I paused, nervous about how to convince her about how I felt. “I can get into any woman’s pants I want”—Blake snorted—“but yours. I could turn around, march into that bar, and leave with anyone but the one I actually want. Probably because when the words actually mean something, when they hold something powerful behind them, they will always, and I do mean always, fall flat. My actions”—I shrugged and grabbed her hand—“they’d fail too.

“You’ll have moments of doubt, especially considering the type of business I’m in. At the end of the day, the only thing that will really be on our side is us, and the fact that we love each other. We aren’t promised time. We aren’t promised it will be perfect. And I can’t promise I’ll get it right on the first try. I mean, look at the mess I’ve already made. But”—I jerked her against my chest—“I do swear this.” My lips brushed hers. “It will only ever be you, Blake, who I take home at night, who I want to wake up to every morning. I love you. And if you give me time, I’ll prove that. Every minute of every day that you allow me to be with you.”

“Whoa.” Blake wiped her eyes. “That was—”

“Wah-wah,” Lex’s voice said from somewhere behind us. “Just kiss him already so you guys can go home. Also, David’s plastered, so—”

“David’s here?” Blake jumped away from me.

“Oh yes, that.” I nodded. “So David’s here.”

“Got that,” she said through clenched teeth. “Not that it matters, since we aren’t dating.”

“You aren’t?” I said.

Lex chuckled darkly.

“You”—I turned and subjected him to a glare—“are a sick bastard. You knew?”

He shrugged, and I turned back to Blake.

“David’s an idiot,” Blake said. “When I told him I couldn’t date him because I was in love with someone else, he said, ‘What does love have to do anything? I just wanna screw you, now that you’re hot.’”

Lex and I stared at her, dumbfounded.

“Well then.” I shrugged. “I guess I don’t need to lure you into the bar so you can see for yourself how far our young David has fallen. I’m pretty sure he’s with a prostitute, possibly two. If you want to find out, all I need to do is call the police.” I held up my phone.

Blake burst out laughing. “Sounds kind of fun. I could use a drink after all that confessing.”

“Pussy,” Lex coughed.

I rolled my eyes. “Just wait, Lex.”

“Hah.” He slapped me on the back. “No, thanks. I love my life. There will be no waiting for any girl to sweep me off my feet.”

“I should hope not, since you have a dick. That’s really not how things work.”

“Guys?” Blake cleared her throat. “Who’s buying me my first drink?”

“That honor goes to your boyfriend.” Lex slapped me on the back. “Think I’ll go hang out with Gabs for a while . . . Have fun.”

“Wait, what?” I narrowed my eyes. “You hate Gabs.”

“Oh, did I say hang out?” Lex laughed. “I meant torture. Heard she’s home alone tonight, and she still hates clowns. I just happen to have a clown wig and a horn in the back of my car. What are the odds, right?”

“Don’t get shot, man.” I fist-bumped him.

“No promises.” He waved us off and walked toward a waiting cab.

“For hating someone so much, he really does spend a lot of time . . . annoying her.” Blake watched Lex walk away.

I let out a snort. “Been that way for ages, and it will continue to be that way. It’s best to just ignore them,” I said, nuzzling her neck as we weaved through the crowd.

Sure enough, David was front and center, dancing with a few drunken girls.

“You smell good,” I said.

Blake chuckled, then turned abruptly and pressed her mouth against mine while I waved over the bartender.

“Two shots of tequila!” I yelled, upon coming up for a breath. Then I twirled Blake in front of me, stopping her so she could watch the free show David was giving.

I leaned down and murmured in her ear, “Admit it, you so wanna tap that.” David was dry-humping the short chick, but since he was so tall and she was so short, it was like he was trying to fit his tiny penis into her armpit. “Maybe I should draw him a diagram or something.”

Blake leaned back against me.

I hissed out a breath, and she thrust her ass against me as she met my gaze over her shoulder. “Yeah, because if anyone knows the game plan to score . . . it’s you.”

“I love it when you compliment my sexual prowess . . . Do it again.” I kissed down her neck while her hands reached back for me. She tried to turn around, but I kept her pinned in place, then slowly moved her so that she was facing the bar. “Hands on the wood.”

She reached behind her.

“Cute.” I tugged her ear with my teeth. “Wrong wood, sweetheart.”

Slowly, she inched her hands away from me and placed them on the bar top.

“Bend over.”

She froze, then glared back at me. We’re in public, she mouthed.

“Exactly.” My body heated. No, it freakin’ began to hum with awareness. “Just a little preview, only for me. Nobody else is watching, not with The David Show going on.”