Page 23 of Daring Lance

“That’s because you leave your flip flops all over the condo, and they think they are rubber toys.”

Willow let out an exaggerated gasp. “I do not. I always leave them by the front door. I swear it’s Fred that drags them into the living room. I just haven’t been able to catch him in the act yet.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s Daphne who is the culprit, and you refuse to admit it because you girls have teamed up against us males.”

Willow took out her phone and opened her photo album app. “Isn’t she too cute? Lance gags every time I put her in her pink rhinestone collar, but I think it’s adorable.” She showed Luke and Madison a series of photos she had taken over the last week, many of them with Lance or herself in the photo, and a few with both of them and the dogs.

From the corner of his eye, Lance noticed Madison’s heightened interest in the banter between him and Willow and in the photos Willow had taken of the two of them. Willow obviously had not shared any of their relationship with her best friend, and to be honest, he hadn’t said anything to his brother, either. In Lance’s opinion, this was not because he had anything to hide from Luke. It was simply that the opportunity to speak with Luke about Willow had never come up. Lance didn’t discuss his personal life at the job site, and, since his brother had returned from his honeymoon only a month ago, this was the first time they had been together outside of work.

Madison smiled at Willow and Lance. “This is so much fun! It’s like when we went on double dates back in college, only Luke and I are married, and you two are only friends.”

Lance didn’t miss the not-so-subtle suggestion from his new sister-in-law, nor did the widening of Willow’s eyes escape his attention. “We’re not only friends.”

“What? I can’t believe it!” screeched Madison happily, confirming what Lance had suspected- that Madison knew more about his and Willow’s relationship than she had let on so far this evening.

Willow sat next to Lance, her fingers now digging into his upper thigh. He pretended to ignore her, too amused by her irritated expression to worry about the pain she inflicted on him.

Luke smirked at Lance and then turned to his wife. “I knew it, Madison. Didn’t I tell you after the epic make-out scene at our wedding reception that it would turn out to be more than a one-night hook-up with them?”

Lance held back his laughter as Willow choked on a sip of water before responding to his brother. “We, uh, we did not hook-up at the wedding reception! It was a simple kiss between the maid of honor and the best man. That’s it.”

“That was no simple kiss, Willow. And you’re not dating? I’m confused.” Madison took a bite of a tortilla chip while she stared at her best friend. “I could swear the looks the two of you have shared this evening were definitely more than that of friends.” She winked at Lance despite the scowl Willow directed at her, and Lance decided his brother had done very well in his choice of brides.

Luke tilted the beer bottle he held at Willow. “Purple Rain is ten minutes long. That kiss was definitely epic.”

Willow coughed and then took another quick sip of water. “First of all, Purple Rain is not ten minutes long. It’s only five—”

“It’s seven,” Lance and Madison said at the same time. “I looked it up,” added Madison.

Lance chuckled under his breath. He was liking his sister-in-law more and more. Beside him, Willow’s eyes grew even larger, and her fingers dug deeper into his leg. “Ow, Willow. Luke is the one who brought up our wedding reception hook-up. Why are you taking it out on me?”

“Whatever. So, we kissed, but we definitely did not hook-up.” Willow released her grip on Luke’s thigh because she needed both hands to point at the other three people sitting around the table. “And Lance and I are friends. Nothing more.”

Lance let out a sigh. Willow refused to acknowledge that what they had between them was a relationship, and while he understood her reason, it didn’t mean he agreed with it. “Willow’s right. We are friends with benefits.”

Willow’s jaw dropped open, and Lance knew there would be hell to pay once they were at home.

“Lance!” Willow was nearly shrieking.

Madison had brought a chip halfway to her mouth and then stopped. “What? Willow? Are you guys dating or not?”

Luke looked back and forth between the two of them. “Friends with benefits and dating; aren’t they basically the same thing?”

Willow kept her gaze focused on Luke and Madison, intentionally, Lance knew, to avoid looking at him. “They are not the same. You date with the intention of possibly making a long-term commitment. That’s not the plan for Lance and me. We’ve decided to keep it casual—”

“Willow decided to keep it casual. I asked her to go to Costa Rica with me.”

To his annoyance, Willow shot him a quick glare and then continued as if she hadn’t heard him. “As I said, we decided to keep it casual since Lance is leaving in a few weeks. What would be the point of anything more only to have it end? That would be silly. Now, can we please talk about something else? I want to hear all about your honeymoon. Portugal is one of the few places I’ve never lived, so don’t spare any details about the excursions you went on. The photos on Instagram looked incredible, especially the ones taken at the festival.” Willow scooted to the edge of her chair, as far as possible, Luke had no doubt, from the arm he rested on the back of her chair.

His brother shot him a look of both confusion and pity, prompting Lance to look away. To his relief, Madison had taken out her phone and was now commenting on different photos she and Luke had taken during their honeymoon. Lance figured Madison was concerned for her friend and likely wanted to strangle her new brother-in-law. That made sense, he guessed, if for no other reason than to show loyalty to her best friend. He half listened to their conversation while nursing his single beer of the evening, removing his arm from the back of Willow’s chair when the two women excused themselves to go to the bathroom.

“Lance, what’s going on? Are you guys dating or not? I don’t get it. I’d swear you’d have to be in love with a woman to ask her to move with you to Costa Rica.” Luke sat back in his chair, folding his arms across his lower chest.

Lance finished his beer, placing the empty bottle on the table. He grunted. “I’m not willing to stay in one place, and she’s not willing to leave one. Being in love wouldn’t make a difference, and I’m not saying we are. I’m only saying it doesn’t matter. She wants the white picket fence life complete with husband and children. And I don’t think I do, at least not now.”

Luke stared at him, his gaze thoughtful and far less teasing than was typical for him. “You sure about that?”

Lance broke eye contact with his brother, choosing instead to stare out the large glass window on the west side of the restaurant. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

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