“You seriously want me to dress up?” Bunny whined this time.

“It’s mandatory.” Piper sang as she walked to her bag and flung it over her shoulder. “I’ll make a reservation for tonight. How does seven sound?” She’d already made it, but that didn’t matter. They were coming with her one way or another.

“Sounds like I have time to start feeling sick,” Bunny muttered under her breath, but it was loud enough for Piper to hear.

“I’ll carry your corpse in there if I have to,” Piper replied firmly. “And best friends don’t let each other try a new place alone. Besides, don’t you owe me something?”

“Not that again,” Bunny growled. She grabbed her bag as she headed for the door.

“It’ll be worth it. I promise!” Piper said louder.

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Piper heard Bunny’s grumble, and Jo and Bea’s chuckles, as they walked out of the studio.

“See you all in a few hours.” Piper slid into her car, pride and excitement swelling inside of her as she started the engine.

She would enjoy seeing Bea and Bunny as they tried to pretend nothing was going on between them when they were outside of the studio. She grinned with satisfaction as she drove home. Of course, the last time they had socialized outside of work, Piper had gotten to know personally just how soft and delicious kissing Jo was.

She definitely wouldn’t say no if Jo wanted another night of drunken fondling along with the taste of lime and salt on her tongue.

i’d rather see a minstrel show

FOURTEEN

bunny

Bunny pulled on the vest she wore, trying to keep it from bunching up on her breasts. Piper had made her dress nicely for tonight, and she was far more made up than she would be on any given day, but it was a nicer restaurant than they would normally patronize. Her muscles burned from her evening run.

She’d taken to those, too.

Because she had to burn off the sexual energy that Bea set off in her somehow every time they were in the same room together. And it had been bad the last few days. Bunny had resolved herself not to kiss, touch, or fuck Bea again. They had to stop this nonsense. It wasn’t good for either of them.

And tonight was going to prove that. They were here for Jo and Piper, nothing else.

Bunny stepped out of her car, pocketing the keys. She’d driven herself that night, needing the space away from everyone else. It was hard being in constant contact with two extra people every day. She wasn’t good at socializing, and being thrust into a room with Bea made it that much worse.

When Bunny stepped into the piano bar, she froze. Bea was at the front, a stunning little black dress wrapped around her beautiful curves, highlighting every single one of them. Bunnygroaned, shoving her hands into her pockets and clenching her fists. She did not need Bea to look so fuckable tonight because she really didn’t need the temptation.

Then again, Bea always looked fuckable. Even when there were no innuendos or heated looks, as they talked about music, or about Piper and Jo. It had shocked Bea the first time she realized they had more than sexual chemistry between them.

“Hey,” Bea said, her voice tight. “Jo said she’d meet me here.”

“Same with Piper.” Bunny clenched her jaw. Were they being set up? Was this Jo and Piper’s ultimate plan?

Little did they know.

“Think this is all some elaborate plan of theirs?” Bea shifted her body, sliding one hip down and putting her fist on the other one.

Bunny had to swallow the lump of arousal that caught her. Her voice broke when she said, “Uh…yeah.”

“Wonderful.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Bunny had meant that to come out annoyed. Instead, it sounded like she was drooling over Bea. Which… she was. Bunny snapped her gaze from Bea’s breasts, pushed up so delicately and scrumptiously in the dress she wore, to her face. “I—”

“Your table is ready.” The hostess appeared in front of them.

Bunny flicked her a glance, really wanting to clarify to Bea what she’d meant, but she just couldn’t make herself do it. Bunny put her hand on the small of Bea’s back as they were led toward their table. They were set up right next to a grand piano that was cordoned off. The seats had low backs, connected like an uncomfortable couch from the seventies, and a round table in the middle of them. The fondue was already set up, with tastes of different items all around.