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Nate’s voice hits me the second I open the door to my apartment, and my cheeks flush.

I smooth my navy satin dress and smile. "You don’t like it?"

He opens his mouth, then closes it. "I didn’t say that. Just didn’t realize I’d need backup to survive the night."

I grin. "Guess you should’ve worn armor."

He offers his arm. "Good thing I brought a weapon."

I chuckle. "Most guys call it their Johnson, their joystick, or their certified love handle. You call it a weapon?"

"He smirks. "A weapon in the best sense of the word, like a finely tuned instrument with devastating aim."

I shoot him a look. "That thing better be registered. Sounds like a public safety issue."

He winks. "Only dangerous if you’re lucky."

With a laugh, I follow him toward the elevator, already excited from the banter.

We ride down to the garage, the air thick with anticipation and a touch of cologne, though thankfully, not enough to cause injuries. When we reach his black Camaro, he opens the door for me with a playful bow.

"So, think we’ll survive this party?" he asks as we pull out of the garage.

I laugh. "Depends. Are there going to be strippers? Or just James and Dillon thinking they’re God’s gift to women again?"

"Honestly, that’s worse," he mutters. "But hey, at least there’s booze. And you. I think we'll survive."

***

Inside, Connor’s house is already packed, loud, and in action. The living room's been cleared for dancing, with a DJ spinning throwback tracks and uplighting bouncing off the walls. A tray of tiny gourmet tacos zooms past on a server's arm.

James and Dillon are already in the thick of it, surrounded by a pair of bottle-blonde twins that look like they arrived straight from an NHL calendar shoot.

"Oh great," I murmur. "Puck bunnies in their natural habitat."

"Be careful," Nate warns, lips twitching. "James bites when threatened."

We weave into the crowd. I spot Priya and Lexi near the bar, all with drinks in hand. Ethan and Mikey asked them to go, along with Kira. Connor wanted more women there for the single guys. Priya squeals when she sees me.

"Mandy! You look like a goddess."

Lexi whistles. "Is that silk or sin?"

Nate answers, deadpan: "Definitely sin."

The girls cackle as we join them, and a round of introductions kicks off with some of the players standing nearby. Parker and Grace wave from across the room, already mid-laugh with Stacy and Tanner. Kira struts over, wearing a minidress and a smirk.

"Where’s your blind date?" I ask, nudging her.

She rolls her eyes. "I faked a stomach flu after he ordered a Bud Light and tried to explain cryptocurrency to me."

Nate snorts. "Sounds like a keeper."

James saunters up with his arm around one twin and his eyes on Nate. "So. The bad boy brought a plus-one. Hell might be freezing."

"I brought a real date," Nate shoots back. "Being your date tonight, James, qualifies her for hazard pay."

The twin gasps, but James just cackles. "Mandy, how are you still breathing? Jones here just proved he’s got some depth, calling you a real date."