He’d then seduced her in the shower, before convincing her to watch a movie. They’d watched the latest Wonder Woman adventure and had a late lunch. She’d made more calls, and spoken with her mother again, without telling Mrs. Carlson what was going on.
Then Gia and Haven had arrived. Easton had made them cocktails, and then Gia had taken over.
That led them to now, with three tipsy women.
“So, Vander needs a woman, now,” Saxon said with a grin.
Vander skewered his best friend with a dark look. “Why?”
“Love, companionship—”
“Hot sex.” Rhys winked.
Vander grunted. “I can get hot sex without the rest of it. It all seems like more trouble than it’s worth, besides, I don’t have the time.”
“You just haven’t found the right one,” Easton said.
The three of them looked at him, but his gaze went to Harlow.
“The one who gets you at a glance, who doesn’t let you get away with shit—like lying, or hiding. The one who just has to smile and it lights you up. And when she cries, you want to fucking tear the world apart. The one who sees the stains on your soul, and she still wants you. Just as you are.”
The men stared at him, silent.
“Goner,” Saxon finally said.
“Fuck, yeah.” Vander sipped his beer.
Rhys clinked his Corona against Easton’s. “Who’s going to be your best man, me or Vander?”
Easton’s heart contracted at the thought of marriage, then found its rhythm again. “I’ll keep you posted.”
“Let’s dance!” Gia cried.
“Oh, God,” Vander muttered.
Easton put on some music. The women kicked off their heels and claimed a space. They giggled as they danced.
“I’m heading off,” Vander said. “I’m going to check out a few things on Carlson.”
If anyone could find the man, it was Vander.
“Vander.” Harlow appeared and threw her arms around him. “I just want—” she hiccupped “—to thank you for helping me. And looking for my dad. And shooting at bad guys for me.”
Saxon and Rhys both chuckled, and Easton just smiled and shook his head.
Vander patted her back. “You’re welcome.”
“And to tell you I love you. I love everybody.” She threw an arm in the air.
Vander stopped her from losing her balance. “You’re going to have a wicked hangover tomorrow.”
“I’m feeling way too good for hangovers. Wow, you sure are pretty. Gia, your brother is pretty.”
“Which one?” Gia cried.
Harlow blinked. “All of them. Except Vander is a bit scary. Rhys is too hot.”
Vander spun her into Easton’s arms.
She smiled up at Easton. “Oh, but this one is juuuuust right.”
“Come on, Goldilocks,” Easton said. “Time for a gallon of water, then bed.”
“I really like this one,” she whispered.
Easton felt those words deep in his gut.
Saxon and Rhys rounded up their tipsy women. The trio shared hugs and kisses and several “I love you so much” declarations, until their men dragged them out, laughter and giggling echoing behind them.
“I feel so good.” Harlow threw both arms out and tilted sideways.
Easton swung her into his arms. “Hold onto that feeling, because you won’t tomorrow.”
“I love your sister and Haven.”
“I’m pretty sure they love you back.”
He hitched her up and walked into the elevator and pressed the button.
“I love Saxon, Rhys, and Vander.”
“They’ll be thrilled.”
“And I love martinis!”
“I noticed.” With a grunt, he maneuvered her out and down the hall to his bedroom.
Her fingers stroked his cheek and he met her slightly unfocused eyes. “And I’m totally falling in love with you.”
Easton found himself speechless. Fuck. So many emotions ran through him in a wild tangle.
“It’s sort of freaking me out.” Her voice lowered. “But shh, it’s a secret. Don’t tell Easton.”
“Shit, Harlow, what the hell am I going to do with you?”
She blinked sleepily and snuggled into him. “Keep expecting you to leave. To finally have enough of my mess and get free.” Her voice lowered. “To leave me all alone to deal with it.”
As everyone else in her life was prone to doing.
“Not gonna happen, sweetheart.” He set her on the bed and she flopped backward. He reached behind her, unzipped her dress, and pulled it off.
When he saw the aquamarine teddy made of silk and lace, he groaned. His cock was hard in an instant. She was so fucking gorgeous, and right now, totally off-limits.
“Wore this for you,” she murmured.
“Thanks.” She was killing him.
“Easton?” She sat up.
“Yeah?”
“I think I’m going to puke.”
Shit. “Come on, baby.” He lifted her again. “I’ve got you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Harlow leaned back in the warm, bubbly water, trying not to think of anything.
She tried to enjoy the nighttime view of San Francisco and the bay. She was sitting in Easton’s kickass hot tub on his terrace.
It wasn’t some cheap tub. No, it was actually built into the terrace and lined with gorgeous blue tiles.
Suddenly, he strode out onto the terrace and she sank lower in the heavenly water. Gia hadn’t packed all of Harlow’s clothes, after all. Harlow didn’t have any swimwear here, so she was naked.
She watched Easton stride toward her. God, he was gorgeous. He was in another pair of jeans today—these ones well-worn. They fit him like a dream, and he wore a loose, button-up shirt untucked, in a soft gray.
She sank even lower in the water. She was still feeling totally embarrassed that she’d drunk way too much the night before. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done that.
There was a clicking sound as Easton set a glass of something down on the edge of the hot tub.
“What’s that?” she asked. “It had better not be alcoholic.” Her stomach protested at the thought.
He sat on the edge of the tub. “Sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon.”
Harlow eyed him in the darkness and took a sip. “I’m so sorry for getting drunk last night.”
She’d woken up in agony. Her head had been trying to split itself open, and Easton had poured water and aspirin into her, then let her sleep until lunchtime. Then he’d bullied her out of bed and made her eat something.
She’d spent Sunday afternoon curled on his couch, calling more of her dad’s friends, and calling some a second time. She was certain his good golf buddy, Gregor, was covering for him.
While she’d done that, Easton had done some work.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he said. “Last night was supposed to be a chance for you to have fun, relax.”
A damp strand of her hair had escaped the messy bun she’d piled on top of her head. She stuck it back up. “Being around someone that drunk is no fun.”