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didn’t want to say no to. Someone who tempted her back into sexual waters. It wasn’t like she’d been holding out for religious reasons. There’d just never been anybody who’d tempted her out of the I-don’t-need-a-man stage.
    Which made her think about tonight and what she was about to do. She glanced at the clock and swallowed hard. Time to hop in the shower and get this evening going.
     
     
    Ryan Wyatt’s New Year’s Eve party was legendary around the coastal towns of Oregon. Friends came, literally, from hundreds of miles away to partake in the festivities.
    It was a night for all kinds of debauchery, masqueraded behind every kind of costume imaginable. And every year Todd looked forward to his cousin’s party. He was in his element. Women. Partying. Inhibitions left at the door.
    So why the hell was he dragging his feet about going this year?
    You know why. Kate won’t be there. Todd scowled.
    Yesterday Ellie had complained his ear off that Kate was skipping out for a date with Walt—who had no interest in a costume party. Which meant she was missing Ryan’s party for the first time since he could remember.
    And he wasn’t sure why that bugged him so much. Whether it was the fact that she was going to be out with Walt, or that she’d be missing the party. Or both.
    But the party tonight wouldn’t be the same without Kate. He’d gotten used to teasing her about her unusual costume choices. A milk carton. A nun. A gorilla suit. All stuff a little on the bizarre side, but they fit Kate’s bubbly, quirky personality.
    Todd slid a glance over his reflection in the mirror while fastening the leopard print loincloth around his briefs. Biting back a groan, he rotated his jaw and shook his head.
    Damn. When he’d ordered the Tarzan costume online last month, he’d only been thinking about showing off some muscle and living up to the sexy alpha image he’d created for himself over the years. But looking in the mirror now, he thought he looked…a little ridiculous.
    Ridiculous or not, he was going to be more than fashionably late if he didn’t get his ass in his truck to make the near half-hour drive to Ryan’s house.
    He slid into his shoes, grabbed his keys and headed out.
    By the time he pulled onto Ryan’s street there wasn’t much parking left. He settled for a spot a half-block down the road and made the trek up to his cousin’s house, hoping like hell no one drove by and saw him half-naked.
    Jeez, what the hell had he been thinking? It was freezing out here. His dick was shriveling with every passing second.
    The front door swung open before Todd could even knock.
    “Get your ass inside, cuz. You’re late.” Ryan grinned, decked out in a cowboy costume, as he handed him a beer, and slapped him on the back. “And you’ll never guess who’s here.”
    Todd’s grip tightened on the bottle as he stepped into the house, glancing around, hoping he’d see Kate. But he didn’t see anything but lots of creative, sexy, crazy costumes and people dancing and drinking.
    And then Trevor and Megan stepped in front of him.
    “Trev!” He grinned and pulled his brother in for a quick hug, slapping him on the back. “How the hell are you? Did you drive all the way down here tonight?”
    “Yeah, Megan wanted to come. Misses her girls.” He grinned at his new wife. “Hell, I miss you guys too. Plus I’m getting deployed again in a few months. Thought I should squeeze in as much family time as possible.”
    “Damn, bro, you ever stay home?”
    “Take it up with Uncle Sam,” Megan teased and squeezed her husband’s arm. “Though, really, I’m so proud of you and everything you do, baby. You are an American hero.”
    Trevor glanced down and they shared an intimate exchange that Todd was almost uncomfortable watching. Clearing his throat he drawled, “So, what? You guys didn’t have time to change into a costume? Come straight from work?”
    “What are you talking about?” Megan arched a red