Page 73 of Adoring Delaney

“So I’ve been told.”

“How’d you meet Church?” Luke asked, shocking the hell out of me.

I figured one of the guys would ask, but I never imagined it would be Luke. I told Laney he was standoffish and not to expect much conversation from him. I didn’t want her to take it personally, it was just Luke’s way until he got to know you. Didn’t know why he was that way and I’d respected his privacy enough not to pry.

“Um. We grew up together. Our dads served together in the Army,” she answered.

“So you’re the one.”

“The one?”

“Luke,” I warned.

“Yeah, the one that’s had him tied in knots and miserable.”

Delaney went stiff and pressed closer. Fucking hell.

“Not cool, brother,” Logan joined the conversation.

“What? Just pointing out the obvious. We’ve known Church a long time. Never seen him really smile. Never seen him with a woman. Never known him to be happy. He goes out with us, has a few drinks, pretends to have a good time, but mostly it feels like he’s there to babysit, then he goes home. Alone. Always wondered. Years I’ve waited to understand why a man whose field is wide and varied would never take what was being offered. Have to admit, for a long time we thought he was gay. Tried to let him know we were all cool with it if he was and waited for him to come out. Then one night he slips and mentions a girl from back home, one that meant everything but he could never have. Clearly, you’re the woman. Unless in the last few months, Church’s done an about-face and is suddenly picking up randos.”

Even though Luke’s idiotic, diarrhea-of-the-mouth had confirmed what I’d told Delaney, that not only had I been faithful but I’d never truly been happy, I was pissed. Laney was clearly uncomfortable and I’d told her she had nothing to fear about meeting my friends. I didn’t appreciate Luke making me a liar.

“You thought he was gay?” Laney chuckled.

Out of everything Luke had said, that was not what I’d pictured her honing in on.

“Of course we did. What else would explain him turning down every sweet piece of tail that approached?”

“Maybe he’d been saving himself for marriage?” Laney joked.

“Right.” Luke smiled. “Never thought that was a real thing.”

“Maybe he’d just felt generous.”

“Generous?”

“Yeah, not taking any of those women to bed, leaving the rest of you to have a chance.”

“Right.” Luke smiled huge. “That could’ve been it. But it wasn’t. Which brings me back to you being the one. Have to admit, I thought Church was crazy. Now not so much.”

“Table’s ready,” the hostess announced, interrupting Delaney and Luke.

I glanced down at Delaney and she was rolling her eyes. My vision shifted back to the hostess and she was openly gaping. I didn’t have to follow her line of sight to know she was looking at Trey. I wanted to laugh and explain to Laney that this was a regular occurrence. And while it was amusing that she’d told Luke that me not taking women home was in an effort to give the rest of the guys a shot at getting laid, the truth was, when Trey was with us, none of them had a chance.

“The table?” Delaney broke the silence, irritation thick.

“Yeah. Right this way,” the hostess snapped out of her Trey-induced trance and walked us through the packed restaurant out to the back patio, seating us next to the railing, giving us a perfect view of the Atlantic.

“Your…um…server will be right out. Enjoy.” The woman scampered away after dropping menus on the table.

“So, what’s good?” Delaney asked and all five of my friends were openly studying her. All with matching smiles.

“Anything,” Logan answered.

Silence fell as everyone looked over the dinner options. Drake was the first to set his menu down and break the hush.

“What do you do, Delaney?”

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