Twice as Sexy (The Sexy 2)

But Tanner’s hope quickly evaporated regarding Vic. Yes, the cops spoke to Daniel Sutherland and knew they were after Victor Clark, but he’d disappeared. According to Sutherland, he didn’t know where Vic had been staying, but he did have a cell phone number for him … that turned out to be to a burner phone.

Vic was nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, life went on. Faith asked them to throw a surprise party for Jason at the club, and they picked a Wednesday night so as not to interfere with the weekend rush and so the crowd would be smaller at the club. In other words, so they could fit more Dares into one room.

Jason had a massively huge family. First, he had two full siblings and six half siblings, all married, not to mention three cousins who lived in New York. Most of the family resided in the Miami Beach, Florida, area but his sister Sienna and her husband, Ethan Knight, lived in Manhattan. Ethan had three siblings, two of whom were in the city … and on and on.

It made Tanner’s head spin. Especially when the Florida siblings, half and full, along with Jason’s mother, Savannah, and her new boyfriend, decided to make a trip to celebrate Jason’s thirtieth birthday.

It was Faith’s job to bring Jason to the club on his day off for the surprise. She had, of course, created lots of candy pops and other delicious treats for the occasion and dropped them off earlier in the day.

Scarlett made a huge fuss about picking out an appropriate dress for the party, finally choosing a sexy but sophisticated black number that she brought to work to change into before Tanner picked her up to head over to the club.

When he arrived, he took one look at her and nearly swallowed his tongue. Her hair fell over her shoulders in disarray, her makeup had been freshened, and that dress dipped low between her luscious breasts, teasing him with just a hint of cleavage. Classy, sexy, and all his, at least for the time being.

“Hi, gorgeous.”

She grinned when she looked up and saw him standing there. “Hi, yourself, handsome.” She rose and came around her desk, this time revealing her long legs and high-heeled black pumps.

He wanted those legs wrapped around his waist. Now. And he wondered if anyone would notice if he shut the door and bent her over her desk. Then he could spend the rest of the evening all but pounding his chest like a caveman because his woman smelled like him when she talked to other men.

“Tanner? I asked if you were ready to leave. You spaced out. Everything okay?”

He chuckled, for damn sure not planning to reveal his thoughts. “It’s all good. You all set?”

She nodded. “I’m even leaving work here and not taking anything home tonight. Has Jason’s family arrived?”

He’d tried to give her a rundown of all the names and spouses, but her eyes had glazed over and he didn’t blame her. She’d meet them all in person soon.

“They’re at the club. And Jason is picking Faith up at the shop, stopping home so she can change for a nice dinner for his birthday. Landon’s going to call with an emergency,” he said, gesturing with air quotes. “And get him to the club for the surprise.”

“Sounds well thought out.” She picked up her purse, a dressier one than the big bag she usually carried. “All set.”

After they’d settled in the Uber – he hadn’t seen the point in driving – she asked, “So no news?”

She didn’t have to use Vic’s name. They both knew who she meant.

He shook his head. “But life goes on and we’re not going to stop our plans because the asshole is out there. We’ve got security, and his picture has been handed out to each guard.”

“Okay. So we hang tight.” He pulled her into him and they made their way downtown.

They hadn’t shut down the club to outsiders, and thanks to the news of Tangled Royal coming to Club TEN29, customers had returned to the venue. Despite it being a Wednesday, between the regulars and Jason’s friends and big, happy family, the place was packed.

Tanner walked around introducing Scarlett to the Dares he knew best. First up was Gabe and Izzy, a curvy brunette, with a warm, generous personality. “You’ve heard me mention Gabe Dare? This is the man himself and his wife, Isabelle.”

“I’ve heard great things about you,” Scarlett said to Gabe. “So nice to meet you.” She smiled at Izzy.

They shared small talk, and then Tanner caught sight of Lucy Dare and her husband, Max Savage, and he called them over. “This is my decorator, Lucy Dare. Lucy and Max, this is Scarlett.”

And on and on it went until finally, Landon let out a whistle. “Just heard from Faith. They’re parking and should be here any minute.”