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"Howhave?" I whispered to Mallory

"I think seven? We threw out ‘Merit Does Chicago’ and ‘Sullivan Two: The Resullivaning’"

"Good call"

"Colin," Lindsey said, gesturing to the bartender "If you would?"

The overhead lights dihtened on a single black chair that sat in front of awith a playful, flirty rhythm

As Lindsey sat down to join us, a e

Tan skin, dark hair, dark beard, his hair in a very well-executed knot at the top of his head His eyes were green, his lashes as thick and dark as his beard, hisline that turned up at one corner He wore jeans, boots, and nothing else The terrain of his body was all s muscle, his left arm marked by a complicated monochrome tattoo

The rooot said quietly "He israther attractive"

"Attractive," Lindsey said, tilting her head as she stared at his biceps "And well-defined"

"A dictionary couldn’t do it better," Mallory said, eyes glassy as she stared at the lanced at Lindsey "I can’t believe you hired a dancer Ethan is going to kill you Or me Or both of us"

"Oh, honey," Lindsey said "He isn’t here to dance"

Regardless, with the grace of a dancer, the man spun the chair around backward, took a seat, and pulled a thin, worn paperback from his back pocket He looked up at me, smiled "Your party?"

I nodded, suddenly nervous

"Cool Lord Byron work for you?"

I actually felt my face warm "Sure?"

Beside me, Lindsey snickered, the sound full of satisfaction

He nodded, thuazes And then, looking down at the page, he began to recite

"She walks in beauty, like the night / Of cloudless cliht / Meet in her aspect and her eyes"

Every single wohed