“Where’s Landon?” she asked, glancing over their shoulders.
“He stopped at Dunkin’. He thinks he had to bribe us all to help but we wanted to come,” Scarlett said.
Vivi laughed. “I already did the same thing. There’s a box in the kitchen and a dozen donuts. But since I only planned on the guys, his coffee run will help. Especially if you’re all big caffeine drinkers.”
“Oh, trust me, we are,” Tanner said.
“Then let’s go to the kitchen.” She gestured a step or two away in her little apartment, and they all congregated around the counter. “I picked up cups from the store. Make yourselves at home.” Vivi moved aside so everyone could pour their coffee.
“Door’s open. I’m coming in!” Ellie stepped inside and Vivi met her at the apartment entrance. “What is going on?” her friend asked, looking at the crowd of people in Vivi’s small apartment.
“Apparently Landon decided I needed help moving, and he brought his partners. And they brought their women.” Vivi tipped her head toward the couples.
“A real family affair,” Ellie said with a snicker. “So, care to introduce me?”
Before Vivi could do just that, Landon arrived with the same box of coffee and donuts Vivi had bought. She took one look at him in his jeans and tee shirt, biceps visible, his hair still slightly damp, a grin on his handsome face, and the lady parts he’d woken up yesterday came back to life. She didn’t glance down at her tee shirt, not wanting to draw attention to her now perky nipples.
“Come in,” she said with a sweep of her hand. “Just put the coffee and donuts on the counter next to mine.”
He grinned at her statement. “I guess great minds think alike. But I’m sure we’ll drink and eat it all while we’re loading up cars.”
Since the apartment above the club was furnished, she didn’t have to worry about moving heavy pieces, and besides, the crap items she owned weren’t worth keeping. She’d already made a deal with her landlord. He’d keep the furnishings and she’d forgo her security deposit.
Landon headed to the kitchen area and her gaze fell to his backside. His jeans molded to his firm ass, and she wondered what it would be like to cup her hands around him and–
“Oh my God, you want to fuck him!” Ellie said. At least she’d kept her voice to a whisper, but it still sounded too loud for Vivi’s taste.
“Shhh!” She glared at her friend. “What’s wrong with you? All his family and friends are right there.” She tipped her head.
“Are you going to act on that attraction?” Ellie asked, eyes wide and curious.
Vivi shook her head. “No.” Not again, she thought. That first time had been a slipup. One she couldn’t make again, and she hadn’t told her friend about the kiss, either. “Now hush. He’s coming back.”
Landon returned, coffee cup in hand. “Are you ready to load up?”
She nodded. “The clothes are still on hangers, covered with garbage bags for protection. Everything else is boxed up. Honestly, there isn’t that much. We didn’t need all these people.”
He chuckled. “Want to know a secret?” He leaned in close, the scent of his aftershave overwhelming her in the best possible way. “The women are nosey. They wanted to meet you and they didn’t want to wait for you to get settled at the club.”
She was kind of flattered. “That’s sweet and we’ve already been introduced. But I don’t think we need them to help me move.”
Landon leaned a hip against the radiator by the wall. “Tell you what. Point me to the boxes and clothes, I’ll grab the guys, and you can indulge their curiosity and talk with them for a while.” His glance included Ellie but lingered on Vivi.
“Listen to him!” Faith, who Vivi hadn’t realized had joined them, said.
The bubbly blonde struck Vivi as the more outgoing one of the two. Scarlett seemed the more watch-and-assess-before-acting type.
Realizing she was outvoted as far as her helping, Vivi directed the men to the bedroom for the clothing and pointed out the boxes at the other end of her living room.
“So, you are going to love living above the club,” Faith told her.
“Agreed.” Scarlett came up beside Ellie, who watched with amusement.
“Rumor has it Tanner and Scarlett’s first get-together was in that apartment,” Faith said, then took a sip of her coffee.
“Faith!” Scarlett blushed a bright red.
“Don’t worry. We bought all new bedding and sheets for you.” Faith grinned and Scarlett rolled her eyes, obviously used to her uninhibited personality.
“Umm, I’m not sure what to say to that.” Vivi didn’t want to imagine the other couple in her soon-to-be bed. “But I am really excited to start this new phase of my life.”
“We saw your video. You’re amazing,” Scarlett said, then took a huge bite of a chocolate-frosted donut.