Page 177 of Sweet Temptation

Taylor laughed, covering it with a sip of beer.

Xander threw us all a dark look. “Thanks for all weighing in on it, but I’m gonna give it a hard pass.”

“Too bad,” Danica said. “Sounds like you made quite an impression on your date.”

“He did spend a lot of money on you,” I mused. “Sounds like he was willing to spend more…”

“Yeah, it’s all very flattering,” Xander said. “I really missed my calling as a male prostitute.” He glanced at me. “Help me out here? You’re the great party hostess. Throw out a juicy topic to shut these clowns up.”

“It would be my absolute pleasure,” I said. “Let’s get down to something way more important.”

“Let’s,” Xander said, happy to change the subject.

I leaned in, looking him in the eye. “How long do I have to pretend that I don’t know how tight you are with Cary Clarke before I casually mention that I want him to produce our album?”

Xander shook his head at me, but he chuckled a little.

Cary Clarke was Courteney’s brother, he was a legend in the local music business, and he just happened to be one of Xander’s BFFs. They’d been in a band together and were still tight, which was saying something, because I’d never heard of anyone who could get in tight with Cary Clarke anymore. Even the bands he produced didn’t seem to get to meet him in person.

I knew Ash had filled Xander in on my intentions regarding Cary, so this wasn’t a surprise to him. I’d mentioned it to Courteney too, though she’d been a little closed-mouthed on the topic.

But I really wasn’t one for beating around the bush, and frankly I’d sat on this for as long as I could stand.

“I’m not asking for promises,” I said, eying them both. “Just an in. Like, what are the odds we can get a meeting with him, when the time comes?” I cocked an eyebrow at Xander. “Or do I have to go through your girlfriend?”

“Oh, no,” Courteney said. “I am done meddling in my brother’s life. If you want a meeting with him on official band business, talk to my man.” She shoved a thumb in Xander’s direction.

“Xan?” I said hopefully, batting my eyelashes.

“I’m not promising you jack,” he said bluntly. “I don’t speak for Cary, and the odds of getting a meeting with him are about one in I-don’t-have-a-clue. But I can ask him, if we’re all agreed on it, when the times comes.”

“Yes.” I threw my arms around him and kissed his forehead. “Have I told you you’re the best drummer on the planet? Also, you look fabulous in that shirt.” It wasn’t a word of a lie, in my opinion.

Here was the key to charming people: never lie to them. Just find a truth they want to hear.

Xander grinned.

Ash rolled his eyes.

Then Elle appeared, dropping her purse on our table and apologizing to all, profusely, for her lateness. We all got up to greet her, and as I hugged her, I teased, “Well, look who’s late this time.”

“I know,” she sighed. “It was a mommy thing. Emma spit up on my dress a millisecond before I walked out the door. There was projectile. Some of it hit Flynn, too. I had to change, then we swung by his place so he could change.”

“Aw, look who’s having a bad day.” I smoothed her long platinum hair, just teasing. She looked fantastically polished, as always.

“It’s really not bad. I could use a drink, though.”

Everyone around our table had sat back down, except for the two of us, and I reached over the bodies to pick up the Cosmopolitan I’d already ordered for her. I handed it over.

“Thank you.” She took a sip. “You look incredible. How’s the party so far?”

“Pretty hot. The album was good. I think they’ll be playing it again.”

“Have you seen my sister? She was supposed to show up…” She looked around into the growing crowd. “Oh, God. There she is.”

I looked in the direction she was frowning… to where her sister, Angeline, was standing with one of her girlfriends, Shayla. They were talking to Shayla’s brother—Johnny O’Reilly—by the tables where Breakneck was seated with their dates.

Elle waved, but Shayla didn’t seem to notice, and Angie’s back was to us.

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