Page 3 of Brock’s Mate

Brock turned a baleful gaze on him. “That’s the last time I’m buying you Twinkies.”

The little monster just grinned. “I’m only thirteen, and even I know you need to get boinked in a big way.”

“It’s for your own good,” Jaeda said.

“Your dick will thank you,” Damien added.

Mari finished up with, “You’re going inside, and you’re staying.” She pulled a set of handcuffs out of her pocket and dangled them in front of her. “I’m perfectly fine with handcuffing you to the table.”

Brock heaved a sigh. “I want to go on record that you are evil traitors and I’m unfriending you all.”

“That’s the spirit,” Mari said, beaming.

Brock gave her a disgusted look and jumped down out of the trunk. “Car keys,” he said, holding his hand out.

Jaeda said, “Only if you promise not to try to leave until speed dating is over.”

Mari jingled the cuffs.

He glared around the circle. There was no way out. “Fine. I promise.”

Damien handed over Brock’s car keys and clapped him on the back. “I’m sure it will be awesomely fun.”

“Fuck you,” Brock muttered, and headed for Valentine purgatory.

Chapter 2

The bar was just as hideously decorated as Brock had imagined, with pink and red streamers and a truly terrifying number of floating mylar heart balloons.

Just inside the door, identical twins Colt and Remington McCall were presiding over the speed dating sign-up table. This entire event was their drunken brainchild, and Callie had gone along with it. She loved Colt’s crazy ideas—or more likely, she just loved Colt.

This time, though, she’d obviously made the right decision. The place was packed, and business had to be booming, because a large number of customers seemed to be drunk already.

Brock wanted no part of it.

He tried to sneak past the sign-up table while the two women in front of him were finishing their registration, but Jaeda and Mari hooked their arms around his and pulled him back.

“Don’t be a chicken-shit,” Jaeda scolded.

“I was not kidding about handcuffing you,” Mari said.

The two women in front of him moved off, and Jaeda and Mari dragged Brock up to the table.

“Brock, my man!” Colt said. “You made it!”

Remy said, “Good job, ladies.”

“You sent them, didn’t you,” Brock growled.

Remy widened his eyes in mock innocence. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Brock flipped him the bird.

“Moving on,” Colt said. “We have to hurry, because we’re supposed to have started already. You’ll start at Table 24.” He handed Brock a badge with a big ‘24’ on it. “It’s also your identifying number, for when all the girls pick you to be their number one Dirty Date choice.”

“I’m not dating anyone,” Brock said, batting a floating heart balloon out of his face. “No.”

Remy said, “You have to get a date. I’m pretty sure Mr. Hand is on the verge of carpal tunnel syndrome.”