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Soren points a warning finger at us. His beard, normally neat, is scruffy near his jawline. “You already did. I vowed I’d never let you get the better of me again.”

“Come on. You say it like you can’t trust us.” Tase leans back in the booth with his arms behind his head. The picture of nonchalance.

Soren grumbles, his beard twitching with the movement. “I’ve known you both for too long.”

“Sounds almost like a threat, Tase. Don’t you agree?” I ask.

Tase grabs the last of his shot, taking it in two sips rather than one long swig, and grimaces. “I’m not going to weigh in on this. You two have a bad habit of ganging up on me.”

“Exactly,” I tell him with a smile. “Now it’s your turn to side with me and we gang up on Soren.”

A server with a heart-shaped face and freckles across her nose sidles up to the table and leans her hip against it. “Boys,” she greets. “Back again for your usual?”

“Aw, baby, you’re killing me. It sounds like you missed me.” I press a hand to my heart. “Since we were here last, you’ve been counting the moments until we returned.”

“Considering it’s been about six months, yeah. I alwaysmiss my good tippers.” She gives it back as quickly as she receives it. “And I know how to take care of them.”

Her name is Ellie and she is just about as sweet as the Apfelkuchen they serve for dessert.

I’ve sampled hers once or twice. Back in the years when I didn’t care who was in my bed or riding me. I only wanted a warm body to make me feel like I deserved love.

Today it seems her attention has turned to Soren. Ellie scours him from his waist to the top of his head with her eyes, promising a fun time.

Too bad I’ve already warned him about her. She’s sweet and bright but she is definitely not the type you play with.

She ends up wanting more than any of us are able to give.

Tase ducks behind his menu and I wonder if she’s already made a move on him.

“We’re all going to have the rib eye. Medium rare. And another round of shots, please,” I say with a lopsided smile. I grab the menu out of Tase’s grip and hand the stack over to Ellie. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

She swats me with them. “Don’tsweetheartme, Misterpromises he’ll call and never does. Just make sure you leave more than twenty percent tip tonight.”

It’s impossible to miss the way her eyes latch onto Soren again.

Ellie saunters away with a swing of her hips, the tie of her apron highlighting her ass. It’s on the small side, though.Hmm.

Once I might have remembered it as peachy and delicious and ready for me to take a bite out of. Now it’s nothing compared to an entirely different ass.

“When did Ellie go for you?” I ask Tase when we’re alone.

He doesn’t looks surprised by the question. “A couple of times last year. Which is why I only come here when youguys are in town,” Tase mutters. “I need protection from her…appetites.”

“A grown-ass man like you should be able to handle Ellie,” Soren jokes mildly.

His eyes are dull and flinty.

“I’ve handled plenty of women like her in the past, which is how I know to keep my distance now. If I’m too busy working, then she gets tired and finds someone else. Boom. Problem solved.”

I roll my eyes as the vet mimes a mic drop. “Not everyone is going to be Dana. You had a good one and she got away.”

“Death is a little more serious than just getting away, dude.” Tase elbows me in the side and I accept it. “You’ve always been such a huge pain in the ass, Aiden. You ever get tired of hearing your own jokes?”

“Never,” I reply seriously.

We pause when Ellie returns carrying a tray of liquor and three waters. She sets them down in front of us, offering Soren a perfect view of her cleavage and a sultry smile before she leaves.

Nope, not worth it. At least he recognizes that.