Reagan

“Thank you, Maxie. I appreciate you doing the hand over with Lucky tonight. If you had heard how desperate Harley sounded, you would’ve agreed to be at her side, too.”

Harley hissed at me.

“I wasn’t desperate.”

Maxie laughed.

“It’s fine, Rea. You’re a good friend. Plus, I know that the hand over is painful for you. I’m glad you’re going out tonight. Have a little fun. Get a little crazy.”

Harley gasped after unzipping the too tight dress she’d had on.

“She’s going as my bodyguard and nothing more. Between the two of us, we almost have her back where she belongs. Who knew we’d have to fight so hard to get her to go back to the three sexy as hell men who want to give her good sex and love? Crazy, right? Also, I think I’ve gained weight. Nothing fits. Am I getting bigger? You’d tell me, right?”

I rolled my eyes at her and shook my head.

“You’re the same perfect size as always. And I’m ignoring everything else you just said. I just wanted to check in on my boy one more time.”

“He’s fine. I put him and Hank together and took pictures of them scowling back and forth at each other and then cackling about it. These boys are going to be troublemakers when they’re older. We’re in for a hell of a time, Rea.” Maxie said something to one of her guys and then giggled. “I think I’m going to send Hank with my brothers, too. I deserve a night of wild and crazy sex, too.”

I laughed.

“You know, I heard this rumor that you used to be quiet and docile, Maxie. I think someone lied to me, though.”

“Hmm. I wonder where you heard that? Now, get going and have a great night! I’ll text you when Lucky goes with his dads!”

I hung up and shoved my phone into my purse. I watched as Harley kicked off the dress and stumbled into another one. She was an anxious mess and I felt terrible for her. We’d already talked a dozen times about how she could back out but she wasn’t going to. She was determined. All I could do was be by her side.

“You’re a lot happier today.” Harley lifted her hair and spun around so I could zip her into the tight black dress. “How much longer until you go home to your men?”

If she’d asked me the morning before, I would’ve still been stubbornly swearing that I wasn’t. After the meal at the diner, though, I wasn’t so eager to stay away from the one place I wanted to be. “I don’t know.”

“Ah, so soon then.” She looked in the mirror and whined. “No, no, no! I look horrible. No one’s going to bid on me, Reagan. I’m going to be mortified! I wonder if anyone’s ever been left standing there with no bids before or if I’ll be the first.”

“Harley! Look at yourself! You’re absolutely stunning. Men are going to be fighting to get to you.” I firmly believed that, too. She was beautiful and she was going to break hearts.

“I don’t even know why I’m trying. I’m going to strip down to my underwear as soon as we get there, right?” She turned away from the mirror and threw her hands up. “Why do I care? Why does it matter what I’m dressed like? They won’t be paying for my clothing choices. Let’s just go. I need to get there and get this over with before I vomit.”

I wanted to argue that she shouldn’t do it if she felt so sick over it but I’d already tried and I didn’t want to push her. I did the only thing I could and I held her hand.

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet the man of your dreams.”

“Or men of my dreams. Devil’s Den has really made me think that three men is the way to go.” She locked her apartment door behind us and sighed wistfully. “I mean, Maxie has it figured out. Her men cook for her and clean for her and they’re even good in bed. She has everything. I’d even settle for two out of the three.”

I grinned.

“Which two? What if they’re good in bed and cook for you but they’re so disgustingly messy you start to hate them?”

“We’ll be a four-income household, Rea. We’ll be able to afford a cleaning service.” She waved at one of her neighbors and flipped another one off as we passed them. “Go to hell, Aaron.”

“Up yours, Harley.”

I shook my head.

“So, I can see you’ve made friends in your new place.”

“Oh, that guy? He’s harmless.” She burst onto the street in her tight dress, impossibly long legs, and five-inch heels and I watched men lose their brain cells when they caught sight of her. “Can I tell you a secret?”