Dillon pulled her by the waist into his body and placed an exaggerated kiss on her lips.
After ordering her a drink, Dillon shifted her in front of him, positioning her back against his chest. She had center view of the stranger when Dillon finally spoke. “Gavin, this is my girlfriend, Emily Cooper. Emily, Gavin Blake.”
Unable to pull his eyes from hers, Gavin reached down tentatively, drawing her hand to his lips. Kissing it softly, he hesitated, almost absorbing the heat that radiated from her skin. Reluctantly, he finally let go. “The pleasure’s most definitely all mine,
Emily
.”
Inwardly marveling at the way Gavin’s slight stubble felt against her knuckles, Emily gave a curt nod and smiled. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Dillon asked, looking over to Gavin.
Averting her gaze to the floor, Emily flushed, embarrassed by the comment. Nonetheless, she grinned, trying to regain her bearings from the shock coursing its way through her body.
Gavin’s gaze dropped to her mouth, her ruby red lips fascinating every fucking inch of him. He shifted his eyes back to hers, which were a variation of green melting into gold.
Beautiful
, he thought to himself.
Drawing his lower lip roughly through his teeth, Gavin let his words hang. “You’re a very lucky man, Dillon.”
Dillon nodded in agreement, tossing back the last of his whiskey on the rocks. “Come dance with me, babe.” He caught Emily by her hips and dragged her out to the dance floor.
Knowing she shouldn’t, Emily risked a glance back to Gavin as they walked away.
Gavin tried to maintain his cool when she peered over her shoulder to look back at him. He watched the way Dillon held her close and the irrefutable loving way she responded to him. He watched the way she stared into Dillon’s eyes, giving him her undivided attention. Ordering another beer, Gavin fought back the urge to walk onto the dance floor, knock his friend out, and pull her into his arms.
As if his mind couldn’t register anyone else in the club, Gavin brushed off countless women who approached him. He knew he was in uncharted territory and that his thoughts were irrational, considering Dillon was a close friend, but he felt as if Emily had a sick pull on him. These new unknown surges of emotions had him at odds with his body and mind.
And Gavin didn’t like it one bit.
Eventually, Dillon walked up to Gavin when Emily disappeared into the restroom. He leaned against the bar, a reverent smile breaking out across his face. “Wishing you were me, buddy?”
Gavin couldn’t help feeling a stab of jealousy, but this wasn’t something he was about to confess. “I’m just wondering how you pulled that one off.”
It wasn’t a question but a statement on Gavin’s part. Dillon usually hung with crowds of women that were far wilder than Emily seemed to be.
Dillon threw his head back and laughed as he ordered a shot of tequila. “You seem to think you’re the only god in this city.”
“I’m no god, Dillon, and you’re certainly not either,” Gavin remarked, propping his arm on the rolled leather edge of the bar. “But I do know that you need to take care of a woman like that.”
Dillon started flexing his hips back and forth. “Oh, I’m taking care of it. She has no complaints whatsoever in that department.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Gavin snapped, trying to rid the thought from his mind. He then smoothed his voice out to a calmer tone. “Be good to her, seriously.”
Cocking his head to the side, Dillon furrowed his brows. “Since when did you become so worried about how I treat a woman Mr. Non-Commitment? You fuck anything that throws itself at you, and they’re lucky if they get a call the next day.”
“We’re not talking about me,” Gavin said, drawing a bottle of beer to his mouth. “Like I said, take care of her.”
“Gavin Blake’s trying to teach me how to treat a woman. This is hysterical.” He swallowed his drink and slammed the glass down on the bar. “I’m marrying this one. You’ll see. Just to torture you, you’re going to be in the wedding party.” Dillon shook his head and laughed but recovered quickly as his expression tightened. “Like I said earlier, she’s mine. You get enough everywhere you go.”
Before Gavin could respond, Emily approached them.
Dillon handed her a beer, and she smiled. “Thanks. So what are you guys talking about?”
Gavin figured he would play a little game, considering he knew Dillon was taunting him. His eyes concentrated on the exact curve of Emily’s jaw before locking his eyes on hers. “I’m just wondering how my friend here landed such a beautiful woman. He’s obviously out of his league.”
Emily could feel the way Gavin stared at her. His eyes seemed to sink into her, making her want to bare every emotion and every secret.
What a dangerous talent for a man’s eyes to possess
, she thought to herself.
She went to speak, but Dillon’s voice broke through the deafening level of music. “Fuck you and your comment. Out of my league?”
Gavin laughed mischievously as he casually sank into a seat at the bar. “Yes,
very
out of your league.”
A grin curled Dillon’s lips. “Whatever makes you sleep better tonight, man, but she’s the one leaving with me.” Dillon glanced down at an incoming text and then turned to Emily where she stood inwardly mortified at the conversation taking place. “Trevor’s on his way, babe. I need to use the restroom, but don’t let this clown fool you while I’m gone. He’s a player.”
He dropped a chaste kiss on her cheek and walked away.
Gavin watched Emily carefully, silence stretching between them as she sipped her beer. He felt her eyes on him, giving nervous little looks that tugged at every rational instinct he had left. Each time her gaze met his, he wanted to sink into it and live in it forever. He wondered if she felt the connection that had passed between them when he kissed her hand.
He took a long pull from his beer, trying to ease the dryness in his mouth. “So,
Molly
, are you enjoying New York?”
Knowing that one was coming, Emily let out a laugh. “Yes, I am actually, stalker boy. Thanks for asking.”
“I’m really not a stalker or a player, honestly,” he said, chuckling at the nickname she gave him.
“The stalker part may be questionable,” she laughed and so did Gavin. “But, I have to be honest, I’ve heard otherwise about you being a player.”
Emily bit her lip, realizing how horribly offensive those last words must’ve sounded. Even so, now knowing who he was, it was the truth. Olivia told her stories of Dillon’s rich friend, Gavin, being a ladies’ man. She also warned Emily that once she met him, it would take everything in her not to rip off her shirt and watch the buttons scatter on the floor, along with every sexual inhibition following behind them.
Yep, completely fuckable.
Shifting in his seat, Gavin flashed a smile. “And who did you hear that from?”
“Olivia Martin.”
“Mmm, you must not know her that well then,” he replied, motioning for the bartender to bring them another round.
“Let’s see. She was my roommate in college, and I live with her now.” She smiled. “I consider her a pretty reliable source, but hey, to each his own.”
“Forgive me and my horrible memory. That’s right; that’s right. You’re Emily and not Molly,” he laughed, tossing a hand through his hair. “Of course you know Olivia.”
She smiled. “Yes, my real name is Emily. We’ve established that, but how come I have a feeling you might never let me live that one down?”
A delicious grin slid across his lips. “Ah-ha, I may or may not. But that’s for me to know, and you to find out.” They both laughed, seeming to relax a bit around one another. “So what else did Olivia say about me?”
“Ah-ha, that’s for
me
to know, and you to find out.”
Amused by her quick-witted response, Gavin hung his head and laughed. His features softened as he stared into her eyes. “But, in my defense, the whole player thing’s a misconception. I just haven’t found the right woman yet.”
“Well, there seems to be an awful lot of ladies trying to get your attention right now.” With the sweep of her hand, Emily gestured toward a group of women at the end of the bar that were noticeably glancing in his direction. “Pretty decent pick if you ask me.”
Although he tried, he couldn’t pull his eyes away from her. He stared at Emily, wanting to let her know—again—the only woman he wanted was already with his friend. “Unfortunately, most of them are only interested in one thing.”
Confusion knitted her brows. “Isn’t that what all guys want anyway?”
“Not quite, but I like the way you think,” he laughed, studying the way she nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. He liked it more than he should. “No, seriously though, I don’t want to come off like a conceited ass, but there’s a fine line between me and my money.”
His remark struck an odd cord with Emily. She knew he had money—the whole damn city did. However, to assume women were strictly after him for his cash was obviously some sort of insecurity he had.
“Oh, so in your eyes, every woman you date’s a gold digger?” she remarked, drawing the bottle to her mouth as she leaned casually into her seat.
Gavin tried hard to fixate his eyes on hers instead of her lips. “No, it’s not that at all. That came out the wrong way; I apologize.” He placed his empty drink on the bar. “It’s just hard to tell who’s real and who’s not. I want a woman who wants me with or without my money.” He flashed a sheepish grin. “And, for some reason, I seem to attract the all-beauty-and-no-brains type, too.”
“Oh.” Emily shifted in her seat, embarrassed at her assumption. She tried to deflect her earlier statement. “Sounds like you’re trolling the wrong places, buddy.”
The bartender put their drinks down.
Gavin laughed, immensely enjoying her honesty. “Apparently, I do.” An infectious smile ran across his mouth. “Where is it you said you hang out these days other than Bella Lucina?”
“Dillon’s apartment, but thanks for trying again,” she laughed. She tipped her beer to her lips, allowing herself to hold his gaze a little longer this time. “Maybe you should search for women at the library? That would take care of the no-brains problem you seem to attract.”
“You’re a pretty funny girl, Emily,” he remarked, shifting his body to face hers. “I’m
really
starting to regret Dillon getting his hands on you first.”
Emily’s heart skidded across her chest at his declaration. Before she could answer, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder and assumed it was Dillon.
She turned and found Trevor flashing his winning smile, his thick blonde hair falling onto his forehead. “I’m here. Let the party begin!” he hooted, slapping his hand on Gavin’s shoulder. He then gave Emily a hug and inched his way in between them to order a drink. “It’s going to be a bender tonight!”
Emily smiled, happy to see Trevor. She’d grown close to him over the last few months. Besides the fact that he was Olivia’s brother, he was an all-around good man. Even before she moved to New York, he would call to check up on her to make sure she was doing okay.
Trevor glanced around the club from behind his glasses. “Where’s Dillon?” he asked, accepting his drink from the bartender.
“Think he fell in,” Gavin smirked, motioning toward the restrooms.
“I know he left the office way before I did, but that sounds like something he would do, especially if he’s drunk enough,” Trevor laughed. He then turned to Gavin. “So how’ve you been, man? Feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Good. Had to do some traveling for work, but I’m hunkered down for the summer.”
“Having your yearly Fourth of July party at your house in the Hamptons, right?”
“Absolutely,” Gavin answered. “I’m actually heading out there this week to open up the place.”
Trevor turned to Emily who wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. His laughing brown eyes were wide with excitement. “Yoo-hoo, Emily, you’re going right?”
She looked puzzled as she scanned the club, knowing Dillon had been gone for a while. “Going where?” her voice trailed off as she looked away from Trevor.
“Gavin’s party in the Hamptons on the Fourth of July. Dillon told you about it, right?”
She shrugged, bringing her attention back to Trevor. “He hasn’t mentioned it yet, but it sounds like fun. I’m sure we’ll be there.”
Dillon’s voice broke through the conversation. “Be where?” he asked, leaning in to kiss Emily’s neck. “I hope these guys weren’t trying to proposition you while I was gone.”
Twisting her body to face his, Emily smiled. “No worries; they were entertaining me. You took a while. Are you okay?”
“I had to make a quick phone call.”
A mischievous smile tugged at Gavin’s lips. “We thought you fell in, and we were actually about to assemble a search party. But don’t get high on yourself though; we weren’t going to look too hard.”
“Wow, you two are brutal with one another,” Emily laughed.
Trevor took a swig of beer. “You haven’t seen anything yet, Em. They’re just getting warmed up.”
Dillon shook his head and eyed Gavin. “Once a wiseass, always a wiseass, Blake. Never fails.”
Gavin hung his head and laughed. He took a long pull from his beer, swung his eyes over to Emily, and then reluctantly looked at Dillon. “So how’s about it? Are you two coming to the party?”
“I totally forgot about it,” Dillon replied. “But, of course, we’ll be there.”
Trevor cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean you forgot? Dude, you’ve been coming for the last couple of years.”
Dillon pulled Emily close to him, anchoring her body in front of his. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “I’ve been distracted by my lady here. I can’t seem to think of anything else.”
Emily smiled and noticed a beautifully groomed blonde approach Gavin. She snaked her arm around his waist and planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth. “I thought it was you, Mr. Blake,” she said, ordering a drink and letting the bartender know to put it on his tab. “Where have you been hiding lately?” Her words slurred as she clung tighter to Gavin, trying to keep her balance.