Page 8 of Hot Shot

“You’re not serious. Nobody worries about a guy who’s having a lot of no-strings-attached sex.”

I’m about to agree with that, but Beck says, “Sure they do. Because when you find the right woman, all that meaningless sex seems kinda . . . empty.”

Cade and I groaned. “Here we go,” I say. “Now he’s married off he thinks we shouldallbe.”

Beck just laughs, which again says much about his state of mind. “I’m not saying you should get married. But, man . . . even though you’re having sex with a different woman every night—”

“Not every night,” Cade protests. “Come on. I do have other things in my life.”

Beck shrugs. “Whatever. My point was that despite all the hot sex, you don’t actually seem that happy.”

“I’m happy.” Cade’s eyebrows fly up. He points at me. “Him. He’s the one who’s not happy. Walking around scowling all the time. You’re scaring customers away.”

“I am not.” My forehead tightens into that scowl. I force myself to relax my facial features, because once a-fucking-gain Cade is right.

“Maybeyouneed to get laid,” Beck says mildly, then drains the juice in the glass.

Yeah, I need to get laid. And the person who immediately comes to mind is Carrie.

Goddamn, I wanted to sink my cock into her so deep, feel how wet and tight her pussy is and taste her gorgeous, lickable mouth. I want to make her come so hard she sees not just stars but galaxies and begs me for more. Yeah. I want her begging me for it, not insulting me and snubbing me.

Damn. I let my mind go there and that’s bad, as I feel a stirring in my southern region.

“I’m fine,” I snap.

Beck and Cade exchange a look that irritates me even more.

“What?” I demand.

“Youarea little crusty lately,” Beck says. “Everything okay?”

“No, everything’s not okay. Were we not just talking about how we need more food business, need to fix our menu, need to hire more staffagain,and need to stop the fucking criminals who are defacing property in the neighborhood?”

“And I said, chill, none of that is life and death, and you agreed with me, remember?”

I suck in a breath. “Right.” I grit my teeth, unwilling to share that I’m worried that Beck being in a relationship with a woman might mean he’s pulling away from us and our brotherhood, and that a certain gorgeous model is making me nuts. “Right. Okay. I’m fine. Just a little . . . yeah, maybe getting laid would be a good thing.”

“There ya go. You’re off tonight. It’s Saturday. Why don’t you go to some pickup bar down on Fifth Avenue and see if you can get lucky. I still find it hard to believe, but apparently some chicks think you’re not bad looking.”

I have to laugh and shake my head. The idea of going to some meat-market bar alone appeals about as much as having my back, crack, and sack waxed. But hey, maybe that really is what I need. Maybe getting away from this place for a while and forgetting about staffing and our menu and Beck’s preoccupation with his fiancée would be a good idea.

“Hey, wait. You’re tellingmemeaningless sex is empty and lonely, but you’re encouraginghimto do it?” Cade glares at Beck.

Beck laughs.

3

CARRIE

I’m not sure how I’ve been convinced to tag along with Chance, Chantal, and Olympia tonight. After the photo shoot, they invited me to come with them for dinner and then dancing at a new club Chance wants to check out.

Sitting at home alone on a Saturday night isn’t all that appealing, so I agreed to go with them. I could go hang out with Hayden at Conquistadors, since Beck is working there tonight, but then I’d be forced to hang out with Marco too, and I’ve already seen him once today, which is one time too many.

So here I am entering Delirium on Fourth Avenue, dressed in a tight little black dress and spiky heels, my hair still in messy waves from this afternoon. Some DJ I’ve never heard of is appearing tonight, and apparently he’s popular because the place is packed. Music pounds around us as we make our way through a crowd toward the bar glowing with purple lights. Above us, blue and purple rays crisscross the black ceiling, changing colors and pulsing to the beat of the music.

Chase orders us all surprise drinks. We watch the bartender in a tiny black sequined bra mix them, shimmying her shoulders to the music as she does so.

I accept the glass and take a sip. “Yum. What is it?”

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