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“If the lore is to be believed, it’s far from unpleasant. Chicks know what they’re getting. After the way he spends those few hours, though, most want more.”

From what I felt on the dance floor, I can definitely believe it.

“Wait, you’re still texting Edge?” I asked, needing to get my mind out of Rhys’ backroom. “He’s a room away, go tell him in person.”

“And miss these bombs you’re dropping? Anyway, back to what he’s saying. This is all unheard of territory. Both men, both of them owning successful businesses, they’re obviously smart. They know they’re getting someone they can have and leave with no second thought when they hook up with some club hopper or biker bitch. They’re both honest about it, though, and upfront from the beginning. If a woman moves forward with stars, or more likely money signs, in her eyes, thinking she’ll be able to fuck a commitment out of them, that’s on her.”

I looked longingly at my glass and wished it were full for the truth bombs Ray was dropping.

“Even with all that, I genuinely like them both. They have their reasons for holding back. I don’t know all the details, and even if I did, it isn’t my place to share. But either one of them decides to settle down and focus that energy, loyalty, and badass hotness on one woman? I love Edge. Absolutely, to the bottom of my soul and back. He's my very own hot, loyal badass. So I know from experience whoever gets one of them is in for a life of beauty.”

“It’s not that I don’t agree, but—”

“No excuses, Piper,” Ray interrupted, holding up her enviously full drink. “Just listen. See what Jake has to say. Don’t dismiss him as being nice, though, ‘cause that just isn’t him. He doesn’t say shit he doesn’t mean. If he wanted to talk just so things weren’t awkward, he’d have said that. More likely he’d just let it go. If you wanted to make a scene, that’d be on you. So, justlisten.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Cluck, cluck, chicken.

“Okay, too much heavy. Piper looks like she needs a drink, and as her doctor, I’m saying she gets one, stat,” Lily said.

“You aren’t a doctor,” Marcy pointed out the obvious.

“No, but I have a naughty nurse outfit, and that’s basically the same thing. Now, booze, stat!”

I might not have many, but the few friends I had werethe best.

*******

It was well after two in the morning when the taxi pulled in front of my house to drop me off first. I didn’t even need to grammatically calculate my level of intoxication.

Tipsy was a memory.

I was drunk.

“Night, honey!” Ray whisper-yelled out of the window.

“Don’t forget to figure out what scent you’re putting out and bottle it for me! I need men like that all over me!” Marcy yelled as the taxi pulled away.

If I wasn’t so drunk, I’d have been mortified. Instead, I laughed as I carefully climbed the stairs.

“Sweetness,” I heard from the side, startling me and making me drop my keys.

“Holy hell!” I looked over to see Jake lounging in one of my porch chairs, like it wasn’t the middle of the night. “You’re lucky I’m all out of whoop-ass. You scared the bejeezus out of me. What’re you doing here?”

Jake ignored my question as he stood and walked towards me. Gracefully dipping as he moved, he grabbed my keys before standing with his bodywayin my space. “The scent you put out? It’s your sweetness. Your looks might catch their attention but it’s the soft, sweetness that keeps them hooked.”

His words reminded me of Rhys. Rhys’ words reminded me of Jake.

These dudes are confusing.

“Good to know. Now I can start the process of extracting and bottling it for Marcy.” I tried to keep from falling over. Being drunk was one thing. Being wasted with Jake in my space was another.

“Have fun tonight?”

“Why, yes, yes I did. I dancedsomuch. And drank. Just a little,” I lied, giggling up at him.

“Yeah, just a little,” he said with a chuckle, putting his hand on my cheek. “I miss you, sweets. Have you missed me?”