Page 40 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

I stared at her. She knew I wasn’t.

She strode closer, careful to maneuver around the rest of the gym equipment and machines. “Dean called.”

“Why’smyfriend callingyou?” I asked, while pulling off my boxing gloves.

She came to a stop and gave me a pointed look. “Probably because he knew you’d say no.”

“What the hell did he want?” My best friend could be dramatic at times.

“He’s in town this afternoon for a meeting and wanted us to meet up with him at Cogsworth Tavern tonight.”

“Why doesn’t he just come here?” Dean knew he was welcome here any time.

“He’s heading back tonight. With Ashlyn pregnant he doesn’t want to be gone long and the tavern’s closer to the airport.”

I grabbed a nearby towel to wipe my face. “Fine. Let Paul know I’ll need him tonight.”

She grinned. “That won’t be necessary. An Uber ride has already been secured.”

I must have heard her wrong. “I don’t take fucking Uber. That’s why I have Paul.

“Well, it’s only fair that Paul gets to drink on our night out, too. Don’t you think?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Our night?”

A gleam lit her eyes. “Yes, we’re all going.”

“We?”

“Yes. All four of us.”

I grunted. That meant Lily would be there too.

How was I going to survive the night with her tempting body by my side?

***

“YOU MADE IT.” DEANstood up from his seat at the high top he sat at.

“I didn’t think we had a choice.” I said, and pulled him in for a bro hug.

He laughed and turned to everyone behind me. He shook Paul’s hand and hugged Ms. Ketill. When he got to Lily he smiled at her.

My gut clenched which was ridiculous. Dean was one of my best friends, a happily married man, and he was only being friendly. So why was I twisted up with jealousy?

“You must be Lily. Angela mentioned you were coming when I spoke to her earlier.”

Lily nodded and held out her hand.

I crossed my arms over my chest in an attempt not to push her hand out of Dean’s way.

My friend glanced at me, and smirked. The asshole must have correctly guessed what I was thinking. He grabbed Lily’s hand and winked. “It’s nice to meet you. Hopefully this guy isn’t living up to his name too much.”

Asshole.

Lily snorted and tried to cover it with a cough. “He has his moments.” She looked at me and smiled.

I stepped in between Lily and Dean to pull out her chair which placed her directly to my left.