The Collection (Contemporary Reverse Harem 5)

Afew hours, two cups of coffee, and a bag of peanuts later, I pulled open the door to the dingy bar we liked to call our home away from home. The guys had snagged our usual booth in the back, and there were already two sweaty pitchers of beer on the table.

“Dude. How was the exam?” Marlon asked, patting me on the back as I took a seat next to him.

All eyes were on me. “You know, I think I did pretty well. I’m really digging this early western civilization stuff. It’s cool as shit. Now, I just have to write a paper.”

“You’re kicking ass, man,” Cross said and raised his glass.

“Cheers to Rand.” Everyone followed his toast.

“Thanks, guys. Now, what are you all smiling about?”

Cross set his beer down on the table, and leaned into the group.

“Rand, I was just telling Marlon and Shane. I am smitten by our lovely Kealy.”

Did he really just say our?

“She’s smart, ambitious, plucky, and of course, freaking gorgeous.” He took a swig of his beer and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, shook his head like he couldn’t believe his luck.

Shane nodded. “I gotta agree with Cross here. I am smitten with the young lady, as well.”

“Cool. I go out with her tomorrow night. Looking forward to it.” And I was.

Marlon nodded, looking at the rings the beer had formed on the table. “I’ll tell ya, Rand, she’s something special. Pretty, intelligent…”

“Nice…” Shane added.

“I told her we wanted to help with her business,” Cross said.

“Was she interested?” I asked.

He nodded. “Hell, yeah. But I think most of all, she was just really moved that we were interested in supporting her. I don’t think she’s had a lot of that in her life. You know, lucky breaks, that sort of thing. I told her, at the very least, we could all model for her.”

“I’d give up my day rate for the lovely lady,” Shane said.

Another round of cheers to that filled our table.

Actually, I think we’d all give up a lot more than that.