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“This is exactly what I needed,”Pip called over the pulsing music. “And Shae is really great. I’m glad Conner sent her along, even though it was unnecessary.”
We both looked toward the dance floor, where Shae had the eye of every man and woman in the place.
“And, with her here, we didn’t even need our fake IDs,” I added, lifting my glass in a toast.
“Hell yeah!” Pip cheered, clinking her martini into mine before we both drank.
We’d started our night with yummy Mexican and margaritas before heading to the club and kicking things off with a Patrón shot. We were on our second martini, and I felt it.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me.”
My brows drew together in confusion at Pippa’s sudden outburst. I followed her scathing stare to find Bishop across the room, glaring at Pip with an equal degree of fury. I’d never seen the normally playful man look so serious. So savage.
“Why do I get the sense you two know each other?” Sure, they’d met at my wedding, but their reaction to one another went well beyond acquaintances.
She took a deep breath and brought her eyes back to me. “Remember when we were drinking at your place and Conner showed up? He had Bishop take me home that day.”
I’d completely forgotten.
“Aaand?” I prompted, knowing there had to be more to that story. You didn’t have a staring match like that with someone you barely knew.
“We kind of … got to know each other.” Pippa, queen of no regrets and feminist extraordinaire, dropped her gaze to the table in an uncharacteristic show of bashfulness.
“Uh, you do realize you’re going to have to give me more than that,” I balked at her.
She shook her head, exasperated, and grabbed my hand. “Okay, but not here. Let’s get out there and dance. We can dish later.”
Oh, man. This is going to be good.
I let her lead me to the dance floor, knowing I would corner her for information later. A Lady Gaga dance mix reverberated from the speakers and into my body, where it electrified the alcohol already buzzing in my veins. I felt amazing. We joined Shae, the three of us forming a small circle. It didn’t last long, though. Shae pulled the woman she’d been dancing with against her, leaving Pip and me together. We moved closer to one another, but that didn’t stop a guy from coming up behind her and joining our duo.
Having been in this situation before, I gave her theyou want help? eyebrow lift. I could easily pull her away and give this guy the slip, but Pip waved me off. Not only was she okay with the intrusion but she also leaned back into him, making a show of it. The move was, again, out of character, and I knew the motivation seconds later when Bishop plowed through the crowd and yanked the two of us off the dance floor.
“Noemi, call your husband to come get you. We’re leaving.” He let out a sharp, short whistle that instantly had Shae’s attention. He motioned to me, then began to tow my cousin toward the exit.
Both wide-eyed, we gaped at one another as she disappeared into the crowd.
What the hell just happened?
Maybe it was the alcohol, but I doubled over in a fit of giggles. I should have been outraged for my poor cousin, yet all I could do was laugh. Someone had met her match.
I explained to Shae what had happened when she joined me. She wasn’t ready to call it a night and suggested we stay, but I was ready to go home. We went out front so I could call Conner, then she waited with me until he arrived.
“I can’t believe he fucking left you there,” Conner grumbled once we were headed home.
“I assume you sent him to keep an eye on us?” It seemed unnecessary since he’d already sent Shae with us, but I wasn’t totally shocked.
“No, I didn’t,” he bit out.
“Really,” I mused. That was interesting. “Did you know something was going on with them?”
“No. Makes me think there isn’t anything. He’s not the type to keep secrets.”
“Neither is Pip, but there wasdefinitelysomething going on. And don’t be too upset, he didn’t leave me alone. You said yourself that Shae kicks ass.”
He grunted, not taking his eyes from the road.
I watched as he shifted gears. “I just realized how freaking hot it is to watch you drive a stick,” I said dazedly, reaching my hand across the console to ride up his muscular thigh.
