The Trouble with Love (Sex, Love & Stiletto 4)

A distraction would be welcome. A female distraction would be incredibly welcome. But not like this.

“I’m not taking one of your leftovers,” Alex growled at Lincoln.

Lincoln looked up. “What about one that I haven’t slept with yet?”

“Nope.”

“I’m serious. I haven’t even dated this one woman who would be great for you. I hit on her friend, but then I got her phone number as well since she’s an accountant and I was looking fo

r one.”

“No,” Alex said, voice bored.

Lincoln handed his phone over. It was the woman’s Facebook page. She had small, almost elfish features, wavy brown hair, a friendly smile, and intelligent green eyes.

She looked . . . normal. Like someone he could talk to.

“Her name’s Alisha. I swear to God she’s not a weirdo,” Lincoln said.

Alex hesitated for only a second before handing the phone back. “Nope.”

He reached for his pen. Clicked.

Lincoln shrugged as though it was no matter to him, and pushed off the desk, ambling toward the door. “Suit yourself.”

Cole and Jake stood as well, turning their backs on him.

“Cross,” Jake mused, loud enough for Alex to hear. “The man is cross.”

“Peevish,” Cole one-upped him.

“Hey, did you text Emma back about Friday?” Jake asked Cole. “She told Grace that she liked Italian, so Babbo’s a safe bet, but you should probably confirm with her. Women like when you talk to them directly.”

Alex clicked the pen faster.

“I know what you’re doing,” he called after them. “It won’t work.”

Neither man turned around, and Alex swore softly.

Cole wouldn’t really go on a date with Emma.

Would he?

Cole was a friend, and it violated every sort of bro code. Except . . . Alex had been going out of his way for years to show that his and Emma’s past was only in the past, so could he blame Cole for thinking she was fair game?

Yes. Yes, he could absolutely blame Cole.

And yet . . . there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. Nothing he should want to do about it.

Emma wasn’t his. Not anymore.

And if the thought of Cole touching her made him want to jab his pen into his femoral artery, surely that was completely understandable and normal.

Alex tossed the pen aside. Fuck.

Then he stood, going in search of Lincoln. Maybe he did want this Alisha’s phone number.

Chapter 14