“Done?” Ryan shuffles to the side, giving us space to pass.
“Yeah. Thanks for gatekeeping.” I drag Sid past the subdued gathering toward Linden at his booth, chatting to the bartender who has his hip cocked against the table.
I jerk my chin at them both in greeting.
“I better get back to work.” The bartender inclines his head and coasts past me.
“Everything okay?” Linden glances between me and Sid.
I stare at him, searching for a hint of shyness. “I thought I better return my girl.”
He raises his beer, tilting it toward me in thanks before taking a drink.
“Sid also mentioned I might owe you an apology for my behavior,” I hedge, waiting for him to gloat about my mistakes. He doesn’t. “I was out of line at the house. And it was a prick move to follow you here.”
“We all have our bad days.” He shrugs. “The good news is that I’ve never had a stalker before, so it’s nice a pretty one popped my cherry.”
Sid snorts. “He doesn’t like being called pretty.”
“Because I’m not.” I scowl.
Linden snickers around the final gulp of his beer, then drops the glass to the table and slides from the booth. “All jokes aside, though, I think it’s best if I hit the road.”
“Why?” Sid flinches. “We’re nowhere near finished.”
Shit. I’ve fucked this up for her. Royally. “If this is because of me, I—”
“Not at all.” Linden focuses on Sid. “This session has been wild. So much so that I’m itching to race home and put a guitar in my hands. Do you mind if I bail to work on the bridge?”
“Are you sure that’s the reason?” she asks.
“One hundred percent. I haven’t been this pumped in months.” He reaches out a hand for her to shake.
I drop my hold on her and she steps toward him. As soon as their palms meet he drags her in for a hug. It’s friendly. Brotherly. But still, a fucking hug from a walking, talking definition of a sex bomb.
“We’ll chat soon.” He releases her. “I’m busy with my special lady tomorrow and Sunday. Does it suit you to catch up at the start of the week? Maybe Monday?”
“Sure thing.” Sid nods. “I look forward to it.”
“Me, too.” He glances over his shoulder at me. “You’re a lucky man.”
I smile, all teeth, loads of venom. “So are you, seeing as though you took your hands off her right before I was about to break ’em.”
“Mason,” Sidney warns.
I raise my palms in surrender. “I’m joking.” I’m totally not, but I won’t make her life any harder than I already have. “Get goin’, Lee. And send us over that bridge once you’ve got it down. I’d love to hear it.”
“Are you serious?” He blinks at me. “That would be a fucking honor.”
“Then make sure it’s good.”
He huffs a laugh. “No pressure, right?”
Sid gives me a warning look, anticipating my gruff response before it fully forms.
“None at all,” I lie. “I’ll help you nail it.”
“That’s appreciated.” He shakes my hand. “I’ll be in touch.” He strolls away, stopping momentarily at the bar to talk to the bartender before continuing toward the elevators.
“He’s got a girlfriend?” I slide an arm around Sid’s shoulders.
“Yes.” Her tone is condemning, and she’s clearly judging my jealousy. “But that stays between us. They don’t plan on making it public.”
“His secret is safe with me…unless he decides to get grabby again.”
“Not funny,” she mutters.
“Not joking.” I turn into her, gliding my hands around her hips. “Why don’t you get a drink with the guys? I’ll follow you in a minute.”
Her brows pinch. “Where are you going?”
“I’ve gotta make a call.” If she’s decided she wants to return to the wild side, I’m not going to waste time helping her get back on track. “I won’t take long.”
CHAPTER 8
Sidney
I slide into the booth beside Ryan and Sean as Blake and Mitch eye me from across the table.
“Where’s Lynch?” Ryan throws back the last of his scotch. “Am I ordering another drink or are we getting out of here?”
“He’s making a call.” I turn my attention to Mason pacing in the far corner of the room, his cell raised to his ear. “He said he wouldn’t take long.”
“Just like his reputation in the bedroom, am I right?” Blake snickers to himself. “Tell me, Sid, how long has the Emperor of Ego been having problems in the satisfaction department?”
I smile, compassionate and virtuous. “It’s so incredibly kind of you to be concerned about our sex life, but there’s no need. Mason has always been at the top of his game in that regard.”
“Are you sure?” His eyes twinkle with mirth. “If the top of his game involves fake orgasms maybe an intervention is necessary.”
“Women fake orgasms sometimes. I’m sure Gabi can tell you all about it.”
Sean, Ryan, and Mitch chuckle, and Blake scoffs. “Like hell she can. Nothing gets faked in my bed.”
“Are you sure?” I hike a brow. “Not even once? Not even when she’s tired? Or stressed? Or if she gets distracted?”
“No way. I make sure her shit is squared every single time.”
I hold his stare, unblinking.
He sits taller, his smug expression losing its confident edge. “Why? Has she said something?”
“If she had, I wouldn’t be able to share. Our girl code is as strong as yours.”
He snaps a glance to Ryan, then Sean, and Mitch, his eyes widening in panic before they return to mine. “There’s no way Gabi fakes it. I’d know.”
“I’m sure you would.”
“I’d fucking know,” he repeats. “Even if I didn’t, she’d tell me.”
“Of course.” I nod. “Us women love to point out when our men can’t fulfil their duties.”
Sean snickers.
Blake leans into the table, narrowing his eyes. “Tell me you’re fucking with me.”
I laze back into the booth seat. Silent. Thoughtful.
“Tell me,” he demands.
I grin, the upward curve of lips accompanied by the soundtrack of Ryan and Mitch laughing.
“For a smug son of a bitch—” Sean raises his arm, attempting to gain the attention of the bartender. “—you sure buckle like a belt to paranoia.”
“It’s her face.” Blake flaps a hand in my direction. “She’s a good liar.”
“A good liar, yet a bad faker?” I reach out, grabbing his fingers to lower them to the table with a condescending pat. “Don’t worry. I’ve heard nothing but praise about your skills.”
Those hard eyes narrow further.
“I’m serious. I was only messing with you.”
He huffs a heavy exhale and flops back into the booth. “Thank fuck for that. My balls just shrunk to the size of molecules.”