As she shut the door, he rounded the corner of the van. “Good evening, ladies.”
Both women startled.
Viv recovered first, eyeing him with unconcealed interest. “Good-lookin’, you mean, cuz you’re a whole lotta that, mister.”
Her cohort however…
“You.” The word dripped with acid, and glacial blue eyes narrowed on him.
Making an allowance for her less than gracious welcome—she was obviously having a bad night—Avery let the smile tugging at his lips go full tilt and aimed it at Viv. “Thank you, Ms.…”
She blushed a bright pink.
“It’s just Viv,” she said.
“Might I have a word with your friend?” He winked. “In private?”
That got him a third eyeroll. “I’ve heard all I can stomach from you tonight.”
Legs swept around Viv, and Avery did the same, blocking her exit. The tray she carried teetered, but somehow, she righted it. “Watch it.”
“Should I call security?” Viv asked, taking a wary stand beside her friend. She balanced the tray in one hand and fished a phone from her pocket with the other, then leaned closer. “He’s mighty pretty and looks like a real good time, but if he ain’t to your likin’, I’ll make a call. You just say the word.”
He held up both hands. “I promise to be good.”
“I’ll just bet you are,” Viv muttered under her breath.
Haven’t had a complaint yet.
Legs closed her eyes, sucked in a long breath, and let it out slowly. She turned to Viv and held out the tray. “Would you mind taking this inside so I can find out what Mr. Preston wants?”
“Oh, I know exactly what he wants.” One brow climbing her forehead, Viv gave him a once-over as she repocketed the phone and took the tray from Legs. “Mr. Preston, huh?”
“It’s just Avery,” he insisted, offering a mock bow.
Viv chuckled. “Okay, Just Avery. I’m getting’ good vibes from you, and I’m not usually wrong, but I know where to find you if I am.”
He saluted her. “Yes, ma’am.”
When Viv was out of sight, Legs folded her arms under her breasts and inspected him, not bothering to hide her disgust. “What can I do for you?”
He could think of so many ways to answer that, but he had a feeling he had to play this one differently. Besides, she seemed angry with him. Why was that anyway? He hadn’t done anything to her. Yet.
Maybe she was playing hard to get. Or “come and get me.” Some girls liked to be chased. Or maybe… Damn, had they already—
Nah, no way.The odds of hitting on two women he’d fucked and forgotten in the same night were—he made a quick calculation—one in a million, give or take a few K.
Eh, I’ll take those odds.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. This one would take a little more finesse. “It’s not about what you can do for me. It’s about what I—” Muffled voices came from the veranda, and he recognized one of them. “Fuck.”
His mom stood at the top of the steps talking to Giselle. About the menu? Or was she still looking for him? And here he was breaking her fucking rules.
Self-preservation kicking in, he grabbed Legs, opened the back door of the van, and thrust her up the steps. He ducked in after her and shut them in as quietly as he could.
“What the—”
“Shhhhh,” he shushed into hair that smelled like cake batter. “Be still.”
