I laugh at the idea. “They’d never. The casino is aboveboard.”
“Doesn’t have to be them. Could be somebody else who wants to come at you.”
“Then why drug Evie?” The possibility of somebody coming after me doesn’t bother me too much, but them hurting Evie…
Court frowns. “Maybe they didn’t know which drink was yours? Or maybe they needed to have her out of the way. If they wanted to kidnap you or drag you away, she wouldn’t have let them, right?”
“Yeah, okay… But then why am I here, not kidnapped or dragged away?”
Court nods. “Yeah.”
We sit and think about it for a few minutes. Finally, I say, “I need to look into it more closely.”
“Not you. Me.”
“You? Why?” I ask, surprised. He knows I’m capable of handling this myself.
“Whatever they were trying to do, they know they failed. Now they’re probably expecting you, or maybe Justin or Barron, to make the next move, and they’re likely ready for it. But me? They won’t see me coming, and by the time they figure it out, it’ll be too late.”
That’s a solid point, and I appreciate that he’s going to do this for me when he’s engaged and would much rather spend more time with his girl. “Thanks, buddy.”
“Eh, I owe you one. Skittles told me about the phone call you made.”
I nod slowly, although I have no clue what I said. I only remember calling her, shit-faced, after twenty-some shots.
“And you have to be my best man,” he says.
I smile. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Nate
“Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo.”
Exactly seven times. My body tightens with anticipation. Evie and I haven’t spoken since she sprinted to her Uber, but it’s okay. She’s too professional to call in sick. She’s going to be here in three, two, one…
And there it is. The sound of the security system alerting me to her arrival.
Very casually, I step out of the shower with nothing but a towel around my hips. This Monday is starting out like any other Monday, but it’s going to end differently.
I’ve given a lot of thought to my and Evie’s situation. And Court’s right to call our living arrangement “separated.” That won’t do at all.
It isn’t just that I’ve been lusting after her body and still get blue balls thinking about her. If we try to annul the marriage now—or if certain members of my family notice something’s off—they’re going to think that maybe the reason I don’t want to keep her is that she took advantage of me in Vegas. Barron isn’t the only one who worries about gold diggers coming after me. And no one in my family forgives easily.
The thing is, I don’t want Evie hurt. What I want is her, in my bed, and distinctly unhurt. More like orgasmic and glowing. Then… Then we’ll take it day by day. No need to get too serious, trying to plan every moment of our future. Because laying it all out like that simply isn’t me. Justin’s the one who’s had his life completely planned since he was four.
Then what? Keep her? Because she sure doesn’t seem to want to be kept by you.
My mood sours.
Divorce her and give her some consolation money?
Of course not. I bristle at the rude voice in my head. I’ve never treated my previous girlfriends badly, and I’m not planning to just because Evie is no mere girlfriend, but my wife. I’m not one of those worthless asshole playboys with too much money. My parents taught me better, and beyond that, I grew up watching my dad. Real men have manners, protect and help people who are weak and vulnerable and stand up to bullies and assholes. Especially if they have money.
And I intend to be a real man, just the way my dad showed me.
Evie comes into my bedroom wearing a fitted pink dress that molds to her trim, curvy body. Her breasts look extra enticing today. I wonder for a moment if she pinches one of her nipples when she fingers herself. Or maybe she’s a grabber. Some women like to have the whole boob in their hand when t