Page 75 of The Boyfriend Gamble

“Oh God, you know Denali? She’s so…” Jasper caught Everett’s thunderous expression. “Uh…talented…”

Rayne burst out laughing. “You can say she’shot. Everett might hate people ogling his sister, but she’s a successful fashion model and now actor. People are gonna look.”

“And if we don’t go to the store, she’ll be eating wilted celery for dinner.” Everett met my gaze. “Thanks for the catch-up. Perhaps between Christmas and New Year’s we can see each other again.” He turned to Jasper. “Welcome to Mission City. I hope you’ll be happy here. We would enjoy seeing you again.”

“I love your dog.” Jasper flushed. “Sorry. I meant to saynice to meet you, too.”

“And you love our dog.” Rayne beamed. “You’re a good man. I think you and Cameron will be very happy together.” With a wink, he led Champ and Everett out of the room.

Chapter Four

Jasper

“Well,thatwasinteresting.”Cameron had gone downstairs with our visitors. Ostensibly to be a good host and to lock the door. Now he was back.

Wouldn’t be surprised if he said something to Rayne.

Or at least glared that super sexy glare.

Because when Cameron was annoyed, he could give as good as he got.

Funny how I knew so much about him and it’d only been a couple of weeks. Signing up for badminton had been the first thing I’d done when I arrived in town. Well, second, after meeting my boss. “I hadn’t pieced together how you know Wally.” I stood in the kitchen.

“That’swhat you took out of that discussion?” He gaped at me.

I continued putting the mugs in the dishwasher. “I think your friends are perfectly lovely. Although, I have to say…talk about opposites attract. Everett is so…stiff. Rayne is so…friendly.”

Cameron titled his head. “Everett loosens up once he gets to know you. Rayne is just… yeah, he’s Rayne.”

“And you know Denali Williams.” I pointed an accusatory finger at him as I hip-checked the dishwasher closed.

“I’m quite certain she didn’t come up at any point in ourvery shortacquaintance, so I can hardly be blamed with not sharing that tidbit with you. And I’ve only met her a couple of times. Until Rayne, no one had ever tried to set me up with her.”

I burst out laughing. “Yeah, okay, I can see Rayne doing that.”

“You have no idea.IfI’d been so inclined, I would’ve been a much better match with Ursula.”

“Why?” I almost asked if she was as rigid as he was. Then I remembered last night’s blow job and figured maybe that wouldn’t be the right tack to take.

“Well…” He leaned against the counter. “Ursula is very logical. Denali is…a free spirit. I think one would have to be pretty uninhibited to be an actor.”

“And you don’t find that attractive?”Careful about poking the bear.

“Well, I’m not an exhibitionist.” He cleared his throat. “Although that’s questionable after my behavior last night.”

“You were drunk.”

“Perhaps. But that doesn’t justify what I did.”

“See, you’re carrying around some weird kind of guilt. If anything, it should be the reverse. I was the one who hit on you—even though I wasn’t certain if you would be interested. I was the one who led you away from the party—even though you weren’t really able to properly consent. And, finally, I was the one who blew you. If there was any taking advantage, it was me of you.”

“That’s not how I see it.”

“So we agree to disagree.” I crossed my arms. I wasn’t going to yield on this. I just hadn’t realized how drunk he was. Hell, he hadn’t had any experience with a man before.

“I offered food. It’s sort of midafternoon. So we can have something light and then a heavy dinner, or I can prepare something heavier now, and…”

“Ah, so you’re planning to keep me around.”

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