Kinley had always been good to Duke, probably a better friend than Roland. After Mark was shot, she’d called a number of times, to check in, and had sent groceries while he healed. When Regina left him, Kinley came to his house, trying to talk him out of his funk, and had even tactfully suggested rehab if he was going to keep self-medicating. She was friends with Regina, but Kinley made it clear she didn’t like how the model had treated Duke when the guy was down.

He rolled onto his back, flopping an arm over his eyes to block out the morning light. “Tell Roland to shut the hell up. She is not a stripper and he knows it.”

“I assumed he was full of it. Just wanted to be sure.”

“She’s a nurse. Well, almost. And she’s nice, Kinley.” Different than any woman I know.

“Invite her to our party tonight. I’d like to meet her.”

He paused. How much should he tell Kinley? He didn’t want to lie to his friends but, on the other hand, it was clear he was going to have to talk Angel into going out with him a few more times, anyway, until the clubhouse calmed down.

“Huh. I’d like to, but she’s, uh, maybe not set for your kind of party, Kinley.”

She laughed. “I’m not judgy-judgy like that, and you know it. But I wouldn’t want the poor girl to feel out of place. Do you have her address? I can send her a dress and shoes. She looks about my size, unless the cameras added ten pounds.” She laughed again. “Is she a good kisser?”

“I’m a gentleman. Never kiss and tell, I say.”

She sniffed, ladylike. “Right.”

He lay in bed after hanging up, trying to create a plan of attack. Kinley and Roland had offered a solution. Plenty of people would see Angel and Duke together if they went to this fancy cocktail party. But he wasn’t sure how he felt about disrupting the student nurse’s life again, much less how he would talk her into it. She’d been adamant about getting back to her regular life. Something about exams? He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror on the wall across the room. If he was being fair, he really should leave the poor woman alone. She deserved better.

A few minutes later, his phone beeped. Kinley had taken the planning out of his hands.

Her text said Aaron was delivering an invitation, dress, and shoes to Angel’s building, and that Duke was to pick her up that evening, flowers in hand.

Duke sighed. Kinley hadn’t wasted any time.