Not Just Friends (Hot in the City #3) - T. Gephart Page 0,42
me a raise?” She almost levitated, her blue eyes shining with mischief.
“Why do I think I’m probably not going to give you a raise but also not like whatever it is you’ve done?” My eyes narrowed, studying her like it might give me a clue. “What is it Rae? I’m not feeling very patient tonight.”
She laughed, completely amused at my expense. “Probably sexual frustration. Which is why I’m helping. You’re welcome, and enjoy your night.”
A chill ran up my spine. I had no idea what she’d done, but I was almost positive it wasn’t going to help.
And one look to where Leighton was sitting confirmed it.
Jared
“HEY MAN! HOW are you doing?” Tibbs grinned, taking a seat beside me. “I was bored when Raelle called and told me you were looking pathetic by yourself. Figured might as well come and save you.” He slapped me on the back, taking a swig from the beer I’d been nursing. “Seriously though, you’d be less conspicuous with a girl or two as company. You look like a cop.”
Tibbs was the last person I was expecting to see. And had I been prepared for it, I might’ve been able to form words. Instead, my mouth stayed shut as I glanced over to where Presley was, oblivious that her brother had just walked in. “You know you’re going to piss her off,” I coughed out, the her in question not needing to be named. “I thought the plan was you find out what was happening with Shapiro and I was keeping an eye on Presley?”
Sure, he had as much right as anyone else to visit Diablo—it was still a public place and everything—maybe more so since his sister was running it. But I’d spent the better part of the day and evening trying to disguise my hard-on and pretend the woman who shared a bed with me last night wasn’t the hottest thing I’d ever seen.
And yes, I’d said all that bullshit about us being friends while trying my best to keep my hands off her. What I didn’t need when I was already fighting that battle was Tibbs looking over my shoulder, noticing shit that would pretty much confirm I was terrible at that game.
It had been what? A day? Twelve hours? I was still in deep with the DTs and had to pretend like it was all good.
Tibbs looked out to the dance floor, smiling in appreciation at the gyrating bodies. “Shapiro is on it, but investigations take time. He’s not just going to dig up something in an hour if the PD haven’t found anything. Besides, I’m climbing the walls. North and Quinn have gone to Hayden’s house for dinner with the chief, and I didn’t feel like dealing with the rookie.”
“North AND Quinn went to dinner with Chief and Hayden? Jesus, did Mack lose his mind?” I shook my head, wondering what was stranger. The chief having a girlfriend or that he was letting North’s beautiful but slightly crazy wife be involved in a date. Things were obviously going well for them if they’d moved to that stage. Still, I could understand why Tibbs didn’t want to sit home alone.
“Hi boys.” Two girls we’d met once before slithered into the two vacant seats. “We were hoping we’d see you.”
They meant Tibbs, the pair of them hooking up with him not so long ago. While the brunette had originally showed interest in me, she quickly changed her target when she wasn’t getting the attention she wanted. Tibbs didn’t seem to mind, happily picking up my slack and entertaining them both.
“Ladies.” Tibbs raised his eyebrows, widening his arms. “So glad you could join us. What an amazing strike of good fortune.”
Not sure any of it was good fortune, especially since my night had taken a dramatic turn. It had gone from working out how I was going to drive Presley home and not fucking kiss her, to watching my best friend tag-team two women. Which should have helped the situation in a way, the sideshow he was providing enough to get my mind off his sister. Except that Presley had suddenly diverted her attention to us and not only saw her brother, but the ladies he’d attracted, one of which who was trying to sit in my lap.
“Oops, we’ve been spotted.” Tibbs laughed, waving to Presley who was shooting such a murderous vibe I was surprised we weren’t laying in pools of our own blood. “And she doesn’t look happy.”