could find places that make it look like he’s traveling around the world, or just give us enough variety. Hawaii and Alaska could probably do it. Those aren’t even out of the country.”
Scott nodded, eyes alight with enthusiasm.
“Actually maybe it would be better if we kept it in the country,” Levi said, suddenly hit with that thought. “Since it’s an American beer. Add a little patriotism into the mix, along with the guy everyone wants to be. Good-looking, athletic, smart, competitive…a winner.”
“Dude. That is freakin’ awesome.” Scott high-fived him.
They kept brainstorming, going online for some ideas, excitement building.
“We have to make this happen by next week,” Levi said.
Scott looked a little ill at the thought.
“Come on, man, we can do it. We were going to work this weekend anyway. Now we have a focus.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
As usual pressure excited him, whereas it apparently made Scott want to puke.
They worked more on the idea all day Friday. By the end of the day he was feeling pretty good and looking forward to a fun night with his friends. And Sloane. It was cool that she was coming. She hadn’t seen his friends since the wedding.
Since she was out at the Verhoeven head office, he texted her that he’d pick her up at her place in a cab at around seven thirty. They had a dinner reservation at the restaurant and then space booked in the dance club with bottle service. Jacob had told Levi everything was planned—which most likely meant Tara had everything planned.
Levi asked the cab driver to wait as he went to get Sloane. His jaw dropped when she answered the door. “Holy fuck.”
She grinned. “I look okay?”
“Holy fuck.” He swept his gaze down over her black lace dress, lined with black so you couldn’t see through it, strapless, tight and short, down her killer legs to sky-high black stilettos, then back up, lingering on bare shoulders. “You look fucking amazing.”
“Thanks.”
He studied her face. She still wore signs of tension, a faint tightness at the corners of her eyes. But after the last two stressful days, that was probably understandable. She needed a night like tonight to chill.
She picked up a big scarf thing and a tiny purse, and then a square box wrapped in glossy red paper with a multicolored bow on top. It appeared heavy.
“What could this be?” he murmured, taking it from her.
“You just wait.” She locked the door behind them as they left her condo.
In the back seat of the taxi, Levi continued to eye Sloane hungrily. “We could just skip dinner.” He slid his hand up the inside of one bare leg.
She laughed. “You’re the birthday boy. You have to show up at your own party.”
“If I’m the birthday boy, I should get to do whatever I want. Or whoever I want.” He nuzzled her ear. “Was that you who put the balloons on my chair today?”
“Maybe.”
“Thank you. That was sweet.” He breathed in her fantastic perfume, which created a spontaneous hard-on. “Let’s make out.”
She turned her face to his and they kissed until he was dizzy. And then they were there.
They entered V Bistro, with low lighting, lots of dark wood and brown leather banquettes. Sloane was hurriedly applying lip gloss since he’d pretty much destroyed what she’d had on.
The hostess showed them to the big table where Jacob and Tara sat, along with Tucker and Tara’s best friend Brynn, who’d been maid of honor at their wedding. Despite Brynn passing out in Tuck’s hotel room the night of the wedding, he’d asked her out and they’d apparently been out a few times. Luke and Cam weren’t there yet.
“Happy Birthday, Levi!” Tara jumped up to hug him. Then she turned to Sloane with a big smile. “Hi again! Finally we get to spend some time with you.”
Sloane returned the smile and they all slid into the booth. Levi again set his hand on Sloane’s bare thigh as they ordered drinks and talked. Cam and Luke arrived soon after.
They all brought him stupid gifts, some golf balls that said New balls for an old body on the package, a beer mug that lit up and a gift box of all different kinds of gourmet bacon. He saved Sloane’s present for last. He removed the thick paper, opened the box and found a set of four mugs, striped in bright colors.
He stared at them. “I don’t fucking believe this.”