“Danielle and I got mani-pedis a few months back,” Emerson said.
Claire-Marie shook her head. “You two are pathetic.”
“I had a fun day,” Emerson replied.
“Me, too,” Danielle said, before taking a bite of her pasta.
“A spite fuck is exactly what you need—what you both need,” Claire-Marie said.
“I’ve got my boyfriend, Billy,” Danielle replied.
“Her vibrator,” Emerson explained as she sliced off a piece of chicken.
Claire-Marie laughed. “Emerson, I dare you to spite fuck him. C’mon, sis, back me on this.”
Danielle raised her wine glass. “Go for it, Em. Get wild with him.”
Emerson flicked her gaze to Stryker. He’d been talking to one of the men at the table. As if sensing her, he slid his gaze to hers. Emerson warmed from his heated stare. Did she have the guts to do it? While sipping the wine, the liquid courage said “yes”, but she doubted she could ever go through with it.
“A spite fuck will cure everything,” Claire-Marie insisted. “You already picked your poison. Now, all you have to do is bone him.”
The three started laughing again.
“Well?” Danielle asked. “Up for the dare?”
Emerson shifted her attention to Stryker. “I’ll let you know what I decide.”
They finished their meal, but when they asked the waiter for the bill, he told them it had been taken care of. They left him a huge tip.
Claire-Marie’s friend had pulled up out front, so she hugged them both. “If you decide you want to be my guest at The Dungeon, text me. Off to kink myself out. Love you both.” And with that, she bolted for the door.
“We have to stop by the table and thank him,” Emerson said.
Danielle hiccupped. “No problem.”
When Emerson rose, the alcohol went straight to hear head. “I shouldn’t have had that third glass of wine.”
Arm in arm, the women meandered toward the owners’ private dining room. The second Stryker saw her, a shadow fell across his eyes. His expression turned primal. A low, moan escaped Emerson’s throat.
“He is so gorgeous,” she murmured.
“Spite fuck,” Danielle whispered, then snort-laughed.
Stryker opened the door for them. “How was the grub?”
“Delicious,” Emerson replied as they stepped into the fishbowl room. “Thanks for paying.”
“Those bathrooms are”—Danielle hiccupped again—“excuse me…da bomb. I made a mental note to hang a chandelier in my bathroom.” Another hiccup. She pointed. “Oooh, that table is so nice. Those are good chairs. I know good chairs and those are them.”
Emerson pointed to the elaborate chandelier and Danielle gasped. “Soooo pretty.”
“Feeling no pain, I see,” Stryker said. “Looks like you got your liquid courage, Easton.”
“I’m too busy babysitting to enjoy myself.”
Stryker’s smile sent a white-hot streak of desire surging through her. For that brief second, the anger he wore so well was replaced with the most beautiful person she’d ever seen in her life. A striking man who took her breath away.
“Stryker, you gonna introduce us or what?” asked one of the guys.