Page 56 of Sexy Bad Daddy

“You were a real jerk.” I roll my eyes, trying not to laugh out loud.

“You’re welcome.” He shrugs. “But you know I didn’t do it for you.”

“Got it.” I glance around the quiet, dimly lit grounds. Erin must still be inside somewhere. “What’s this SOS business, anyway?” I turn and head in the direction Fiona disappeared, with Danny keeping up. “Not that I’m not grateful you showed up when you did.”

“Wow, that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me. Possibly the only nice thing you’ve ever said to me. And I’m not sure what the SOS is,” he says. “Erin occasionally sends me a text when she’s on a bad date or in a sucky situation. A ‘save me’ text. I thought you’d fucked up.” He scratches the bridge of his nose. “Especially after they asked you how you felt about our girl in the line-up and you couldn’t bring yourself to answer.”

“You heard that?” I pause outside the doors. Does Erin think I don’t have feelings for her? The way everyone else keeps talking about it, maybe she doesn’t realize how much she does mean to me.

“Everybody heard that, G.” He claps me on the shoulder. “It was televised. And just for your information, the answer should have been ‘hell, yes.’ Unless you really are only doing it because that manager of yours told you to?”

It’s not, and Danny’s right. “Shit. I was supposed to say yes.”

But Danny couldn’t give a shit about what I’m saying. His attention is locked on a point behind me. A moving point. Turning around, I’m caught by the same image he is. A lone golf cart careening across the course, with a woman driver dressed in silver that sparkles in the moonlight, holding a magnum of champagne to her lips. Behind her, a man, running and hollering, tries to keep up. In front, a single white duck flaps its wings but can’t quite attain lift-off.

“Oh fuck,” Danny whispers in awe.

“Yeah. That’s one way of putting it.” I take off running too, as Erin aims the cart at a thin section of course between water hazards. She’s never going to make it. She can’t even drive a straight line. I have to get to her before she goes into the water and drowns. Danny’s right behind me, and people are already pouring out from several doors on the terrace to gawk at the spectacle we’re making.

We are never going to live this down.

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