Page 79 of Slumming It

But Morgan wasn't nearly so tongue-tied as she turned to glower at her friend. "Oh, come on! That doesn't count. And besides, you don't even mean it."

Nikki replied, "He never said we had tomeanit." But then, as if realizing what she'd just said, she looked to me and added, "But Idomean it, totally. And I'm sorry that she drove away the other day – you know, after she offered you the ride."

Morgan gawked at her friend. "You weren't sorry. You laughed your ass off."

Nikki shot back, "Yeah? Well so did you." She gave Morgan a superior smirk. "AndIwasn't the one driving, so it wasyourfault, not mine."

"Oh, please," Morgan said. "If it were up toyou, I would've run her over."

Nikki was still smirking. "But itwasn'tup to me. It wasyourcar."

Reese's voice cut through the bickering. "Enough." He stepped aside, pulling me gently along with him. When we cleared the gap that led to the interior of our circular booth, he flicked his head toward the opening and told them, "Have a seat."

Morgan's eyes brightened. "Both of us?"

Reese replied, "Sure, go ahead."

Call me petty, but I was actually kind of disappointed. Nikki's apology was a total joke, and Morgan hadn't apologized at all. But Reese wasstillinviting them to sit with us?

Or would they be sitting with Reese alone?After all, I wasn't arealVIP. I meant nothing to him. He could just as easily sendmeaway and trade up to two girls instead of one.

Either way, it beggared belief, especially given his hard-ass reputation.

I watched with silent indignation as Morgan and Nikki scrambled forward, jostling each other to be the first to enter the circular booth. Once they were both seated, they gazed up at him with adoring smiles that quickly faded when he said, "It's all yours."

Morgan's eyes narrowed. "What doesthatmean? You're not leaving us alone, are you?"

"Hell yeah." Reese turned and flashed me a sudden grin. "So, you wanna dance?"

Call me immature, but I almost giggled at the unexpected twist. I hadn't seenthatone coming, and judging from the disgruntled looks from Morgan and Nikki, I wasn't the only one who'd been caught by surprise.

In reply to his question, I gave a happy nod.

Did I want to dance?

Boy, did I ever.

Chapter 30

Reese

It was all part of the plan. That's what I kept telling myself as I guided Emily not to the dance floor, but toward the main bar, where I ordered four shots of their best vodka.

When the bartender left to fill the order, Emily said with an amused look, "Four? Seriously?"

The look almost made me smile. "Hey, half are yours."

She laughed. "I can't do two back-to-back."

"Why not?"

"Because I'll be falling down, that's why. I'm a total lightweight."

We were leaning against the bar, lost in the crowd of people out to enjoy themselves on a Saturday night. Unlike them, I hadn't come here for fun. And yet, that's what I was having in spite of my expectations.

Of course, payback was always fun if you did it right.

To Emily, I said, "Don't worry. If you fall down, I'll carry you."