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His mouth kicks up. “Of course I am. Now”—he jerks his head toward the back door—“want to get out of here?”

I blink. “Out of where?”

“The house.”

Another blink. “I thought I couldn’t?—”

He grins. “Actually,” he says. “I just realized I have the perfect place.”

Twenty-Nine

Dash

For a random Thursday night, The Sapphire Room is hopping. The parking lot is full and when we walk in, there are two bartenders handling the crowd—including Aspen. She’s taken a huge step back because of her pregnancy, but apparently she’s helping out tonight.

I frown a little, because I know Banks won’t be happy about it, but he’s at the end of the bar drinking a beer and talking to a couple of his teammates from the Vipers, West McGregor and Magnus Forsberg.

“This is your club?” Willow asks, leaning into my side.

“Welcome to The Sapphire Room.” I grin at her as we make our way over to Banks.

“Hey!” He looks up with a smile and reaches out to shake my hand. “What are you guys doing here?”

“We needed to get out of the house,” I reply.

“I needed to get out of the house,” Willow adds dryly.

“Welcome.” Banks motions to his friends. “This is West McGregor and Magnus Karlsson. Guys, you know Dash—and this is his girlfriend, Willow.”

I see West’s brows rise just a tiny bit but then he seems to catch himself and smiles. “Nice to meet you. My mom is a huge fan.”

“Tell her thank you,” Willow says graciously. “I’m a big fan of yours as well.”

Great.

I keep forgetting she’s a Vipers fan, and the way she smiles at West makes me want to hit things.

“Fan of what?” Magnus interrupts in confusion.

“This is Willow St. Claire,” I say, thinking that will clear things up, but the Swedish winger only seems more confused.

“I’m an actress,” Willow stage whispers. “But don’t tell anyone.”

“Oh!” That makes him smile and he shakes her hand. “Then probably my mother is a fan also—she loves American TV.”

They start talking about television shows and hockey, Willow completely at ease with two guys she doesn’t even know, and I feel a twinge of guilt. I know it’s for her safety while we sort out the Dylan mess, but I’ve basically kept her locked in a gilded cage.

And Willow is a beautiful bird who needs to fly free.

“...you don’t look like you’re in the middle of a nervous breakdown.”

I whirl, ready to tell West to shut his mouth but my beautiful exotic bird seems ready, willing, and able to take care of herself.

“Well, you know how it is with exes who don’t want to let go.” She shrugs. “I’ve hired an attorney, and she’s working on getting him to leave me alone. And to stop talking shit about me. It’s getting really old.”

West nods. “Just let me know if you need a few of us to rough him up.”

I snort but cover my mouth and pretend it was a cough.