Neil scrambled up from his barstool while I gaped, and I hurried to snap my mouth shut and stand as well. He held out his hand to the man. “Hello, Victor.” After a quick clasp, he turned to the woman next. “And Lexi.” He flushed as he tried not to stare at her chest.
Lexi laughed, taking his hand in both of hers and leaning in. “Don’t be so nervous. You said this is the first time for you, so it’s understandable, but I promise we don’t bite.” She winked at Neil. “Not unless you ask.”
His skin turned even redder.
“Don’t come on too strong,” Victor warned her, holding his hand out to me. When I went to take it, instead of shaking my hand, he lifted it to his lips for a kiss. “It’s very nice to finally meet you, Hailey.”
“Oh, um, yes,” I mumbled, pulling my hand back and catching myself so I wouldn’t wipe it off against my jeans to stop it from tingling.
“Here, I’ll move down a seat,” Neil offered, shifting a barstool away from me. The hair along my neck stood up when the couple sat on either side of me, boxing me in. Lexi was between Neil and me now, but instead of turning toward him, she was looking me over.
“Breathe, Hailey,” she said with a smile and a shoulder bump. “This won’t be as overwhelming as it might seem. We all know what this is, right?”
“Um, not really.” I tried to look past her to Neil, but he was staring down her shirt and wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Neil said he wanted me to meet another couple who might be able to help us, but I’m not sure exactly what that means.”
“You can’t imagine?” Victor asked, leaning closer to my opposite shoulder. More tingles raced across my arm, from his closeness but also from the huskiness of his voice. There was something almost potent about the man, as if confidence leaked out of his pores.
I was out of my depth, and I could feel it. I suddenly wished I could slip off the barstool and go home.
Chapter 3
The First Friday
Ipulled in a steadying breath, trying to think through my building panic. “Neil mentioned, um, swapping? But I can’t imagine…” I trailed off after looking toward Victor, my thoughts melting away when he captured my eyes. His hand lifted, cupping my jaw, his fingers brushing along my neck. I shuddered, suddenly wishing I could escape to the restroom to catch my breath and settle my mind.
“I like her,” Victor murmured, his fingers stroking again. “She seems innocent, despite her age.”
Lexi snorted from my other side. “Don’t bring up a woman’s age.” She reached over, nudging his hand away and letting me breathe. Her arm wrapped around my shoulders while her chest brushed against my arm. “I told you I thought she’d be your type.”
I shook my head, still unable to find words. They were wrong. I wasn’t anyone’s type. I was a ball of dread wrapped up in flesh. I was tempted to go hide behind Sean until these two very sexy people forgot I existed.
“Can I get you anything?” Jack asked, pulling my gaze to him.
I stared at him, finally able to focus on breathing as both Lexi and Victor placed their orders. Lexi’s arm around me felt like a trap, one I wanted to escape. I wasn’t ready for this, despite what Neil wanted.
Before Jack turned to make their drinks, he pointed at my half-full juice. “You still good?”
My tongue felt thick, too thick to talk. The question seemed like it was about more than just my drink. I reached for the glass, taking a stronger swallow and almost choking. “Can I have another?” I asked.
“Sure thing.” Jack studied me before he turned away.
Lexi squeezed my shoulder. “Do you want to ask me any questions?”
There were so many. I wasn’t sure where to start.
I must have hesitated too long because Lexi was already talking. “I’ll go first.” She leaned close to my ear, closer than Victor had. “Tell me what your man likes.”
I looked toward Neil. His flush hadn’t faded, and his green eyes were filled with that sparkle that I usually enjoyed but right then it just made my stomach sink more. He scooted closer to the bar so he could see us better. “It’s okay, Hailey. I want to hear what you say.”
I swallow, parting my lips. “Oh, well, his favorite shows—”
Lexi’s peal of laughter cut me off. “Sweetie, I meant in bed. How do I make him squirm?”
My body drenched in heat, like I was flushing all over.
“Fuck,” Victor breathed out beside me. His hand reached for mine still clutching my glass, his fingers dancing along the back of my hand. The touch made it even harder to think.
My mind was blank when Wendy dropped off the couple’s drinks, giving me a short reprieve. “Jack is still making yours,” she told me with a wink, and she took Victor’s card to start their tab.
