Page 35 of Nothing to Beat

“Tripp Breckenridge,” he introduced himself.

Rainie’s head tilted.“Are you hitting on me?”

“Sure.If you want me to hit on you.”

“Your name,” Roxie said.“That’s all you have to say.”

He shrugged.“Sometimes I don’t even have to say that.”Approaching, he bobbed his chin.“You broke Demetri Lozano’s heart.”

Rainie inhaled, but quickly sealed her lips, her startled eyes blinking.“You know Dem?”

“Tripp knows everyone,” Roxie said.“Is Gwenie living at yours or here?”

“Downstairs,” Rainie said.“Next door to Porter.”

“Next—next to—excuse me?”Obviously, Roxie hadn’t expected to hear that name.“Porter lives in the building now?Our building?My building?”

“There’s full-time security here, which is good given… everything… No one but our people so much as set foot on the stoop,” Rainie said.“He said it was a temporary thing, but it’s nice having him around.He’s a great guy; killer when we crack out the Trivial Pursuit.”

“Yes, he is, when he’s not being an idiot and trying to get himself killed,” Roxie said and drew in a breath so deep, her shoulders rose.“Huh, okay, I suppose this works out better.Perfect.”Roxie started to move but swung back around.“Z knew about this?About Porter being in residence?”

“They talk a lot.”Rainie wasn’t shy about sharing.“Alex likes him too.”

“Oh, good, so long as Gauge likes him.”Roxie growled.“Someone won’t be getting laid any time soon.”

“Zairn’s in a different state,” Tripp said, retrieving wine from the fridge to go with the glasses he’d found somewhere.“Makes it more difficult.”

“Whose side are you on?”

“Porter?”Sequoia said, interrupting the flow.“Who is Porter?”

“Clement.”Roxie extended an arm her way, opening and closing her hand.“Come meet him.”

“Why do I want to meet him?”

Roxie hadn’t immediately said anything about meeting Gauge or any of the other people they talked about.Why was this Porter different?It was late, she’d worked all day, was she capable of making a good first impression?Should she care?

“Trust me,” Roxie said, waiting for her to go over and join their hands.“You want to meet him.”Their hostess switched to Tripp.“You coming?”

“Sure,” Tripp said, putting the wine back in the fridge, corkscrew and all.“Never miss a chance to get the gory details.”He joined them and slipped his hand into her free one.“Should be interesting.”

“I’ll order supplies for tonight,” Rainie called when the door opened.“But don’t make plans for tomorrow, we’re going to the club.I have so much to show you!”

The club?What club?Whichever club it was became less important as they traipsed down the hallway.

“We going to the club tonight?”

“Obviously not,” Roxie said in answer to Tripp’s question.“Hence why Rainie said tomorrow.This is the woman’s purpose, let her be.”

“I’d rather just order food and get some sleep,” Sequoia chimed in.“We’re in the perfect place for deep dish.”Nothing.She wasn’t the only one caught up in her own head.“Anyone?”

Her brother-in-law paid her no heed.“Rox Out, we live to party.You have the means to make it happen…”

His singsong cajoling didn’t change their hostess’ mind.“You won’t die if you don’t blast your eardrums and get laid every night, Priest.”

“Maybe.I don’t know.You’re up there with me, babe.How do you know this isn’t the end for both of us?”

“Because I can go without for one night.”