Page 5 of Deliverance

"Or, an excuse," I countered and grinned.

"Nothing wrong with that." Candace smiled.

"Touché."

The line moved quickly, and before we knew it, we were moments from going inside. "That bouncer is hot," Ember whispered into my ear.

I looked up to see a tall, fit, Hispanic man with slicked-back black hair standing at the door. "Yeah, he is. Want his number?"

"I can't ask him for his number."

"Why not?" I laughed. "Isn't that your plan?"

She shook her head. "My plan is to be danced with, not be the pursuer, and especially not the bouncer."

"Why not? Don't tell Steven, but that guy might be the hottest guy I've ever seen. Get his number. The worst he can say is no, and then we go inside, and you never see him again." It was true; the bouncer was ridiculously handsome with defined muscles for days. Steven had muscle, but he was slender. The bouncer looked as though he went to the gym every day. I would be jealous of Ember, for sure, but she needed a man to keep her warm at night, so why not a hot one?

"You do it."

I snorted. "You wantmeto ask him for his number foryou?"

"Yeah." She lifted a shoulder.

I chuckled under my breath and then got out of line and walked up to the guy. His black T-shirt read "Security" over his hard left pec.

"Your group is next. It'll just be a few more minutes," he stated before I said anything.

I swallowed and looked up into his dark eyes. "Actually"—I pointed to Ember—"my friend wants your number."

His gaze moved to her and then back to me. He grinned. "She sent you to ask for it?"

I shrugged. "She's a little timid."

"And clearly, you're not?"

"Well," I said as I smiled back, "I have a boyfriend, so it doesn't matter."

"That's a shame."

My brow furrowed. "And why's that?"

"Because I would giveyoumy number."

I sucked in a short breath. "Really?"

"Yeah, but since you're taken, how about I just let you four into the club now?"

I nodded. "Okay."

He unhooked the rope and checked our IDs. "Have a good night, Erin."

"That's not fair that you know my name, and I don't know yours," I teased as the girls walked past me, stopping just inside the doorway.

"Ricardo." He winked.

I bit my lower lip, continuing the harmless flirting. "You have a good night, too, Ricardo." The four of us walked into the darkened club without another word to or from Ricardo.

"I thought you were getting me his number?" Ember questioned, hooking her arm with mine.