“Damn shame,” Dean said again. “She’s wasted on Shotelle. You and me could rock her world in ways that idiot never could.”
Parker nodded glumly. “Yup. But we’re not. And we can’t, because she’s the girlfriend of a client. So—” A crash sounded in the background. “What was that?” he demanded.
“She’s on the run. Top shelf was a little too high for her and she knocked a section down reaching for a box. She’s vanished around the corner, cart and all, like there’s someone on her ass.”
That didn’t sound like Lynn, not even from a short time of observation. “She’s not sticking around and picking stuff up?”
Dean’s amused chuckle carried over the line. “I think she’s too shy to deal with helping anyone pick this up. Guess what’s on the top shelf—you’ll like this one, bro.”
He bet he wouldn’t. “What?”
“Boxes of lube with accompanying finger vibrators. Looks as if someone’s planning a little private entertainment.”
Great. Parker was going to spend the rest of the night with an erection trying to tunnel its way out of his pants, just from the mental image of Lynn slipping her fingers between her legs.
“Recon is done. Get out, now,” he barked.
“Need me to pick up anything?” Dean asked. “There’s lots of lube right here—might help with that frustration I hear in your voice.”
“Now, Colter. Haul ass.” Parker briefly closed his eyes and sighed. The sooner he got rid of Dean, the sooner he could go home and deal with his frustrations.
Alone.
And that sucked hugely.
Dean
He wasn’t surprised Parker called off the recon so early, especially after a quick glance revealed his buddy was sitting as uncomfortably in the car as Dean.
Lynn Davidson’s brand of shy innocence was damn attractive, and taunting Parker had backfired—Dean was riled up as well. As much as he loved his partner, and as pretty as Parker was, the other man couldn’t help him with his current dick-related predicament.
Fortunately, he knew someone who could.
Dean pulled out his phone the second Parker sped away from the Fresh Mart. He scrolled through his substantial list of contacts before he found the one he wanted. “Katie baby,” he drawled a second later. “Feel like playing tonight?”
A snort sounded from the driver’s seat.
The call lasted all of three seconds. He hung up and turned to Parker. “Change of plans. Drop me off at the next block.”
“What about your car? You left it at the studio.”
“I’m sure I can convince Katie to drive me back there tomorrow.”
“Dude. Do you have a fuck buddy on every street in the city?”
He grinned. “Pretty much.”
“Tell me, when you were a baby, was your first word sex or fucking?”
“Not sure. It might have been pussy.”
That earned him a loud snicker from Parker, who shifted his attention to the road as Dean put away his phone. He wondered what his buddy would say if Dean told him he hadn’t lost his virginity until he was nineteen. But naah, Parker wouldn’t believe him, and besides, he had a reputation to uphold.
He hadn’t always been a ladies’ man, but he sure as hell was one now.
“Turn left up there,” he instructed. “It’s the second house on the right.”
Parker smoothly steered toward the intended destination and parked in front of the skinny Victorian home. He let out a sigh. “We’ll look through all our information tomorrow. Hopefully we’ve got enough intel to plan something good.”
“A part of me wants to tell Shotelle to fuck off,” Dean admitted. “I still have a bad feeling about the guy.”
“Yeah, me too. But this is our business. We have to finish the job whether we like the client or not.” There was no mistaking the agitation in Parker’s green eyes. It was rare to see his friend so torn about a gig, or so taken with a target.
“You’re right. Let’s see how it goes tomorrow,” Dean finally said.
“Sounds good.” With a nod, Parker reached for the gearshift. “All right. Get the fuck out of here.” He cocked a brow. “Unless I’m invited for your date with Katie baby?”
“Sadly, no. She’s only into one-on-one.” Dean wiggled his eyebrows. “But I’m working on it, so ask me again tomorrow and the answer might be different.”
He hopped out of the SUV, closing the door and tapping the frame in goodbye. A moment later, Parker sped off, and Dean headed toward the house, still thinking about the Shotelle job. But he forced the misgivings aside. That was tomorrow’s problem.
Tonight he had a boner to take care of, and a lady to make happy. Fortunately, the two things went together oh so well.
Chapter Three