Maverick chuckled. “Nah, my assistant attends these things with me. She keeps track of who I should make a point to talk to, helps me remember who they are so I don’t make an ass of myself.”
“No fucking way.” Blaze shook his head adamantly. “If I have to attend these things, I want guaranteed pussy at the end of the night.”
“Same.” Kade hissed through his teeth. “Damn, Mav. Sucks to be you, man.”
Mug halfway to his lips, Dane paused, one dark brow spiking. He uncurled one finger from around the glass to point at Kade. “You haven’t seen his assistant.”
“You remember Mav’s goth girl, don’t you?” Linc brought his fingers to his lips for a chef’s kiss. “Not so goth anymore.”
Avery didn’t remember her, but he did recall Maverick warning them all that both girls in his study group were off-limits. The way he scowled over the rim of his mug, this one still was.
“Yeah?” Kade chuckled. “I’d be careful with that. You could end up like Avery.”
“Hey, man,” Avery said, “Zach’s the best admin I’ve ever had. He’s smart, efficient, and I don’t have to worry about him catching feelings like the last two.”
“Two?” Linc laughed. “You didn’t learn the first time?”
Avery flipped him off. “Slow learner.”
“You’d still be learning,” Bryce piped in, “if Nick hadn’t laid down the law. No more female admins for you.”
“Fuck you,” Avery said, giving Bryce both barrels.
But he was right. Avery had been reckless, costing the company two hefty buyouts to prevent sexual harassment suits, which was bullshit since one of them walked into his office, locked the door, and took off her clothes. The other showed up at his condo under the guise of business, then crawled on his lap.
Okay, so he’d flirted with them, but they’d flirted back and, until they made a move, he’d never touched them. Still, as Nick had drilled into his head, he wasn’t a kid anymore, his actions reflected on P.E., and employees were off-limits.
Blaze leaned forward to look at Maverick. “I want to get back to Mav’s hot as fuck admin. She free after?”
“She is not.”
The succinct words, along with Maverick’s hard stare, had Blaze sitting back, both hands raised in supplication. “Sorry, man. Didn’t know you were a thing.”
“We’re not.” But Maverick’s possessive tone added the unsaid but collectively understood, “Not yet.”
“Don’t you already have a date?” Linc asked Blaze. “I put you down for two at our table.”
Like Dane, Linc seldom spoke, but when he did, everyone listened. He internalized and organized his thoughts, always observing the dynamics of a situation, always one step ahead of everyone else.
“After-party.” Blaze winked at Maverick. “The more the merrier.”
“Fuck off,” Maverick growled.
Gage let out a loud belch, making everyone groan and breaking the tension.
“Feel better?” Kade asked, waving imaginary fumes back at Gage.
By the grin on his face, he did. “Not as good as I did last night.”
Everyone laughed, except Bryce, Maverick, and Avery, who weren’t in on the joke. Gage partied hard, but lately, he’d headed into self-destruction.
“Yeah?” Linc asked. “Which bridesmaid did you end up with?”
Gage puffed out his chest. “Dude, I took the whole bachelorette party home. Gin was fizzing, and my boys were jizzing.”
Kade rolled his eyes, triggering Avery’s memory of the way Legs rolled her eyes at him. She’d hate these guys. The thought made him smile.
Wait.The smile slipped from his face.Why the fuck am I thinking about her? And why do I care whether she’ll like my friends or not?
