“He’s your new boss,” I tell her.
Lexie frowns, clearly confused.
“I’m Austin Bridger.”
Her eyes widen. “Ohhh…”
“So you’re not sticking around,” Amanda states. “After the year.”
“No.”
“Single?” From Lexie.
“Yes.”
“Gay?”
“No.” His lips twitch. “I’m the boss, why do I feel like I’m being interviewed?”
Lexie and Amanda look my way and shrug.
A blond man sidles up to stand beside Austin. “I thought you were bringing us beers.”
Austin’s half brother I bet. Another man moves to flank his other side. This one I know. Chance Bridger.
“I got distracted.” Austin’s hand slips from mine. “This is Amanda, Lexie, and—”
“Carly.” Chance pulls me in for a hug and then lets me go as if I were made of burning lava. “Sorry.”
He runs a hand over his red hair.
His reaction is just what I hate from people. Fear. Of touching me. Hurting me. Saying the wrong thing.
Austin and the other brother wrinkle their foreheads at his overreaction.
“Hey, boss,” Lexie says. “Although I guess that refers to all three of you, if you’re the other brother.” She looks to the blond.
He smiles. And wow, he’s handsome too with his fair hair and pale eyes. The three Bridger brothers look nothing alike, but they’re all astonishingly handsome in their own way.
“Miles. And yes, I’m the other brother.” He has bad boy written all over him.
“Didn’t know there were three of you Bridger boys,” Amanda says. “Might make ladies’ night pretty easy. Why don’t you join us?”
They move to track down stools and I lean in and hiss in her ear. “What are you doing?”
Lexie leans in, too. “You want a one-night stand, those men are perfect options.”
Amanda nods eagerly.
“Take your pick,” Lexie continues. “Do you like dark, fair, or redhead? You couldn’t ask for a better selection.”
Amanda giggles. “She’s right. I’m not sure which one I’d choose. I’d have to take a little of each.” She moans and I frown. “Or all three. At the same time. Can you imagine?”
“You need to go home to Alan and role play or something,” Lexie snarks.
“I can imagine, but no.” Amanda grins. “They’re for Carly.”
“What’s for Carly?” Austin settles his stool directly beside me. He sits and his face is inches from mine, our shoulders bumping.