give him more details.
Satisfied with the solutions, Eve put her hands into the pockets of her coat. She frowned when she found what felt like a box. Removing the object, she held it up to her face so she could read the writing.
“Oh, my word.” Eve snorted. “Well, he does think I’m on a date.”
Looking again, checking twice, a delighted laugh tumbled from her lips.
“Dylan gave me a box of condoms.”
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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
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HEAD BENT AT the neck, Dylan stared at the three shots of whiskey sitting in front of him. Should he, or shouldn’t he
As the minutes passed, the bartender served other customers while keeping an interested eye on Dylan.
“Do you plan to drink those or simply admire them all evening?” a woman’s voice asked. “If all you want to do is look, why don’t you choose something beautiful to gaze upon. I volunteer.”
Dylan didn’t bother to raise his eyes. He saw no reason since he recognized the deliberately sultry voice and wasn’t interested in playing whatever game she had in mind.
“The least you could do is answer me.”
Sasha Lake slid onto the stool next to Dylan, close enough for him to smell her distinctive perfume. When he didn’t comment, she shifted until her thigh brushed against his.
“Go away, Sasha.” Dylan placed both palms flat onto the bar’s surface. “Find someone else to torture.”
“Interesting word,” Sasha said, not the least bit discouraged. “You always like it when I get a little rough.”
“No.” Dylan shook his head. “I tolerated you.”
“You’re lying,” Sasha purred as she ran one long, red nail along the back of his hand. “I know when a man is under my spell.”
Dylan turned his head, meeting Sasha’s gaze before returning his attention to the whiskey.
“Let me be absolutely clear. Consider me see-through from this moment on—like fine crystal or cellophane.” He smiled, pleased by the analogy. “You were a diversion when I had nothing better to do. Never again.”
“I still have things to show you,” Sasha said, blowing a puff of hot breath into his ear.
“Ew.” Dylan shuddered. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“You heard the man. Shoo.”
“Levi?” Dylan twisted his head to the right. “You’re my best friend. Make her go away.”
“Can’t you see the man’s in a bad way,” Levi said, appealing to Sasha’s finer qualities. “You don’t want to take advantage when he’s dropped to such a pathetic low.”
“I’ll make him feel better. I always do.” Sasha brushed her fingers across Levi’s arm. “Come and watch if you want. Or join in.”
“No touching.” A beautiful redhead dressed in a formfitting burgundy dress and killer black heels, flicked Sasha’s hand away as though the woman was less consequential than a flea. “He’s mine.”
“Piper. Thank God.” Levi smiled into his wife’s green eyes. “I don’t know how to make her go away.”
“Did you say shoo?” Piper asked before placing a sympathetic kiss on Levi’s cheek. Moving to his lips, she lingered.
“I did,” Levi said. He wrapped an arm around Piper’s waist. “Shoo didn’t work.”
“Then ignore her.” Piper wedged herself between the barstools, effectively blocking Sasha out. The other woman fumed, then knowing she met her match, slunk away. “Tell me what’s going on with our boy.”
“Sad.” Dylan sighed. “Alcohol might be the answer.”
Worried, Piper looked at Levi.
“How much has he had?”
“Nothing yet,” Levi assured her. “Or he’d be flat on his ass.”
“Where’s Daisy?” Piper asked.
“On a sleepover with my mother and Tanner,” Dylan muttered.
“Really?” Levi seemed skeptical.
“Big brother’s been stepping up lately. Visited Daisy every day last week.” Dylan sighed. “Eve gave her permission to let Daisy stay over.”
“Eve rules the roost?” Levi asked. Dylan simply nodded.
“Okay.” Levi grinned. “Where is Eve.”
“On a date.” Dylan reached for a glass of whiskey. Piper swatted his hand away. She drank the contents in one gulp. “Second night in a row. Same guy? Beats me.”
Catching on to his friend’s dilemma, Levi nodded.
“Why did you let her go?”
“Couldn’t stop her.” Frowning, Dylan raised his head. “Could I?”
“No.” Piper shot Levi a dirty look. “What you can do is ask her out. You have the home-field advantage. Knock out the competition.”
“Promised Eve if she came with me to Seattle, I wouldn’t make her feel uncomfortable.” Dylan lifted his hands, slamming them hard against the bar. “No pressure. No touching. Can’t even hold her hand.”
“Well, crap. No wonder you’re in a snit.” Meeting her husband’s gaze, Piper lowered her voice. “Dylan needs to get laid.”
“Only Eve will do.” Dylan grabbed drink number two. “She has to make the first move.”
“My turn.” Levi brought Dylan’s hand, and the whiskey to his mouth. Swallowing, he grimaced.
“What the hell?” Dylan gaped. “You don’t drink.”
“Because I don’t like the taste. You’re the one who gets shit faced after a single sip.” Levi tipped the final glass until the whiskey spilled out. With a nod of apology to the bartender, he took out five twenties and set them on the bar. “Let’s go.”
“Where?” Dylan asked. “I can’t go home. The house is sad and empty.”
“I have an idea.” Piper took one of Dylan’s arms, Levi took the other.
“Tempting,” Dylan winked, smiling for the first time all night. “But I told you, Eve is the only one I want.”
“Hey, you’re talking about my wife, dickhead. Wait a minute.” Levi sent a wary look Piper’s way. “Did you just proposition my best friend?”
“She did,” Dylan said.
“One foot in front of the other, boys.” Piper pushed them toward the door. “Our car is out front. Did you drive?”
“Not when I planned to drink. Sheesh. What do you take me for?” Dylan asked as Levi shoved
