He was only human, after all. And though he was doing his best to work around their problems, he didn’t know whether they, as a couple, could ever get past the realities of life.
* * *
Cassie spent hours getting ready for the gala. After doing some online research and talking to Derek again, she’d realized this was a black-tie event. Good thing she had appropriate dresses for the occasion. She was nervous to spend time with his partners and their significant others. She hoped the women were more like Lucas than Kade. She didn’t want to have to fend off Derek’s protective friends tonight.
He picked her up at her new apartment, and Derek West in a tuxedo was a sight to behold. His big body filled out his jacket, from his broad shoulders to his tapered waist. His hair was slicked back, and he presented a powerful figure, a sexy man who, tonight, was all hers.
“You clean up nicely,” she said, her gaze drifting over him appreciatively.
“And you look fucking gorgeous.” He lifted her hand, kissing the back before turning her around so he could get a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of her red dress.
The gown dipped low, revealing her cleavage in the front, while from behind, it revealed her lower back. It was the sexiest thing she owned, and she reveled in his blatant, admiring stare.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
She picked up her shawl and nodded. They traveled to the event by limousine, with a divider partition separating them from the driver. She sat by his side, her thigh touching his pants, sparks of awareness flooding her system.
He placed one hand on her bared knee, rubbing his thumb over the exposed skin. Her nipples were tight and her sex damp as they alighted from the car. It was destined to be a long night until they returned to her place, but she had something to look forward to.
Once inside, he led her over to where his friends stood. Nerves took flight in her stomach as he introduced her and, in the men’s case, reintroduced her.
“Cassie, you remember Kade, and this is his wife, Lexie.”
A pretty woman with brown hair and light blue eyes, in a silver dress, met her gaze with a welcoming smile. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”
“Same here,” Cassie murmured.
Derek placed a supportive hand on her back. “You already know Lucas, and this is his fiancée, Maxie.”
A petite blonde with a slight baby bump leaned into Lucas’s side, smiled. “Hi.”
“Hello,” Cassie said with a smile.
“And not to state the obvious,” Derek said, “but this is Kendall, Lexie’s—”
“Twin,” the woman finished for Derek. “Hi.”
“Hello.” Cassie glanced between Lexie and Kendall, noting they were, indeed, identical. Both beautiful women, though Lexie’s eyes sparkled with happiness, while it seemed Kendall was more subdued.
“And last but not least, this is Carter McCord, Kendall’s date.” He gestured to a nice-looking man with dark hair and a beard, who stood beside Kendall.
“Blind date,” Kendall said with a brittle grin.
Cassie nodded, glad she wasn’t in that position tonight.
“Derek, I’m really looking forward to walking Oscar. Can I come by to meet him tomorrow or another day this week?” Kendall asked. Her eyes lit up at the mention of Derek’s dog.
“Sure. Let’s do tomorrow. I only have another week left with my current girl. I’d love for him to meet you sooner rather than later. Just call or text me with a heads-up before you come.”
“Great!”
“How many dogs do you walk at one time?” Cassie asked. Oscar seemed like enough of a handful.
Then again, she didn’t own a dog, much as she’d love to someday. She didn’t know how she’d handle more than one.
Kendall shrugged. “I don’t do multiple families at once. So if one of my clients has two or three dogs, I walk them together. Otherwise just one at a time.”
Before Cassie could reply, Kendall gasped, the color draining from her face.