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want to scare her.”
    “Eddie”—Mick touched his arm—“I don’t think she minds.
    Remember the books? I’m telling you. Whit is totally into BDSM. Or, at least, she’s curious.”
    “Maybe,” Eddie said, his concern fading.
    Mick realized this was his chance and seized it. What better way to push Eddie and Whit together than to stoke his jealousy?
    “Hey, maybe you should take her to that club of yours. She could find a nice Dom there in that beginner’s-program thing they run there.
    You know some of the Doms, right? Work buddies and all that.
    Maybe you could suggest one of the guys to help her find her way.”
    As soon as his suggestion hit Eddie’s ears, Eddie stiffened. Mick squashed the smug smile threatening to curve his mouth. Success!
    “Hell no!” Eddie took a swig of beer. “She’s not going to submit to some random stranger.”
    “If she’s curious, wouldn’t it be a safe way for her to feel out the lifestyle in a public club?” It was wrong, but he had to keep pushing until Eddie went over the edge. “She’d be better off letting someone spank her in a club filled with people than alone in some weirdo’s bedroom.”
    Eddie shook his head. “If Whitney wants a taste of domestic discipline, it’ll be my hand spanking her ass.”
    “What happened to your no-playing-with-fire stance?”
    Eddie shot him a disdainful look. “I know what you’re doing, Mick. You’re trying to goad me into making a move.”
    “Is it working?”
    Eddie snorted. “Maybe.”
    “Come on, big guy,” Mick said, smacking his friend’s back.
    “We’ve tap danced around this issue for months. She reads kinky books, so we know she’s at least open to the idea of a ménage and your particular flavor of loving. Plus she groped you right here in our living room. She’s into you, Eddie.”
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    Lolita Lopez
    “What about you?”
    Mick grinned. “Have you ever met a woman who wasn’t into me?”
    Eddie tossed his head back and barked with laughter. “You’re so fucking full of yourself.”
    “Hell yes,” he agreed, “but I’m right. She’s into me. And you.”
    Mick turned serious. “It’s time, Eddie. We have to do this.”
    “Have to do what?” Whitney asked, surprising them both as she popped into the living room. Her face was pink and bright from a good scrubbing. She’d let her hair down and changed into a pair of thin cotton pajama pants and a matching blue camisole. The little peek of tanned skin between her top and pants tempted him.
    “We have to ask you for a favor,” Eddie said, quickly recovering from her unexpected appearance.
    “Sure,” she said happily. “What is it?”
    Eddie shot him a quick look of desperation. Mick made something up on the fly. “Uh, well, you know I screwed up the air conditioner, so we were wondering if we could sleep with you.”
    Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
    “Bed down with you,” Eddie hastily clarified. “You know, throw some sleeping bags on your floor.”
    “Oh. Well…”
    “I have a long day tomorrow,” Eddie continued. “We’re serving warrants on some pretty bad guys. I could use a good night’s sleep.”
    Mick was impressed. Eddie was laying it on thick. Of course, he’d learned from the master.
    “I guess that’s okay.” Whitney pointed at both of them. “But no funny business!”
    Mick crossed his fingers behind his back and smiled innocently.
    “Promise.”
    Between Friends
    35

Chapter Three
    Whitney stared at the ceiling. The lights had been off for almost an hour, yet she remained awake. Her mind raced with troubling thoughts. There was the uncertainty of the new job and the sadness of leaving her old one. She had to tie up a ton of loose ends at work.
    There was sure to be a mad shuffle as her colleagues vied for her position. She just hoped she wouldn’t be roped into the selection process for choosing her successor. That was a whole new level of drama she didn’t need.
    Mick tossed and turned on the floor.