What Lola Wants (Leave Your Shoes On 1)

Alex did bicep curls as Pete joined him at the free-weight station the next morning.

“Got a few extra pounds on that barbell,” his friend noted.

“Feeling particularly Man o’ Steel–like at the moment.”

“Oh?” Pete’s blond brow shot up. “Any reason why? And does her name start with ‘Lo’?”

Alex grunted. “She’ll pretty much be the death of me, I have no doubt. But what a great fucking way to go.”

“This is headed in a very risky direction, isn’t it?”

Between reps, Alex said, “She wears lingerie designed to send a guy into cardiac arrest. And those shoes. Christ. I’d let her wear them to bed.” He gave a sharp laugh. “Hell, I already have.”

“So there’s a bed involved?”

“And the couch. And the living room floor. Gimme a few more days, and we’ll have the entire condo covered.”

“Holy shit.” Pete eyed him while Alex finished his set, then returned the barbell to its rack. “Are you pulling my dick, or did you really nail Lola?”

“Let’s not call it that. She’s still my best friend. We just had sex. She wanted the whole friends-with-benefits thing. Who was I to say no?”

“Indeed.” Pete let out a disgruntled sound. “But, dude, you’re not doing yourself any favors by caving to Lo this time. She considers you two friends. You’re in love. That leads straight to clusterfuck, Lola Vonn–style.”

“Story of my life, or anyone’s really, with Lo. But goddamn.” Alex whistled under his breath. “There’s a reason why I can’t get enough of that woman.”

“Yeah, well, you do realize this will turn out badly for you. You two aren’t exactly on the same page romantically. Or in general.”

Alex reached for his towel and wiped the sweat from the nape of his neck. “I couldn’t help myself. She came on to me. In what world could I ever turn her down?”

“I’ll give her the stone-cold babe factor, sure, but—wait.” Pete shook his head. “She came on to you? Like I’m supposed to believe that, man?”

With a snort, Alex said, “It’s true. One forceful shove, and I ended up sprawled on the sofa with her on top of me. And let me tell you, that was not a bad position to be in, my friend.”

“Fuck.” Pete’s jaw fell slack.

“Yeah. And it was off the charts,” Alex told him. “As in, it even blew my mind, and I’ve had wild fantasies about her since the seventh grade.”

The only downside of the entire unexpected encounter was that Lola had slipped out much too quickly. He’d wanted her to stay the night. In his bed.

With Lola, he wanted sex and everything that came along with it. He’d also wanted to be inside her again first thing this morning. But she’d silently established boundaries around their little arrangement.

Hot sex only. No sleepovers.

Alex wasn’t inclined to let her set all the rules, but for the time being, he’d grant her an adjustment period for their FWB scenario. He was damn glad she wanted him. So he could suck it up for a while. See in which direction this took them, what more he could finagle out of her and the sexy situation.

“Well,” Pete said, clasping him on the shoulder. “I guess I’m supposed to say ‘congratulations’—especially after all this time. But it feels more like I should be preparing to give my condolences. This is Lo we’re talking about. Try not to forget it.”

“I hear you. But if you’d been a fly on the wall last night… you’d know why I’m staying in hot pursuit of her.”

Pete told him, “I’m up on the treadmill. Why don’t you guys come by the bar for dinner tonight?”

“I’ll let her know. Not sure what she’s got going on after work.”

“Tell her if she doesn’t stop by to see me soon, I’m gonna be pissed.”

“She knows. Go do your cardio before someone snags the machine.”

“I’m out. Talk to you later.”