Why?
Deke had no answers—to any of his questions—as he filed up the little brick walkway, past rows of colorful flowers blooming like crazy.
“Gorgeous azaleas,” Luc murmured as he rang the bell.
What the f**k is an azalea? Why were his palms sweating?
Alyssa opened the door wearing a classic black skirt with a slit to the thigh and a lace-edged, off-the-shoulder top that showed just a hint of cle**age.
“Hi, guys. Come inside.”
Deke hesitated, but stepped in after Luc and glanced at the place. Soothing shades of greens with splashes of yellow. Earth tones everywhere. Even one of those Zen garden waterfall things. Black-and-white photos of nature scenes. It all said peace.
“Thanks for having us,” Luc said. “Lovely place.” Alyssa smiled. Swallowed. “Thanks. I just bought it a few months ago. It was gutted. I’ve been fixing it.”
“It’s great.” Luc approved. It was in his voice. Deke couldn’t find his. So now what? Would they sit and sip iced tea and act all civil, or just get down to f**king?
“Do you want something to drink? I have tea, soda, coffee?” Alyssa sent his cousin a come-hither look, her hand resting above her breast, fingers toying with the soft skin at her cle**age.
“No, thanks.” No one could miss the sudden strain in Luc’s voice or the way his eyes followed her movements across the swells of her br**sts.
Luc was tense and sporting a hard-on that looked more than ready for action.
Gluing his gaze to Alyssa, Deke searched for some reaction, a stirring, remote interest. Anything.
Kimber’s face swam in his mind, flushed in pleasure, mottled with tears, sweet with the offer of her innocence.
And he’d turned it down. Like a dumb, stupid prick, he’d let her walk out. No, he’d pushed her out. All but given her to McCall, whom she’d soon marry. And where would he be? Fucking alone. But Kimber was better off. He had to focus on that.
“Deke?” Alyssa sent him a curious glance.
That was the nicest expression she’d ever sent him. Usually, he got complete disdain.
“Drink?” she prompted.
He had to choose. Drink or sex? “You’re not going to call me He-Man or steroid boy?”
She winced. “Not today.”
Interesting… “Um, a drink sounds good. Whatever you have.” She sent him a nod. Or rather, her head bobbed nervously, then she took a deep breath and seemed to collect herself as she walked into the kitchen with a slow-hipped gait that was an invitation in itself, poured him a tall glass of sweet iced tea, and handed it to him.
Her hands shook as she gestured everyone to the living room sofa.
Deke sat. Alyssa sat about three feet from him, the slit in her skirt revealing very naughty black silk garters and sheer stockings. Luc sat right beside her and dropped a casual hand on her exposed thigh. The pulse at her neck jumped.
What the hell is going on here? “You’ve been saying no to me for about three years. Why yes all of the sudden?”
Alyssa blinked, her gorgeous blue eyes rimmed in smoky gray liner, her warm golden complexion lighting with a little flush. For a stripper who’d seen the seamier side of life for years, she was awfully good at the sweet girl routine.
“Have you changed your mind?”
Her husky voice jolted him. Incredibly sexy. The woman stunned. Soft eyes, glossy lips that pouted as they tempted, br**sts he suspected a doctor had provided, rather than God, but enticing all the same. That wedge of thigh bared to his gaze drew his eye.
Something south of his belt buckle began to stir. “I haven’t changed my mind.” She turned to Luc with a soft question.
“I’m not going to change my mind.” His hand on her thigh tightened, traveled up, taking the skirt with it, until it rested just shy of damp black panties.
“Good.” She breathed the word.