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“So how are you feeling?” I ask, halting beside him “Got your playoff head on?”

“Sure do,” he replies curtly

I think in ordinary circuenuinely decent guy Oh, I’ve heard all about his story… ically died

Very romantic

But I think it’s just too much that I’ht ere together, I didn’t bring her home until close to three AM and he ell aware it washer off I saw him peek out theas my limo pulled in, and I remember how mussed up Willow had been when she walked into that house several minutes later after we’d continued to make out on the front porch

“Got a hot date tonight,” I say casually Dax’s spine stiffens, but he doesn’t spare ht onto the bar

“Any idea ho?” I prompt

His eyes finally coh he tries for a pleasant tone, he fails uess it’s with my sister”

“Good guess,” I reply s this a little too much So I sober just a bit, because my intent was only to tease a little, but mostly to reassure “I just want you to know… I don’t have any nefarious intentions with regard to Willow”

Dax snorts and turns away, grabbing a twenty-five-pound plate to add on

“I like your sister—”

He wheels around, leans in, and whispers harshly “Don’t pretend otherwise You want in her pants”

Okay, I can’t argue because Imore than that

“I like your sister,” I repeat, this time slowly and with articulation “I will treat her with care and respect What she and I do in our tiether is nobody’s business but our own, but I promise you… she’ll have e part because I respect you I just need you to know that”

Dax is totally taken aback, as evidenced by the round eyes that are repetitively blinking at ht noith a low burn of suspicion within them

But I’ve said what I ca it will suffice to cool hi him up for information about his sister, and he has no reason to believe I’ll be good to her He doesn’t know me