Page 36 of The Way We Score

“Then don’t!” she cries, holding my arm.

It doesn’t smell like pure alcohol, so I figure one tiny sip can’t hurt. I tip the glass slightly, and I’m surprised when it doesn’t burn. It’s actually pretty tasty.

“Okay!” I smile. “Thank you!”

Dylan squeals, putting her arm around my waist. “It’s named for you, Hot Cherry, now get out there and bag my brother!”

“Oh, shit,” I laugh. “Keep your voice down.”

“Please. You’ve been eye-fucking each other all night. Everybody sees it.”

My face flames red, and I look around the expansive patio. From what I can tell, the guests all seem to be pretty wrapped up in their own situationships. Even our group seems focused on their own significant others.

Zane has his arms wrapped around Rachel, who’s happily sitting on his lap. Hendrix and Raven have completely disappeared. Kimmie is passed out on Jack’s shoulder, and he’s sitting at a table with Allie, who keeps sneaking swoony glances at him.

“I think you’re the only one watching Garrett and me.” I squint an eye at her.

“Logan and I are about to leave for the guest cottage. I justwant to be sure all my guests are covered.” She bumps my hip with hers. “Garrett will have the house all to himself tonight.”

Chewing my lip, I glance over to where he’s lifting Craig off his feet and shaking him up and down. I almost snort. “I need to get Mom home?—”

“She’s already home!” Dylan cuts in fast. “She left with Aunt Thelma a little while ago, and they dropped her off on the way to the hotel.”

“Mom left without telling me?” I’m not really mad, I guess.

“I said I’d tell you, and she said she’d send you a text.”

Lifting my phone I see her message glowing on the face saying she got back safely and to enjoy my night. My brow arches, and I sense cahoots.

“Won’t Hendrix be at the house?”

“He likes to get a hotel when he visits. He says it’s too crowded on the second floor with only one bathroom.” Dylan leans closer. “I think it’s because he doesn’t want us to know his business.”

My eyes narrow as I look down at her.

I’m about to say she sure covered all the bases when Logan walks up and catches her around the waist. “It’s time to consummate, Wife.”

“Logan Murphy, if you throw me over your shoulder, I swear…” Dylan laughs, gripping his arm.

He pulls her away, and a large hand slides onto my waist, lighting up my entire body. “Everything okay over here?”

She waves, and I turn to look up at him. “Yeah…”

His blue eyes lock on mine, and my breath disappears. Clearing my throat, I manage a smile, although now all I can think about is consummation and empty houses and this hot cherry drink has me all warm and horny.

“I could use some water.”

“Come with me.” He takes my hand, leading us in the direction he took Kimmie earlier, away from the crowd.

I follow him down a flagstone path lined with deep greenbushes covered in gardenias. They’re mixed with camellia bushes that will bloom later in the season. If Mom were here, she’d be going on about perennial gardens and whatnot.

The only thing on my mind is the man holding my hand, who’s walking with a determined stride to a small, unattended bar station on the other side of a glass greenhouse.

“How did you know this was here?” I stop as he goes behind the bar and retrieves a paper cup from the cabinet.

His suit coat is long gone, and I watch the way his white cotton dress shirt stretches over his muscled chest and arms attractively. I want to untuck it from those black tuxedo pants, unbutton it, and slide my hand over his body.

“I helped Zane move some trees around last year.” He opens a silver bin and stabs the cup in what sounds like ice. “Check this out.”

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