He bit back his own grin, feeling a bit like a fool, but having a lot more fun than he'd anticipated.
There was only one contestant after him, so he didn't have long to wait until all the men on the stage were released to mingle in the crowd. He searched for Eva, but realized that she'd disappeared in the crush. That was also the moment he realized that his spur of the moment decision to toss his shirt into the crowd had been a boneheaded move. Apparently, he was going to have to mingle half-naked with his customers.
Great.
"Hey there, stud." Eva's sultry voice teased him from behind. "I've got something for you."
He turned to find her holding out a black The Fix on Sixth T-shirt for him.
"Have I told you how very incredibly wonderful you are?"
"Feel free to fill me in. Although this is more selfishness than awesomeness. It's in my interest to cover you up, after all. It's one thing on stage. Entirely another to be walking around in the wild where other women can ogle you."
"Ogle? Hmm. Sounds kinky." He stepped closer and put his arms around her waist. "Maybe later we can do some ogling."
"Okay, you two," Elena said as she approached. "Break it up."
"Nothing doing," Tyree said. And then, because he was still on his celebrity high, he pulled Eva to him and kissed her long and hard, not releasing her until he heard he sounds of cheers and applause from all around them.
When he did let her go, she laughed, a little breathless. "If that's your definition of ogling, I'm all for a little more. But what--"
Her question was cut off by Beverly's return to the stage. "After this, I'm taking you to the Driskill," he whispered, causing Eva to turn in his arms.
"You better not mean just for a drink," she said.
"Third floor. A lovely room. I'm assured by the front desk that it even has a bed."
"In other words, all the amenities we need."
"In other words," he added, "no kids in second bedrooms."
Beside them, one of the kids in question was jumping up and down, and it took Tyree a second to wrap is mind around what she was saying.
"You won! You won! Dad! Hello? Daddy! You won!"
And in that moment, he realized two things. First, that his chest was going to be plastered on the pages of his own damn calendar.
And second, that for the first time, his daughter had called him Dad.
* * *
He hadn't been lying when he told her it was a lovely room. It was stunning. Well-appointed. Comfortable. Altogether fabulous.
And Tyree couldn't care less.
All he wanted--all he needed--was Eva. She'd become the center of his world, the focal point of his days and his nights.
She was the mother of his daughter. His friend. His lover.
And, dammit, it was the last part that he intended to explore tonight. Had to. Because he'd been craving her all damn day. The simple, attractive T-shirt. The thin, summer skirt. The casual sandals. She looked like a picnic, and he wanted to devour her.
"Bed," he said, the moment they entered the room.
She lifted her brows. "Bossy."
"Oh, yes," he said, then scooped her up and tossed her where he wanted her, making her squeal with laughter--a laughter he quickly turned into a sensual groan when he lifted her skirt and tugged down her panties, then dipped his head for a deliciously intimate taste.
"Oh, God," she cried, her hands clutching his head, her hips bucking against his mouth. He'd planned on a soft, romantic night. Instead, this was hard and hot and wild--and he couldn't deny that he liked it. The taste of her, the need. The hot, shameless way she demanded his fingers and tongue.