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“Wha—?”
    “So, what are we doing after dinner?” Nikki had come up for air.
    I took a deep breath and resolved to keep my eyes forward, even if that meant witnessing Nikki and Braden full on fucking across the table from me. If I had to remind myself every thirty seconds that Easton was a player, I would.
    “A club?” Braden offered.
    “Yeah, that would be fun.” Nikki pleaded with me silently, her eyebrows pinched.
    I shook my head. Going to a club was not an option for me.
    Before anyone could float any more bad ideas about post-dinner activities, the waiter arrived and placed our entrées before us with over-the-top flair. We dug in, the sudden silence at the table a good indicator that the food was well received. The steak melted in my mouth, the meat perfectly cooked and smothered in butter.
    We drank and ate as Nikki, thankfully, changed the subject and prattled on about her job and then got into a lively discussion with both Easton and Braden about the baseball season. Her full name was actually Nokona, a brand of baseball glove. Baseball was in her blood, her father having been a minor league player and coach.
    When the meal was finished, I blotted my mouth with the napkin. The waiter arrived with the bill.
    “Yeah, all on him,” Easton told the waiter and pointed at Braden.
    “Dick.” Braden took the check and dug his wallet out, flipping the waiter his credit card.
    “So, a club?” Nikki asked.
    Not a chance . Despite avoiding Easton’s gaze through the rest of the dinner, I still felt him. I knew there was still a very real danger Easton could make me break my number one rule: never trust a player. “I think I’ll just go home. You three go out and have fun. I’m more of a homebody, anyway.”
    “So, you’d rather be home than at a club?” Easton folded his napkin and placed it on the table as Braden signed the check.
    “Yes, thanks for understanding.” I stood, wobbling a bit, and was about to say my goodbyes when Easton spoke again.
    “Well, then let’s go to your place.” He scooted his chair back and stood next to me.
    Nikki rose. “That’s a great idea. Come on, Braden. Drive me?” She made a lewd hand gesture toward her mouth and poked her tongue against the inside of her cheek.
    “No, I don’t want to ruin your night. You all should go out.” I waved my hand in the air, making a bigger arc than intended and almost smacking Easton in the face.
    “Whoa there, slugger.” He smiled and steadied me by putting a hand to my waist. I’d had a few—two, three, more?—glasses of wine with dinner, and I was buzzing like a freshman drinking wine coolers. Disgraceful.
    His eyes twinkled as he looked down at me. “I’m so full. I don’t think a club would be a good idea right now.” He knew exactly what he was doing. Nikki played with her hair and nodded. I was being double-teamed, and not in the fun, sexy way.
    “Well, my apartment isn’t ready for visitors.” So, there!
    “Well, hell.” Easton shrugged. “In that case, let’s just go to my place.”
    Nikki skittered over to me, her ankles wobbling from the hooker heels. “Problem solved.”
    She kissed me on the cheek and twirled her hair—deviousness in every move. “Perfect. I drove, so we’ll swap up. Kyrie, you go with Easton. Come on, baby. I’ll let you drive my car.”
    I wondered if I could lure her to the bathroom and choke her out before anyone noticed the struggle.
    Easton pulled me into him and gave another devilish smile. I was outnumbered.
    “Fine.” I allowed him to help me out into the cool night, mainly because I feared falling flat on my ass if I didn’t.
    Nikki and Easton gave their tickets to the valet. Then Braden proceeded to get frisky with her as they waited. Her car drove up first, and she and Braden got in. I wondered if the seat would be sticky the next time I rode with her. Yick .
    I shivered in the cool air.
    “Come here.” Easton pulled me to him, his chest to my back, and opened