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“Meaning. If you call Dane, all b
ets are off, and I make certain your sweet little innocent learns some amazing home truths. Tess is good at having loose lips when the need arises. ” Cole turned back and saluted him, mocking. “‘Night, Ian. ”
Ian’s fists clenched. If the son of a bitch weren’t his best friend, he would kill him.
Chapter Eight
Ian was pacing the floor at midnight when Courtney hadn’t returned to the house. At one o clock, he was cursing and nursing a stiff whisky. At two in the morning he had enough. He knew Tally too well. She was an instigator and determined to torture and torment the men she knew. She drove her husbands crazy at the office, and when they could take no more she conspired with the other women to make their husbands’ lives hell.
She was continually thinking of ways sneak into The Club without Devril or Lucian, and even worse, she was sneaking the other women in. Forget about just asking, the woman thought she had to play fucking commando.
At three that morning, the limo pulled into the driveway in front of the Conover mansion. Every light in the lower level of the house appeared to be on as Ian strode up the front steps. As the butler opened the door, a scowl on his taciturn face, Ian could hear the pulsing beat of Depeche Mode pounding through the house.
“Sir. Misters Conover have retired to that attic, I believe, for the safety of their eardrums. ” It was evident Devril and Lucian had left the brawny ex-bouncer, Tim, to keep an eye out for the mayhem developing.
“I’ll collect Ms. Mattlaw. ” He was forced to raise his voice by several levels as he stepped into the house and headed for the family room.
As he stepped to the doorway, he stopped in horror.
Dear God, they were all there.
Tally Conover, Tess Andrews, Ella and Terrie Wyman, Kimberly… He swallowed tightly as he watched the women toasting each other as they lay sprawled on the floor, more than a few empty bottles of wine thrown to the side. Within seconds they polished off the glasses they had just toasted each other with.
Courtney was drunk.
She polished off the wine then sprawled on her back, obviously speaking, though he doubted anyone could hear her.
He strode to the other side of the room and flipped the power switch to the CD player quickly.
“…and then he’ll be putty in your hands…” Kimberly Raddington was laughing with glee as she leaned close to a wide-eyed Courtney, her voice echoing eerily in the near-silent room.
They all seemed to freeze. Six pairs of eyes turned slowly to him as Courtney breathed out in exaggerated patience.
“Told you he would come looking for me. ” The precise accent in her voice warned him that she was going to be less than cooperative. The frown that creased her brow was further proof.
“Ian, darling, that is my CD player. ” Tally stayed on the floor, though her voice was less than pleased. “And Depeche Mode should never be shut off with such force. ”
She sounded imperious. Furious. Too damned bad.
He rubbed at his brow wearily before staring across the room to where Courtney was struggling to come to her feet.
Her long, dark hair flowed around her shoulders, caressing her arms and trailing across one breast as she straightened to her full height. She was barefoot, her toenails shimmering beneath the bright overhead light. The soft cotton dress draped over her full breasts and caressed her hips before falling in a cloud of soft material to just below her thighs.
It was almost scandalous.
And she was damned cute.
The thought slammed into his chest with the force of a sledgehammer.
She was cute. Soft and sweet, and so desirable it was all he could do to maintain his fragile control. He wanted to smile at her. His heart seemed to melt at the sight and that terrified the hell out of him.
“Hi, Ian. ” Her smile was wide, her dark eyes gleaming with slumberous amusement. “Did you miss me?”
“Horribly. ” His lips twisted with an edge of self-mockery as he advanced on her. “The stores delivered your clothing this evening. I think you’ve emptied them for a while. Are you ready to come home now?”
She bit her lip, her expression softening as he realized what he had said. Home. Dammit, she was making herself too much a part of his life.
“Well, if you need me bad enough to collect me yourself, then I guess I’m ready to go. ” She stared around the room with some confusion as the other women sat up. “Anyone seen my shoes?”
