Page 25 of Sexy Dare (The Sexy 1)

“Well, well, well. Look who’s here,” Tanner said.

“Thanks for coming. We know you have other things on your mind right now,” Landon said, his gaze falling to Faith.

“I suppose introductions are in order. Faith Lancaster, these are my best friends and partners, Landon Bennett and Tanner Grayson.” Jason gestured between them.

“Nice to meet you,” she said.

“At least now I understand Jason’s reasons for being tied up elsewhere,” Tanner said, laughing.

Jason shot his friend an annoyed glare.

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Faith.” Landon had always had better manners than Tanner, who was only a charmer when he wanted to be one.

“Jase, we need to talk,” Tanner said bluntly, his stare on Faith.

Jason rolled his eyes at the man’s rude behavior.

“I can go downstairs,” she offered, eyeing the crowded bar area with little to no enthusiasm.

“Sweetness, how about I set you up in my office for a few minutes?” Jason asked, offering her a more palatable option. She didn’t need to be surrounded by strangers at the moment, and his asshole friend should know better.

“Sure. That’d be great.” Her shoulders relaxed and she was clearly relieved.

He placed a hand on her back and led her to his private office. “Make yourself comfortable. I won’t be long. These guys … they just need a group hug sometimes.” Chuckling, he winked at her. “And Tanner’s bark is worse than his bite. Honestly.” He leaned in and brushed a kiss on her cheek, her sweet scent and warmth calling to him. “I’ll be back.

He strode back into the room and glared at Tanner. “Do you have to be an asshole?”

“Sorry,” he muttered. “I just thought it’d been awhile since the three of us had gotten together. I didn’t expect you to show up with her.”

“She’s in danger. Her drug addict brother broke into her apartment last week. I told you this. Come on.” He placed a hand on Tanner’s back. The man held on to the three of them like a lifeline, and Jason should have realized he needed to come down here long before now.

Tanner narrowed his gaze. “Who is she to you, Jase?”

He ran a hand through his hair and met his friend’s gaze. “I wish to God I knew. I don’t believe in love at first sight, but I haven’t slept with her and she already means something to me. And trust me, I tried like hell to keep an emotional distance. You know me. You know I keep people out and why. We all do.”

Landon strode over and placed a hand on his shoulder. “If she’s important to you, then we all step up to help. Right, Tanner?”

The other man grumbled but nodded. He was always the last to come around when it came to outsiders in their small circle. Which was weird, since Landon had lost his twin, but Tanner’s life hadn’t been an easy one in all ways.

“I appreciate it. Now as for the club, how are the improvements coming?” Jason walked over to the glass window that overlooked the downstairs bar area, which had grown even more crowded since he’d arrived.

Bartenders were serving drinks, people mingling and dancing, as if they didn’t have a care in the world. All in all, a perfect Friday night at Club TEN29.

“We’re coming along at a faster pace than expected. Audio guys had an opening in their schedule, so they’ve upgraded the speakers and sound system. They’ve been able to work during the day since we open at night. No issues.” Landon strode over to the bar. “Soda water?” he asked, glancing from Jason to Tanner.

“Not for me.”

“Me, neither.” Tanner shook his head. “Security’s also been upgraded. You need to switch the app on your phone and you’ll be able to see the new cameras and the areas we can watch.”

“So now it comes down to acts, scheduling, and launch dates,” Landon said.

Jason frowned. He wasn’t ready to make decisions on who he wanted to open the new direction of their club, especially when it came to using Charlotte, his ex. “Let me talk to Grey,” he said. Avery’s husband was a safer bet and as big a draw.

“I have a list but it’d mean reaching out to managers, so see what you can get from your brother-in-law.”

“Are you staying for the night?” Tanner asked.

“I’d like to see how Faith is feeling before I decide … if you don’t mind.” He glanced at his partners.

“So that’s how it is already?” Tanner snickered and Landon shot him a dirty look.

“It’s fine. We can handle a regular night here.”

His friends were solid, Jason thought. Even Tanner, despite his tendency to dig at a person’s weakness.

“I’ll hang for another few minutes. If you think of anything else you want to discuss, let me know.” Faith was safe in his office.

But he needed to find her brother and get back to his life before he was so wrapped up in hers he lost track of what was important to him.

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