Page 65 of Body Check

“It’s noteveryone,” she protested. “Not even close to it!”

“Well, it seemed like a lot.”

“Stop stalling and tell me his name,” she demanded.

“No!” Dakota laughed. “I’m not going to let you harass a guy I’m having sex with.”

“I wouldn’t harass him.” She pursed her lips. “And it seems like more than sex.”

“Well, it’snot. We’re hooking up.”

“This was the third time thisweek,” Violet scoffed.

“We’re … sexually compatible.” Dakota crammed another bite of pasta into his mouth.

Which was hilarious, really, with all the maneuvering they’d had to do initially about who was doing what to whom and what body parts were off-limits. But damn if it hadn’t been fuck-hot every time.

Dakota was beginning to lose track of all of the things they’d done lately, but all of them had left him feeling wrung out in the best of ways. And, he thought a little smugly, Gavin unable to move.

“Well, I assumed that much when you came staggering in late every night.”

“Okay, it’s hardly beeneverynight,” Dakota protested. “He’s busy. We wouldn’t have time for every night, even if we wanted.”

“Busy, huh? What is hebusywith?”

“Cut it out! I’m not giving you any more details, yousnoop,” he fired back.

She shot him an innocent glance, batting her long lashes. “Who said anything about details? I don’t want to hear about your sex life any more than you want to hear about mine.”

“What’s this about Dakota’s sex life?” Jeff asked, strolling in.

Thankfully, none of the kids were with him, since they’d spent the night at their grandparents’ house. Jeff and Violet had gone on a date night to celebrate the anniversary of when they’d first met and had come home a few minutes before Dakota had gotten back from Gavin’s place.

Guilt prickled through Dakota. He usually watched the kids when they went out, although both Violet and Jeff had assured him the grandparents were happy to have time with them.

Both Violet and Jeff were tipsy and hungry—apparently the chic restaurant where they’d had dinner had offered appallingly small portions—so they’d heated leftovers and Dakota had reluctantly agreed to join them.

He wasn’t even that hungry—Gavin had this weird thing about making sure he had food Dakota would like at his condo—but if he got into that, then Violet would ask even more questions and … anddamnit.

Dakota was now thoroughly annoyed with himself for not taking Gavin up on his perpetual offer to stay later and let him pay for the ride share. Dakota hadthoughtit would keep things simpler if they avoided any messy money shit and he made sure he left in time to grab the last train of the night to Quincy.

But he was beginning to think he’d made a terrible mistake tonight, mac and cheese notwithstanding.

“Your wife is being nosy about my sex life,” Dakota muttered around a mouthful of deliciousness.

“I am not!” Violet protested, passing her bowl to Jeff. “All I asked my brother was who he’s been seeing.”

“I’m not seeinganyone,” Dakota protested, stirring his pasta because it still had too-hot and too-cold pockets from the microwave. “It’s a hookup. Nothing else.”

“A hookup he’s hooking up with three or four times aweek,” Violet said. “And get this, the guy works for the Harriers too.”

“Ooh.” Jeff passed the bowl back to his wife, then leaned forward. “Is he a player? Let me guess … you’re screwing Luke Crawford.”

Dakota made a sputtering noise. “No! He’s not a fucking player. And it’sdefinitelynot Luke Crawford. He’s thelastguy I’d have sex with.”

Jeff shrugged. “I dunno, he looks like he could throw a guy around pretty well.”

Dakota glared at him. “Yes, well, I don’t want to be thrown around. I prefer to do the throwing most of the time, if you must know.”

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