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“You could’ve called my cell, asshole,” Pike said, but there was no ire behind it.
The man smirked, a dimple appearing. “I did. Twice.”
Pike ran a hand through his hair and then reached for his T-shirt to tug it over his head. “Well, thanks for interrupting. We so appreciate it.”
The guy grinned. “Happy to help. Don’t want you to get eaten by coyotes or something.” He lifted a hand to Oakley. “I’m Gibson, by the way.”
“My former friend,” Pike added.
She couldn’t help but smile. The situation was so bizarre. “Oakley.”
“Pretty name.”
“Thanks.” She narrowed her eyes. Something about him seemed familiar, nudged her memory. “Have we met before?”
“Don’t think so,” Gibson said.
Pike blew out a breath. “Gib is Kade Vandergriff’s brother.”
Oakley stiffened like she’d been pinched. Oh, shit. Kade’s brother. As in, her boss’s brother-in-law. That’s where she’d seen him before. Tessa had a family picture on her desk. And now he was here, staring straight at her as she sat in the back of a truck, naked beneath a blanket, on the way to a sex resort. Fantastic. She wanted to climb into the glove compartment and die.
Pike eyed her. “Don’t freak out. Rules here dictate absolute confidentiality. No matter what happens here, Gibson will act like he doesn’t know you if you run into each other in the outside world.”
Gibson lifted his brows in question.
“Oakley works for Tessa,” Pike explained. “She’s the one heading up the charity project.”
“Ah, I see. Glad you took my advice.” Gibson sent Pike a look but then gave Oakley a reassuring smile. “But yes, absolutely. Your secrets are safe. That’s the beauty of a place like this. You can kind of exist in a vacuum once you’re inside the gat
es. Plus, you have dirt on me now, too. I’m here at The Ranch as well.”
“And for probably way more scandalous reasons,” Pike said wryly.
“Right.” Oakley put her hand to her forehead, her palm cool against her burning skin. Regardless of confidentiality, she was still mortified. How unprofessional did this look? Beyond the whole sex-resort thing, she was hooking up with a guy she was supposed to be working with.
“Well,” Gibson said, all good nature and relaxed smiles, “I’ll let you two get on with your night. Maybe we can all grab a drink later.”
“That doesn’t have the same ring to it when all they serve here is soda,” Pike said. “But if you’re not tied up at the time, maybe we will.”
Gibson’s dark brows lowered. “Watch it, smart-ass.”
Pike laughed. “Have fun, Gib.”
Gibson headed back to his car, and Pike sagged against the side of the truck.
“Well, that was embarrassing,” Oakley said, releasing a breath.
Pike reached out and grabbed her hand. “Don’t be embarrassed. Really. Gibson’s not going to say anything to anyone. Most of my close friends are members at The Ranch. We’ve all seen one another in compromising positions at some point—believe me. It’s all very open. I have more dirt on Gibson than could fill a dump truck, but we all trust one another to keep it private.”
“What did he mean about not taking his advice?”
“Foster told him about us running into you at Wicked, and Gibson warned me not to mess with you. He’s the one who asked me to take on the charity project, and he said his brother and Tessa would kill him if I caused any of Tessa’s employees grief.”
“Is that what you do? Cause women grief?”
He shrugged. “Well, once you sleep with me, you are pretty much ruined for all others, so I see where he’s coming from.”
She laughed and shoved his arm. “You’re ridiculous.”
