“Be safe,” Amanda said.

“Yeah, whatever.” Dru ended that call.

Amanda chewed the inside of her lip and sighed as she looked at the dark screen. She looked across the room and caught sight of the top of the champagne bottle peeking over the back of the couch. She tossed her phone on the bed and went straight for the bottle. After a deep swig, she considered the remains of the dessert. The ice cream was completely melted, but the sweet smell still lingered in the air. She reached for the spoon and took another bite, then washed that down with another sip of the champagne.

At least her night had gone according to her original plan. Alone with ice cream and pie in her pajamas.

* * *

Sam sat behind the wheel of Zach’s truck, pushing back on his rising disappointment as he waited for the gates to Pleasant Lane to open. The slow parting of the heavy wood and steel was usually a comfort to him. After a long drive from Los Angeles or fresh off a flight to Ontario Airport, through the town he never really felt good calling home, arriving at this family cul-de-sac hit a reset button for him. He knew what waited on the other side. He knew he’d have the space and the freedom to refill his well before he went back out to deal with the BS parts of his chosen path.

But he’d had no plans to pull back through those gates tonight. He should have been back at the ranch, slowly, sweetly putting in his best work between a certain pair of luscious thighs. He should have fallen asleep with a certain Cha-Cha in his arms. He could have easily seen himself waking her for an early morning kiss so he could sneak out before the other guests started milling around. He should not be alone in Zach’s truck waiting for his cock to deflate, thinking about who he was going to risk waking up, his brothers or his grandmother.

He didn’t think Amanda owed him a thing. The complete opposite. But man, did he wish the night had gone differently. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. His attention had never been snatched up by a woman so quickly. So easily. He wasn’t sprung, exactly, but damn, was he interested. He wanted more time with Amanda. He wanted to get to know her. He was relieved that his desire to see her again wasn’t completely unfounded. She’d been shocked to see him, but there was no mistaking the heat between then, or the bold-ass way she knew how to flirt.