By my last appointment, I'm chomping at the bit.
"What was it like?" Dean moves into my suite. Leans against the wall. "As good as you imagined?"
"Fuck off. I'm working." I try to add irritation to my voice, but it won't happen. I love that Dean is desperate for details. There's so much I want to say about her. I'm bursting at the seams.
Too bad this client is a mutual friend. And an old friend. One of our oldest and most loyal clients.
Joel lives and dies for this kind of conversation.
I can't use him as an excuse.
Shit, I better—
"Don't hold back for me. I want to hear," Joel says. His voice has that effortless breeziness. Like Walker's, but brighter. Richer. More famous. "Sounds dirty."
"Very." Dean chuckles. "Sex in an alley. That's a hell of a way to lose it."
"Why do you ruin everything beautiful?" Damn, I'm smiling. I can't help it. Life is too fucking good right now. And I'm about to see Kay. One more line and this thing is done.
"You can't know light without darkness," Dean says.
Joel's wavy hair whips his cheeks as he shakes his head. He looks every bit the effortless playboy rock star. He even has the let's not talk about my band shrug down pat.
I didn't know shit about Dangerous Noise until Emma decided it was her favorite band. She's had a few choice posters up on her bedroom walls. Men on beds, stripping out of their clothes, shooting come hither looks.
Joel looks to me. "You buy this shit?"
"Does anyone?" There. I set the gun down. Examine the work.
He turns to the ink. "Fuck, no wonder I keep coming back here. You do good shit."
"And you live four blocks away," I offer.
"Take more credit." His green eyes light up as he laughs. They're lighter than Kaylee's. Greyer.
Hers are more blue.
But it still sends all my thoughts racing back to her—
The way she groaned my name.
Those blue nails sinking into my skin.
The need filling her eyes.
Fuck, I need to get ahold of myself or I'm not going to survive this conversation.
"If it was me, the bragging would never end." He smiles that effortless, casual smile. "This alley girl the one you've been pining over?"
"I don't pine," I say.
Dean scoffs.
Joel too.
"Yeah. He's been pussy free for months now. More even." Dean shakes his head. "I don't know how you do it. One woman. Forever."
"She's the right woman." He holds up his left hand like his wedding ring is an Olympic medal. "You'd get it if any woman could tolerate you for more than—"