“Come on, Coop. I need a girlfriend for the night,” Nick said with a laugh.

“Yeah, and since you’re such an ugly bastard, you need my help,” Cooper said, cracking his first real smile of the evening.

“You’re the ugly one of the family,” Nick quickly replied.

“Okay, enough with the insults,” Cooper told him. “Who do you have your eye on?”

The two brothers looked around the upscale bar, scanning the crowd. Yes, there were a lot of gorgeous women surrounding them, sipping on their drinks and giving certain men the look that said he could be next to buy. But none of them were catching Cooper’s eyes.

How could they when all he seemed able to think about was his new housemate, who happened to be the best lover he’d ever had? Since their night together the week before, she’d been avoiding the hell out of him. Now that he’d reawakened his body to her, he wasn’t too pleased about that.

But it was good he wasn’t seeing her, he tried convincing himself. Even though the woman had only lived in his place for a short time, he was beginning to get used to her presence. In fact, he couldn’t really imagine the house without her in it now. She’d made herself scarce since their fight, but her touch was in every single room. He couldn’t escape it and wasn’t sure he wanted to.

Fresh flowers from his garden adorned the table, Stormy making sure they were cleaned up every day. And her perfumed scent lingered in every room, ensuring it was the first thing he noticed the moment he walked in the door.

Each night he passed her shut bedroom door, he felt himself grow hard. And each time it happened, he ended up in the bathroom with the faucet turned to cold. Never had he been that guy who enjoyed relieving himself.

It was too damn good when he had a woman there to do it for him.

Yes, he knew he could get Stormy back into his bed, but he also knew that was a road filled with complications that he just didn’t want to deal with. Plus, he was pissed at her and the games she was playing. So what in the hell was he supposed to do?

Apparently suffer. At least that’s what he’d been doing.

“The blonde over there is giving you the eye,” Nick whispered. “And her friend looks to be just my style.”

Cooper followed Nick’s gaze and found an attractive, short-haired blonde who was indeed showing interest. Without giving himself a chance to change his mind, he sent a smile her way and crooked his finger.

Like clockwork, the two women slowly made their way across the bar.

“Hi, I’m Julie,” the blonde said. “And this is my friend, Debbie.”

“Nice to meet you two ladies. Care to join us?” Nick quickly said, standing up, ever the gentleman.

Cooper stood up as well, though almost reluctantly as he held out a chair for the blonde. What had her name been again?

“What are you doing out tonight?” Nick asked as he sent a questioning look his brother’s way.

“We work over at the Realtor office across the street. Debbie and I just made a big sale and we’re out celebrating,” the blonde said.

“Yeah, Julie is a shark when it comes to sales,” Debbie told them.

Julie! That was it.

“We will have to help you celebrate, then,” Cooper said, finally finding his voice as he gazed into Julie’s eyes.

He had his swagger back. Yes!

After a few more rounds, Nick was standing up with Debbie and leading her to the dance floor, leaving Cooper behind with Julie.

“You haven’t been real talkative tonight,” she said with a sympathetic smile. “Rough day?”

“I don’t know,” he told her honestly.

She laughed. “How do you not know?”

She was pleasant to be around, not overly flirty or needy, not bitchy, a nice girl. Maybe he’d introduce her to Wolf.

That thought made him pause. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d never tried to pass a woman off who was stimulating, pretty, and obviously interested in him.

“It’s just been one of those days,” he said with a laugh. “Can I get you a refill?”

“No. I think I’ve had enough for the night. I have an early day tomorrow,” she told him.

Dammit. She was his kind of woman. Obviously not an overindulger.

“I was thinking the same,” he said as he signaled the waiter to pay the bill.

She stood up, and he quickly jumped to his feet. “Can I give you a lift home?”

She looked him over for a moment and then smiled. “Maybe next time, Cooper,” she finally said. “Here’s my number. Give me a call.”

She turned to see where her friend was, but Nick and Debbie were quickly approaching.

“We’re going to get out of here,” Nick said with a smile sent Cooper’s way.

“Yeah, me too,” Coop said as he grabbed his coat.

Nick raised a brow at his brother, and Coop gave a slight shake of his head. Nick gave him a taunting smile.

“All right, Captain, get some rest before you take up one of the big ones in the morning,” Nick said.

Coop sent a glare his brother’s way. He didn’t need Nick to tell the ladies he was a big, bad pilot so he could get some tail. It was a game they’d played for years. At least the ass knew better than to tell them he was the damn CEO. He’d had enough wallet chasers to last him a lifetime.

“A big one?” Julie asked, pausing in her exit.

“Yeah, my big brother here is a pilot,” Nick said as the four of them made their way toward the front of the bar.