Tank and said, “You guys coming?”
“Hell yes.” Tank stood up. “Maverick? You coming or are you playing bouncer for Chloe again?”
Justin stood up and said, “How the hell do you know about that?”
Zander chuckled.
“Jackass,” Justin said, pushing past loose-lipped Zander.
“Did you bring your cape, Captain America?” Zander teased as they made their way to the door. “You never know when Uptown Girl might saunter into the Hog.”
Justin glared at him. There wasn’t a chance in hell that Chloe would be hanging out at the Salty Hog. She never went there, and he preferred it that way. The last thing he wanted was a bunch of dudes drooling over her—at least until she was on his arm, respected and appreciated as more than a piece of ass. And that day would come soon. He could feel it in his bones.
Chapter Four
CHLOE STORMED INTO Undercover Saturday night, hoping her closest friends were still there. She wove through the crowd, spotting her besties at a table by the dance floor. Thank frigging God. She made a beeline for them, feeling better already.
“Chloe made it!” Harper shouted so loud Chloe heard her before she even reached the table. Harper’s husband, Gavin, waved from his seat beside her.
Tegan, Daphne, and Steph squealed and jumped off their seats, sweeping Chloe into a group hug.
“The welcoming committee,” Jett said.
Tegan exclaimed, “I’m so glad you made it.”
Steph, a curvy brunette with red streaks in her hair, touched the frills on the strapless white Bardot top Chloe had paired with wide-legged black slacks and said, “Wow, Chloe, you look amazing. I wish I could wear something like that.” Steph was a poet, and she owned an herbal shop in Brewster, a neighboring town.
“What happened with your date?” Daphne asked.
As the girls settled into their seats, Gavin said, “Considering it’s only nine o’clock, I’d say it didn’t go well.”
Chloe set her purse on the table and huffed out a breath. “I’m done. Done looking for a man to spend time with, done wasting my time on losers, and definitely done with dating apps. And I have to pee so bad I might wet my pants. Can you watch my purse?”
“Of course. Go.” Harper shooed her away.
Chloe hurried through the crowd toward the hall that led to the ladies’ room. She turned the corner and smacked right into a rock-solid chest. “I’m sorr—” She lifted her face, meeting a familiar set of ice-blue eyes. Justin flashed his devastating smile, making her pulse quicken. Damn him. Why couldn’t her body react like that to any other guys? Even one? One other guy!
“Hey there, heartbreaker,” he said as his arms circled her. “Where are you rushing off to?”
A group of girls tried to squeeze past, and Justin inched them both out of their way, boxing Chloe in against the wall with his delicious body. His muscular thighs pressed against her pelvis, and his hips brushed her belly, causing her nipples to pebble and burn. She swallowed hard, telling herself not to notice anything else, like the wolfish grin spreading his lips. Oh God, your lips…She’d been thinking about kissing those lips for a long time, but even more ardently since a few weeks ago, when he’d come over to help her fix her shutters during a storm. They’d been this close to kissing, and she’d known they wouldn’t have stopped there. She was certain that sex with Justin would rock her world. But she was past that reckless time of her life when flings were fun and friendships with guys were disposable.
She tried to think of something other than the feel of his enticingly hard body pressing temptingly against her, but the only other thought she found was based on the very thing she was trying to ignore—Justin Wicked definitely lived up to the nickname Emery had given him: Long Dong Naked Man. She told herself not to think about that. She’d never seen Justin with a date, but she’d heard him joking with their friends enough to realize he was still in that reckless phase, and she did not need to be his next conquest. No matter how good he felt.
“Have I rendered you speechless, beautiful?”
He was looking at her like he wanted to devour her, and that did wicked things to all her best parts. “No,” she managed.
“What happened, sweetheart? Another Ken doll leave you unsatisfied tonight?” he asked in a low, deep voice.
She couldn’t help but wonder how that voice would change in the throes of passion. Would he be