Page 67 of The Fine Art of Faking It
Each of the men traced their fingers over their hearts in an X, Blue Moon code for “I promise.” It was legally binding.
“It’s crazy to think that three years ago, you were all single,” Davis pointed out. So much had changed in their lives, and he had to admit he’d never seen them happier. He felt… a pang. Just that little hint that maybe there was something great out there that he was missing out on.
Jax reached out with his arms and rolled his eyes back in his head. “Join us. Join us.”
“We literally just started dating,” Davis pointed out. He left out the part where they were only pretending to date. He also didn’t feel inclined to reveal that the more time he spent with Eden, the less fake it all felt. She was challenging. Exciting. Interesting. All of that on top of the fact that he’d always found her irresistible.
“You’ve got a lot going on, man,” Beckett said, slapping him on the shoulder.
Davis reached for another hot wing from the tray.
“Any luck with the insurance company?” Donovan asked him.
Davis shook his head. “Until investigators can prove it wasn’t me setting the fire to perpetrate insurance fraud, they aren’t paying up.”
“Man, that sucks. And you have no idea who did it?” Beckett asked.
Davis stared into the eyes of the man whose wife had played a role in burning down his kitchen and lied to his face. “No idea.”
* * *
Donovan promisedto check in with the fire chief and the inspector the next day. But Davis wasn’t holding on to any hopes there. He’d talked to his financial advisor earlier in the day, and she had confirmed that he could borrow against his retirement savings. It would hurt. A lot. But at least his house wouldn’t rot and fall down waiting for the cash to fix it.
And as angry as he was with his irresponsible town, charging the Beautification Committee with arson wouldn’t make life better for anyone.
No, he’d stick with the plan. Borrow against his savings and be back in his own house in a few weeks. They could blow up the Beautification Committee together. And then Eden would have her guest room to herself again.
They’d be back to where they started: virtual strangers sharing a property line.
That part didn’t sit well with Davis.
“Hey, that doesn’t look like a fundraiser meeting,” Carter said. He was peering over the railing into the bar below.
Beckett and Davis joined him and spied a table full of beautiful women.
“Yes!” Jax pumped his fist in the area. “Joey’s drinking Long Islands. They always make her frisky.”
Davis watched as Eden leaned in and shared a laugh with Eva. Her dark, loose curls fell over her forehead, obscuring one wide, blue eye before she brushed it back. She had always been not just attractive but fascinating. He’d spent the last fifteen years watching her from a distance, and now that he had the opportunity to be up close and personal with her, God was he was enjoying himself.
“Gentlemen,” Carter said, slinging his arms around Donovan and Niko’s shoulders. “We have excellent taste in women.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Beckett said, his gaze warm on his wife.
“What are the odds that they’ll be pissed at us for cutting loose tonight?” Jax asked warily.
Beckett cuffed him on the back of the head. “We just busted them lying about organizing a fundraiser, genius. We’re covered.”
“That’s because your wife’s logic outweighs her desire to win a fight.” Jax didn’t sound like he was complaining. It was rumored that he and Joey argued just so they could make up.
“Let’s go test the waters, gentlemen,” Donovan said, heading for the stairs. “And remember, if one of you says the word ‘baby’ down there, I’m going to tase you.”
27
“Well, well, well. Look what’s coming our way,” Summer announced to the table, staring in female satisfaction as the crowd in the bar parted for a half-dozen gorgeous men.
“Mmm,” Emma sighed. “We sure are lucky, aren’t we?”
It should be illegal to have that many good-looking men in one confined space, Eden decided. And leading the way washerman. Hertemporaryman, she corrected silently. Davis was getting his fair share of rapt attention from the estrogen-carrying bar customers.
