Page 40 of Worth the Risk

“That isn’t a no.” She throws her hands up and laughs as Grady rests an arm over her shoulders, pulls her in closer, and presses a kiss to her temple.

“No,” I murmur.

“That’s such crap,” Grant throws in. “Like utter bullshit. Since when would you say no to that?” He tips his beer in Sidney’s direction and lifts his eyebrows.

I wouldn’t. That’s the plain and simple answer.

“I’ve got a hundred on him sleeping with her,” Grady says to Grant.

“Not taking that bet because I’d lose in a heartbeat.” They high five across the table.

Bastards.

“She’s too much like Claire.” Another soft response, more to myself than to them. Déjà vu takes me back to another place, another time when I was young and stupid and really thought it didn’t matter where you came from or what you did so long as you were in love.

I’ve learned.

“Again, I call bullshit.” Grady snorts.

“The type who’ll reel you in with her looks . . .” I glance her way when her laugh sounds off in perfect timing with my comment. She’s halfway across the bar, but fuck if I can’t hear her as if she were standing right next to me. “Then leave you high and dry because she’s so damn selfish she doesn’t think of anyone but herself.”

And goddamn it if pretty boy Vince Garda didn’t just walk up to her and hand her a drink. She smiles, but it’s the look on his face—the one that says he’s a man determined to leave here with her tonight—that has me gritting my teeth and slipping up on what I just said.

“Whoa. Wait.” Grant throws his arms out in front of him animatedly as his wife, Emerson, tilts her head back and laughs. “Hold up. I thought we were talking about you getting laid. One night. Maybe a few nights—”

“High and dry means you want more than a few nights with her,” Grady finishes for him. I hate when my brothers are in perfect sync like this—reading each other’s minds and finishing each other’s thoughts. I hate it exponentially more when it’s aimed at picking on me. “And honestly, bro, with her, I think you’d prefer low and wet, if you get my drift?”

“Christ,” I swear as I stand from my seat and the room spins slightly. “You two are a bunch of little old ladies.”

“Leave him alone,” Dylan pipes in. “It isn’t his fault the woman going to such great lengths to get him to participate in her contest is drop-fucking-dead gorgeous with legs for days and boobs I’d kill to have.”

“I, for one, like your boobs and legs,” Grady says before kissing her soundly. I roll my eyes.

“You two are sickening. Both sets of you. Christ, can’t a guy just drink in peace without having to watch you make googly eyes at each other?”

“We only make googly eyes because we know we’re getting laid when we get home tonight.” Grady glances in Sidney’s direction and then looks back to me. “The question is, are you? Because you’re sitting here making googly eyes at her.”

I point to the shot of tequila next to my beer and make a show of picking it up and downing it in one fell swoop.

“Ah, yes. You want to drink in peace,” Grant says and laughs. “Go right ahead and keep drinking in peace because that woman over there manipulated you into a corner that I kind of think you enjoy being shoved into.”

I glare at Grant and his snarky smile.

“I can think of where else he wants her to shove him,” Emerson delivers with a look of complete innocence that has me breaking a smile and laughing.

“Christ, Em.”

She shrugs. “Well, it’s true, right? Hell, if I were a man, I’d want her. Looks like someone may beat you to it, though.” She nods toward Sidney, and we all turn to find that Vince’s hand is on Sidney’s arm. My fist clenches at the sight. My jaw ticks. Jealousy I don’t want to feel rages.

The table falls silent, but I don’t notice until I turn my attention back to the four pairs of knowing eyes staring back at me. “I change my bet. A hundred bucks says Gray leaves here tonight with her and gets laid,” Grady says as he slowly slides a hundred-dollar bill across the table as if I can’t see it.

“He doesn’t move that fast. He has anger issues,” Grant says with a wink. “You’re on.”

“I am not sleeping with her tonight. Not ever.”

“Yes, you are.” Grady sits back in his seat.

“If you aren’t sleeping with her, then what’s it hurt to head over there and talk to her. You haven’t said a word to her all night, but you sure as hell have been staring at her.” Grant shrugs.