Seeing is Believing (26 page)

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“WHAT IS GOING ON?” SHAWN ASKED CHARITY, FIGHTING
the urge to glance back at the hot hunk of man flesh she’d left on the dance floor. Despite ticking her off a little with his refusal to give a real name, she had to admit, her interest was piqued. Along with her nipples.

“We have to go because of that guy you were talking to.”

“What? Why? And where are Eve and Harley? And stop yanking on me. You’re going to pull my arm out of the socket.” Shawn followed Charity out the front door, the cold February air hitting her with a smack.

Eve was pacing to the left of the door, looking anxious. She darted her eyes behind Shawn. “He didn’t follow you, did he?”

“No. Why would he follow me? And what is the big deal about that guy?” Had Eve seen him on
America’s Most Wanted
? Was he a
Gone With the Wind
–inspired serial killer? First he dressed you in drapes, then threw you down the stairs?

As they started walking towards the car, Eve said, “
That
was my brother-in-law. When I came back from the restroom I saw you with him. There was no way I could let him see me there. And there was no way I wanted him to know I saw
him
there.”

“Your brother-in-law? You mean, like Nolan’s brother?” She could see how that would be more than a little awkward for Eve. It wasn’t just the corner pub they’d been in.

“Yes.” Eve beeped open her SUV and they all climbed in. She turned towards Shawn in the backseat and gave a snort of laughter. “Nolan’s little brother, Rhett.”

“His name is really Rhett?” she asked in amazement. Now she felt like a jerk for doubting it. “I thought he was making that up!”

“No, it’s really his name. He’s twenty-five years old and he’s in a sex club. Oh, my God, how am I going to look him in the face?”

“Twenty-five?” Shawn squawked, horrified. “Good Lord, he’s a fetus!” Who she had been contemplating pursuing so she could get a serious look at him naked. Her cheeks burned.

“What the hell was he doing there?” Eve asked, pulling out of the parking lot.

Oh, Shawn had a funny feeling she knew exactly what he was looking for. She might not be particularly knowledgeable about the lifestyle, but she could pick up on a clue or two. “I think he was a Dom looking for a submissive,” she said, not at all sure how she felt about any of this.

“
What?
” Eve said, moaning. “Oh, shit, I’m going to die. I do not want to picture that. God!”

“I should have let you give him your number,” Charity said ruefully from the front passenger seat. “But I panicked.”

Still stunned, she murmured, “I told him my name was Scarlett. I thought he gave me a code name.”

As Eve cruised to a stop at a red light, they all looked at each and burst out laughing.

“So what are we reading next month?” Harley asked.

Shawn figured it could only be a letdown after this selection. She settled back into her seat, shivering, and tried not to think about a certain guy who was too young for her with the most intense blue eyes she’d ever seen in her life.

It worked for about three whole seconds.