Page 57 of Inflame

“You girls get wild when you go out and start throwing back drinks.”

“True.”

“See?” he huffs. “Even you agree!”

I shrug. “People don’t hang with me because I make good choices. They want to be near me because I make the bad ones.” I mean it as a joke, but by the growl roaring from Graham’s mouth, I think it’s safe to say he didn’t take it as one. I get up from the sofa, but keep my temper in check and avoid reacting to his ludicrous behavior. Instead, I utilize my get-out-of-jail-free card, which I earned during Texas Hold’em. “Where’s Nic?”

“What does Nic have to do with this?”

“I need him to knock some sense into you,” I growl.

“He’s around.”

Dammit. Nic promised me he would take care of this. It was part of the bargain. So, where the hell is he?

“Graham?” Angie intercepts, peeking out from their bedroom door. “I need help with something.”

He turns back to her and narrows his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I cannot get the tie in the back of this—”

She opens the door farther to reveal a sexy scrap of pastel pink lingerie. Oh, she’s good. Her hair is tousled with a fresh blow-dried look. I inhale and my breath whistles through my teeth.

Graham saunters toward his soon-to-be wife, but turns his head back to snarl, “This isn’t over.”

I give him a glare and a snarky thumbs-up. This interlude should buy me some more time to double-check my reservation at the club. I plop down on the sofa, pull out my phone, and find Nic’s name on the list. I type out a message.

Claire: Where are you? You were supposed to help me with Graham and then you ditched me and he is angry and trying to sabotage all of my efforts and I promised Angie strippers and if I don’t see some naked peen tonight, you are going to have to deal with me!

Nic: How about some naked penis now? Will that work?

Claire: Hell no, that’s not going to cut it.

Nic: Ouch. I don’t want you to cut my dick.

Claire: What? No. I didn’t say that. Ugh. Where are you?

Nic: Want to go to the casino and play some blackjack with me?

I look at the top name on the text chain to verify I am talking to the correct person. At least one of us has sobered up. Nothing is making sense.

Claire: I only plan to lose money tonight by stuffing bills down hot men’s pants. You promised you would help me make this mission a success for Angie. No backing down now.

Nic: I got it handled

Claire: Really? Because Graham is here ready to start a brawl with me!

Nic: He’ll cool off. Just chill.

Claire: I’m trying.

And then Nic does something I wasn’t actually expecting him to follow through on. He sends me a dick pic. Is he for real? I stare down at the image of a naked penis. There is no way in hell this is his. He leaves out his face, but my mind can’t help but wonder if this erect cock belongs to him.

No matter how many times I want to turn away or close my app, my eyes are drawn to the tanned figure on my screen. Fingers are wrapped at the base and I see the ring that Nic always wears. This is definitely his penis. I swallow hard at the realization and instantly feel my mouth water. I shouldn’t be allowing myself to get turned on. It must be because I have gone days without any type of stimulation—even manual.

I smile down at my phone as another text pops up on my screen.

Nic: You look pretty when you smile.

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