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Ali parked her car in the garage beside Daniel’s, and they both made their way inside.
“I’m gonna put these in our room,” Cassie said.
Once she bounded up the steps, Ali went in search of Daniel and Jesse. Since he’d said they were going to work on something out back, she checked there first.
She opened the French doors and found the two men sitting at one of the patio tables. They each had a beer in their hands.
Daniel saw her first. “You’re back.” She walked over to him, and he pulled her down to his lap. “Did you have a good time?”
Ali nodded and turned her attention to Jesse. “Cassie’s upstairs putting her bags away.”
He scooted the chair back. “I’ll see if she needs any help.”
Daniel’s gaze followed Jesse as he went into the house.
“Well, what’s the verdict?” Ali asked once they were alone.
Daniel snorted. “He’ll do.”
“Cassie’s head over heels for him.”
“I know.” He took a drink of his beer. “He appears to be for her as well.”
Ali debated whether to mention the bracelet, but she figured if he hadn’t noticed it yet, he would eventually. It was better to get out in front of it. “I think they're in the lifestyle, too. Or at least dabble.” She paused. “She’s wearing a bracelet that has a key lock.”
Daniel nodded.
When he didn’t say anything more, she asked, “Are you okay with that?”
He met her gaze. “Be kind of shitty of me if I wasn’t.”
Placing a hand on the side of his face, she pressed her lips to his. “Did you want another beer? Or I could get you something from the liquor cabinet.”
Daniel shook his head. “I’m good.”
Getting to her feet, Ali went inside. She passed Cassie and Jesse on their way back out. “Did either of you need anything to eat or drink?”
“No, we’re good,” Jesse said, answering for both of them.
Ali poured herself a glass of lemonade and rejoined them on the back patio. They ended up spending the rest of the day lounging around the pool, talking about work and the upcoming wedding. Jesse and Cassie were hoping to get married this fall. They’d been dating for over a year and didn’t want to wait any longer.
“I want to bind her to me in every way possible,” Jesse said. He picked up Cassie’s hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her engagement ring.
As she and Daniel lay in bed that night, Ali thought about her life and how much it had changed over the last month. She’d gone from pining after a man she thought didn’t see her as more than a friend, to living with him and sharing his bed.
“You’re thinking awfully hard about something.” His chest rumbled beneath her ear.
“Thinking about how different my life is now compared to a month ago.”
He hummed. “That it is.”
His fingers traced circles on her hip, making her keenly aware of how naked she was. Cassie and Jesse had gone upstairs hours ago and after cleaning up from dinner, she and Daniel had retired to their bedroom as well.
"I spent many nights dreaming of you in my bed. Thinking I couldn’t have you.” He moved her to lie on top of him. “I wasted so much time.”
She rested her forehead on his. “I’m here now.”
“And you’re going to stay.”
