Page 41 of His Lovebug

“Derek, how do you know Kit’s friend?” I asked, unable to stop my frown.

“Leave it alone,” Matt said.

The embarrassed smile that twisted Derek’s lips had me sighing. “Your meddling in his life will blow up in your face. You can’t pull his strings forever. Trust me.”

“It’s worked so far. Come on,” he said, gesturing toward his car. I didn’t know what else to do—the house really was a total loss, and besides, it was still burning like a cheerful bonfire—soI followed him, with Matt doing his best to be a big guard dog at my side.

Derek didn’t say anything as Matt and I slid into the back seat together so that he could wrap me up in his arms. We were on the road when Derek’s phone vibrated in his pocket, and he dragged it out. The smile on his face allowed some of the tension to ooze out of my body.

“Royal’s bringing Jackson to the Courtesan,” he announced, and even though there was still a lot of awfulness that Matt and Jackson had to sort out together, I thought it was relief that shone in his eyes when he glanced at me.

“We can talk to them there and make a game plan.” Matt kissed my cheek, his beard scraping roughly against my skin due to the way he leaned against me.

“Oh, thank everything,” I mumbled.

“Keep your chin up, Quin. You’re too pretty to look sad.” Derek winked in the rearview mirror, and I couldn’t stop my laugh.

“Like this?”

“You’re beautiful no matter what,” Matt whispered, then smooched my ear, and I batted at him, completely relieved now that we had a safe spot for everyone to meet up.

The staff at the Courtesan was very observant, and it took the man at the desk less than no time at all to recall our recent stay and issue us key cards for the same room. We also got a room for Derek, and one for Royal and Jackson.

“Let’s go to the bar and have a drink for the old nerves, huh?” Derek strolled away, a spring in his step.

With a shrug, I followed. A few minutes later, we were at the silver-topped bar together, and I had a chocolate martini with a stick of fancy local chocolate lying across the top. It was sprinkled with pink edible glitter that appeared purple, thanks to the soft blue lights overhead. Matt and Derek both had beers,and they were murmuring together in low voices, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.

“Hey, you’re new,” a man said, sliding onto a barstool at my side. He was cute, with slicked-back white blond hair, a barely there blue tank top, and enough eyeliner to make his blue eyes practically glow.

“He’s taken,” Matt said, glaring at him.

“I work here.” The stranger laughed, then slipped off the stool and went farther down the bar to talk to another man, who looked lonely but brightened up when the blond slid on the stool beside him.

“Aw, that’s nice. So many people are shy these days. They’re hitting it off already.” I nodded in their direction.

Derek whipped around to look at the men I was pointing at, then started giggling like a teenager.

“What?” I frowned at him.

Derek glanced at Matt, as if asking for permission for something, which irritated me, but then Derek leaned in front of Matt. “Do you remember me mentioningMadamWinters? The Courtesan is a high-class brothel and a hotel. That blond works here as a?—”

“Sex worker?” I said with a gasp.

Matt grinned.

“Well.” I cleared my throat and sipped my martini. “That’s interesting.”

Derek and Matt howled with laughter, and I think they both needed it, considering everything that had happened today. We sat around for a while, but after my second drink, my cheeks were warm from the alcohol. I frowned beside me at the empty seat.

Matt and Derek were caught up in some awful conversation about investing that I had no interest in, but when I rested myhand on Matt’s thigh and squeezed, I had his full attention in an instant.

“What is it, Princess?” he asked. “Is your drink okay?”

“It’s perfect, but maybe you should call Royal?”

Derek and Matt frowned together, as if they hadn’t noticed that we were still waiting in the bar.

“They could’ve checked in already?” Derek said, scowling at his watch. “Shit.”

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