DEVON BOOKER

He had the audacity to grin. Then he continued. "I don't generally share my brother's taste in women, but with you he did okay."

"Okay?!?" I spluttered. Then I lifted my chin, deciding not to let him push my buttons. "You know, instead of rating me, you might think about how hurt Devin would be if he knew about us."

"Us?" he asked. "So, now we're an 'us'? I didn't know you cared so much."

"You know what I meant." I glared at him. This man was exasperating.

He leaned forward to whisper in my ear. "When I'm fondling my date's fake tits tonight, I'm going to be thinking about your real ones."

That did it. My mouth fell open, appalled. My eyes felt like they might pop out of my head. I whirled away from him and headed for the bar. I needed a glass of wine. Pronto.

"Your brother is a pig!" I said loudly when Hailey hopped up on the bar stool next to me.

"I'll take it you've met Devon," Hailey chuckled. "Yes, he can be a bit of a pig. But he can also be generous, and kind, and hilarious, and a pain in the ass, but I love him to pieces. I love both of them to pieces," she gushed. She leaned in as if telling me a secret. "You definitely picked the right one to date, though. Devin is the real deal, and Devon leaves behind a trail of broken hearts."

By the way her words were slurring together, I could tell the glass of wine she ordered wasn't her first of the evening. "I think that's why Devon settles for the never-ending stream of gold-digging baddies," she continued.

"Who are baddies?" I asked her.

"Oh, you know," she waved her hand around. "A baddie is a girl who is always slaying the game and always on fleek. Though some of them are feminine individuals who are self-assured, goal-orientated, and empowering. They can do anything to get rich. Like the parade of leggy blondes with enormous jugs that he shows up with always introduce themselves that way." She mimicked shaking a hand and began fluttering her eyelashes. "Hi, I'm Barbie doll and the baddest."

She started cracking up at her own joke. Her laughter was contagious, and I soon had the giggles as well. I was enjoying being with her and laughing at her despicable brother.

"You know what else," she went on, leaning in further. "He doesn't ever kiss them on the lips. They all think they are going to win him over and marry him and take his fortune, but he gets tired of them after a few dates and sends them along their merry way. Then POOF," she snapped her fingers for added affect, "he finds another one just like the last 412."

I had the feeling she wouldn't be telling me all of this if she wasn't tipsy. I wondered why Devon treated women like they were disposable. Thankfully, I didn't have to worry about figuring him out because I had Devin, and he was wonderful. I decided to see what Hailey had to say about him.

"So tell me about your sweet brother." I nudged her elbow gently.

"They are both sweet to me," she replied. "But since I know you're talking about Devin, he's one of the good ones, Kylie. Please don't hurt him."

Her sudden rush of sincerity surprised me. "I won't," I reassured her, and I meant it.

"Speak of the devil." Devin smiled at as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. "I'll let you two be, since you've barely seen each other all evening." With that, she hopped off her stool and disappeared into the crowd.

"I'm almost afraid to ask what you two were talking about." Devin slid around and plopped down on the stool Hailey had just vacated.

"You, as a matter of fact," I answered. "Your sister seems to think rather highly of you."

"Maybe I shouldn't have interrupted then, but I feel like my siblings have had more of you tonight than I have." I attempted to push the unwanted thought of Devon having a whole lot of me in the bathroom out of my mind. "Is it my turn to get to hang out with you?" Devin asked, batting his dark eyelashes playfully.

"Absolutely," I answered. "Can we get out of here or do your family duties require you to stay longer?"

Before I finished the question, he had already downed the last of his drink and was standing up. "Let's go. I've been wanting to rip that little black dress off you all night."

"Deal." I stood, taking his hand. As we exited, I tried to ignore the electrifying chill that went up my spine. I knew, without a doubt, that Devon was watching me leave with his brother.

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