“Dude! You got the girl!” Trentteases.
“You always pay that much for a naked woman?” Coy gets his jabin.
Austin laughs loudly and grins at me, raising his glass. “No way! This is cherry popping. The first time Sean’s had to pay forass.”
“Y’all are fucked in the head.” I groan and stand from the table as the room applauds. I walk over to the table where a volunteer is waiting to arrangedelivery.
She takes my payment and fills out the receipt. “Do you have an address we can ship this to?” The woman licks her full lips and rolls the end of her pen along where they part. “I’ll personally ensure it arrives safely.” She’s as old as my mother. Hell, she kinda even looks like my mom. There’s no way I’m giving her myaddress.
“Can you have a valet put it in my car? That’d beeasier.”
She waves a hand at my offer. “Oh, we can deliver it to your residence. It’s notrouble.”
Yeah, I’m not sure that’s true. This one looks like a handful of trouble. Cougars. Man, they’re the only women who truly scare me. Aggressive and determined to get what they want. “No, thank you, ma’am. My car isperfect.”
Her lower lip pouts with disappointment. “Of course, Mr. Willis.” She rips my receipt from her book and flips it over to jot down a number before holding it out to me. “If you have any problems at all. Or need a woman’s touch, decorating or otherwise, here’s my personal cell. Thank you for your generosity, Mr.Willis.”
“Thank you.” I take the paper and head back to our table, only to find everyone walking out of theballroom.
Austin turns, catching my gaze and mouths, “Bar.”
I nod and hit the head before meeting them all in the hotel bar. It’s packed with party-goers not ready to call it a night. Spotting Austin and Trent right away, I push my way through the crowd. I’m disappointed Coy’s still down here, though I’d rather he’s with us than back in his room with Jess, as fucked up as that is. Austin grins and hands me a beer when I reachthem.
“Best. Friend. Ever.” I accept the beer and drain a quarter of the bottle in one long swig. “What’d Imiss?”
Austin shrugs. “New guy won’t stop texting his woman.” He makes a whip snapping sound effect which pulls Coy’s attention from his phone long enough for him to flash a smile. “Amie just showed up to talk to Lex.” Austin nods to where the two sit in a back booth. “And none of that competes with the fact I need to get laid.” He shouts out the wordlaidand it does exactly what he intended. I can feel the eyes on us and know it’s only a matter of time before we’re stalked like prey by every single or available woman in theroom.
Trent’s gaze darts across to where Lexi’s huddled up with her agent in what appears to be a much more intense conversation than after dinner drinks shouldentail.
I catch Trent’s attention and nod my head in their direction. “What’s up withthat?”
“Not sureyet.”
“Doesn’t look good, doesit?”
“Nothing we can’t handle,” he says with a confidence I envy. He and Lex have been through more than most couples, especially considering their place in the spotlight. Yet they shrug it off and move forward together, each having the other’s back. Yeah, that’s the kind of relationship I can only hope I’ll find oneday.
Austin taps my shoulder. “Another?”
I turn and catch the cougar from the volunteer table along with two friends in tow, staring from across the bar. It’ll only be a matter of time before they join us. “Nah, man. I’m out.” I shake my head, wishing I was already tucked safely away in my hotel room. Nothing good happens when we start bar hopping aftermidnight.
“You’re not staying?” Austin scoffs withdisappointment.
Coy turns back from the bar with shots. “Dude. We’re rock stars. Fucking live a little.” He hands the tiny glasses to Trent, Austin, and then me, but I shake myhead.
“I’m not in themood.”
He shrugs and downsboth.
Austin’s eyes are wide and he shakes his head. “Bro! You’re my wingman. You can’t bail. Everyone knows that. Never abandon your wingman, especially when hungry cougars are involved. It’s in the goddamn handbook!” He flashes a smile to someone over myshoulder.
“Funny, I never got a copy.” I drain the rest of my beer and set it on thecounter.
“I’ll catch you all in a few days.” Trent pats my back absently and doesn’t even look at us as he jogs over to Lexi. Amie’s already heading out the door. I’m not sure why she showed up or what she needed that couldn’t be communicated via phone, but she and Lexi go way back to college, and who knows, their conversation could have been personal rather thanbusiness.
Austin isn’t giving up. He tries to block my exit as I step away from the bar. “You’re such a party pooper. I miss the days when Trent was single. Now, that fucker knew how to have a good time.” Guilt. He resorts to waging that against me, but it’s pointless because I don’t care. I’ve never tried to be someone I’m not, and right now, I’m a man who only wants to fall asleep in peace andquiet.
Coy wraps his arm around Austin’s shoulder, holding a drink in each hand. “Someone say good time? When and where? I’mgame.”
Austin takes one of the drinks from him. “See! Coy’s the man. He knows how to party. Best damn drummer,too.”
Coy laughs and winks. “Stop, you’ll make meblush.”
“You two besties have fun.” I raise my brows and try really hard to keep my eyes from rolling. God knows they want to. Coy’s a good actor, playing the part of a fun and nice guy like he didn’t send Jess away in tears tonight. I wave good-bye and my gaze catches that group of older women circling in. Thirsty and on the prowl. “Make sure you bundle up the junk if you decide to play in the zoo.” A chuckle leaves my lips and I turn just before I’m stuck thwarting unwantedadvances.
They’re beautiful. Experienced and eager, no doubt. But I’m not in the mood for a meaningless fuck. Rarely am. No, unfortunately the only naked woman I’ll be going home with tonight was bought and is now stuck in the trunk of my car. And even she’ll have to wait until I get a few hours’ sleep before taking a ride back to myplace.
