Laugh it up, dude. You’ll be thankful you aren’t carrying me out of here with a broken ankle.

I started to move, closing my eyes as I reached up and pulled the pin out of my hair, letting it fall down my back. Swaying my hips slowly to the beat, I let the music guide my body.

When I looked over, I saw James Guillory take a seat across from Tyler, and they started to chat, but Tyler constantly looked up, watching me as we danced.

“I knew it,” Kristen yelled in my ear over the music. “When he came to your room that morning, my panties practically lit on fire with the way he was looking at you. How long has it been going on?”

I wasn’t sure what to tell her. Of all the damn places to run into someone we both knew, this was supposed to be the least likely.

She was very friendly, but that didn’t mean we were friends. I had no reason to trust her. This was my job, Christian’s stability, and Tyler’s future on the line.

But he didn’t seem worried to have run into her, and I kind of wanted to talk about it with someone. I was happy, and I hadn’t been able to share it with anyone besides my brother.

I took a deep breath and admitted, “A couple of weeks.”

Maybe three, but she didn’t need every detail.

Nodding, she grabbed two shots of something brown off a waiter making the rounds and handed me one.

“Well, be careful,” she insisted, actually looking serious for a change. “I’m sure he’s great, but men like that take what they want, and what they want changes like the wind.”

She tipped back her shot, and I hesitated a moment before shooting back mine.

I winced at the burn as my tongue felt like it had been bitten.

We handed our glasses back to the waiter, and he left. I guessed the rounds must have been complimentary.

I blew out a breath, trying to cool off my mouth. “What makes you think he doesn’t need protection from me?” I challenged.

She threw her head back, laughing. “That’s the spirit,” she cheered.

Her black halter-top dress hugged her body as she moved, and I let my eyes follow her hands as they glided down her body.

Her red hair fell in waves, and I realized for the first time how pretty she was. I hated to admit it, but every time I looked at her, I assumed she was flighty and carefree.

Would Tyler find her attractive? I suddenly felt small, trying to figure out what the hell I offered him that he wanted so much. She was happy. I was discontent. She was playful. I was serious.

She moved in closer, and I almost moved to back up, but she put her hand around my neck and pulled me in, speaking in my ear. “So how is he?” she asked. “In the bedroom?”

I couldn’t help the little smirk that escaped as I looked away, my skin heating up at the thought.

“Ohhh, I see,” she cooed knowingly.

She didn’t need it spelled out, but I was sure my face confirmed that Tyler Marek was keeping me very satisfied.

“Well, I’m completely bummed.” She pouted. “You’re having great sex with a handsome millionaire, and I’m here with a friend who’s the friend of some pop singer I’ve never heard of.”

I laughed, and we both turned our heads to the side, seeing Tyler with his elbows hooked behind the seat again, watching us as Guillory talked to him.

“Don’t worry.” I leaned in to Kristen. “I’m enjoying this for what it is and while it lasts. We’ll eventually move on from each other.”

She cocked her head, and I couldn’t ignore how close we were as her eyes turned mischievous.

“I’m not so sure about that,” she argued. “As long as you both keep finding ways to make it interesting.”

And then her hands went to my hips, and I slowed my body, instantly feeling the heat of Tyler’s stare on my back.

She licked her red lips and breathed against my face. “Let’s play with him.”

At first I narrowed my eyes, confused, but then I understood when I felt her hands run up my sides, in a slow and possessive gesture.

My pulse sped up, and I had a hard time keeping my breathing steady as her fingers dug into my hips and pulled me closer, her thigh fitting between my legs as she continued to move slowly to the music.

What the hell?

“Watch his face,” she instructed in my ear.

But I was afraid to look. On the one hand, I liked playing games and turning him on, but on the other hand, I was scared he would get ideas.

Twisting my head to the side, I raised my eyes, instantly drifting to Tyler. Guillory had left, and he pierced me with that stare. I knew how he looked angry, and I knew how he looked relaxed, but shivers ran down my arms, and I felt myself growing wet as he watched us with his heated gaze.

I knew that look.

He was two seconds from bending me over in a bathroom stall.

I started to move more, rolling my hips into Kristen and running my hands over her waist and hips.

She took the back of my neck in one hand and dipped her head under my ear as we lightly grinded our bodies for him.

“I don’t know whether he wants to see more or wants to tear me apart for touching you,” she joked.

But I knew the answer. Tyler wanted a lot of things. He wanted everything. But he would never choose one over the other. It was what it was, and he would never claim me like that. I knew as much.

“How far are you willing to go to find out?” I asked, challenging her.

She raised her eyebrows, giving me a “try me” look.