“That guy is going to be so confused when he finds a pair of women’s jeans just hanging out in his utility closet,” she said around another bite of laughter. “I mean, I’m sad to sacrifice a pair of good jeans, but hot damn, can you imagine his face?”

Brady laughed. “Knowing Thomas’s reputation, he’ll just use them to tell his employees that he scored back there after hours.”

“Oh I hope not,” Sloane groaned. “I’d rather him just be hella confused.”

Emma called on the tail end of that thought, then Callum right after. Sloane gave him the lowdown as they turned in the direction of Arbor Bay.

Apparently while Emma was telling Thomas she’d come back for his number, he was less focused on being grumpy when a frantic Callum ran in with his “son,” who had a bathroom emergency. Once he and Justus got to the back hallway, Callum kept watch while the boy had gone to the utility closet.

“He said my pants were stuck on some weird-looking staples sticking out of the wood,” Sloane said. “He tried to undo them, but they didn’t budge. So he pulled while I wiggled, and, well, you saw the rest.”

Brady shook his head but smiled all the way through.

“You’re going to have to let me tell Dixon and Santana about this,” he said. “They’d collectively flip their lids.”

Sloane started like she’d been doused with a bucket of ice and jumped in her seat. Brady didn’t think she’d thought about what being pants-less really meant. He’d already glanced at her polka-dot panties, which were still very much visible.

They were cute.

They were also distracting.

“Oh! By the way. Thomas’s secret weapon was a new drink menu with a section called Always Happy Hour and seriously discounted drinks. I saw it before I hid. I took a picture, too.”

Brady sighed. That definitely wasn’t good news. Cassidy’s Place couldn’t afford to do any more discounts than they already did.

Warmth enveloped Brady’s hand as Sloane grabbed it. She gave one squeeze and was nothing but smiles.

“But don’t worry. I know exactly how we’re going to beat him. All I need is you to be somewhat okay with possibly being shirtless. Heck, maybe even pants-less. And maybe covered in glitter.”

Brady raised his eyebrow in question at that.

“Come again?”

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

“Happy Wednesday, boys and girls, and welcome to Cassidy’s first-ever fashion show!”