Secret Designs(9)

Noeleen blinked and her face lost the frown. "Anytime, stud," she said, running a finger on his arm.

"Well, we can start to eat. Everyone, carry something to the living room," Adam said.

They each dutifully carried a platter of food to where the big TV was. This was Adam's version of dinner with friends. Finger foods—lots of them—while they all watched something, usually sports.

Dylan sat on the sofa, fully aware that one of the girls would want to sit beside him. There was some jostling between Noeleen and Lenore, but Noeleen won and sidled up to him.

Trey was trying hard to stifle his laugh. He was enjoying the whole thing. Why wasn't Lenore cozying up to Trey, anyway? Wasn't Trey supposed to be her 'date' tonight?

Lenore had nowhere else to sit but next to Trey, but she looked at pains to keep her distance. He squinted at Trey. What happened?

Lenore picked up a spring roll and commented on how tasty it was. Ah, this was his opening.

"That's Trey's favourite too, Lenore," he said teasingly.

Lenore just ignored the comment and kept on eating.

He arched an eyebrow at Trey's smug face.

"I wonder what Ari's favourite food is?" Trey mused.

Dylan felt the air being swiftly squeezed out of his lungs at the mention of Ari's name. "What did you say?"

"You know that girl we bumped into at Ivy last week? Your brother's fiancée's friend? She's incredibly attractive. I was just telling these guys that before you arrived," Trey responded.

Dylan frowned. It had only just occurred to him that the boys weren't aware that he'd slept with Ari. Trey had left Ivy early that night to meet up with some workmates, and Adam was so angry at Dylan because of his comment about Sandy that he'd disappeared when Trey left.

"I was meaning to ask you to set me up with her, Dylan," Trey continued.

Dylan's heart pounded hard. Was that a joke? A part of Trey's game to put off Lenore? Or was his interest in Ari for real?

No, no. Trey shouldn't be interested in Ari.

"What do you say, Dyl?" Trey prodded.

"She's taken," he answered nonchalantly.

"Oh, really? But she wasn't with a man that night, was she?"

"So? Adam was there without Sandy," he contended.

"So this Ari already has a boyfriend?" Lenore asked, looking animated again.

"Yes."

"What a shame," Trey said with a sigh. "Do you know who the guy is?"

"Yes," Dylan answered. "Me." He took a sharp intake of breath. Shit. What possessed me to say that?

His discomfort turned to bemusement when Adam and Trey laughed their asses off.

"What the hell is so funny?" he demanded.

"Oh, Dylan. You'll never pull that shit on us," Adam said.

"Come on, man," Trey said in a pleading tone. "I'm serious. Set me up with Ari."

Dylan's jaw dropped in shock. He relaxed a little when Trey winked at him. This better be part of the game.

"I'm being serious, too," he said with conviction. "You can't have her. I saw her first."

Trey stood up and gestured for a handshake. "I'll fight you for her, then. May the best man win."

"You're on. I'll win her anyway I can," he declared, getting up and shaking Trey's proffered hand.

Noeleen got up from the couch and stomped toward the kitchen. "I'm getting another drink," she muttered, clearly displeased.

"Me, too," Lenore said, following Noeleen to the kitchen.

Sandy wordlessly went after her friends.

Dylan exchanged hi-fives with Trey and Adam before the three of them settled back on the couch, silently chuckling.

But for the rest of the night, he kept getting distracted by a niggling worry.

Trey had better be joking.





CHAPTER FOUR





Ari padded down the stairs quietly but hastily, her face hot from embarrassment and...yes, arousal. Damn it! Why was her timing so bad? She already heard them yesterday morning. Did she have to hear them again today?

She hadn't mean to pause outside Kane and Jasmine's bedroom door but Kane's soft moans and panting groans stopped her in her tracks. Her cheeks reddened anew at the images those pleasure sounds brought to her consciousness. Of course it wasn't Kane that filled her mind. It was Dylan. Kane's orgasmic noises were so similar to Dylan's that she was bombarded by erotic memories from their one and only one-night stand.

She shook her head vigorously to clear her mind of lustful thoughts and followed a soft humming coming from the kitchen.

She found Sam there, preparing food by herself. She wasn't surprised that Kris wasn't up yet, even though it was already after ten. The four girls had been out dancing until two that morning, and Kris had practically boogied non-stop. If Kris hadn't been exhausted by all that, she would have been shocked.