I was just finishing up with Gabe and Reardon in my office when Carol buzzed to let me know that Laurel had arrived for our final business plan meeting.

The guys had come by to try and convince me to volunteer for the Cherry Springs Fall Festival Bachelor Auction. Proceeds went to the new hospital that was being built, and it was an event that usually brought in thousands of dollars.

Gabe and Reardon had both been auctioned off in the past, but now that they were both spoken for, they were laying the guilt on heavy so I would do it

“You have to represent, man, think of the great PR for Lewis Sporting Good,” Gabe was saying.

“Yeah, and you might get lucky and get someone actually close to your age,” Reardon added, not able to think of anything better to convince me.

When he’d been auctioned, Old Mrs. Dingle had been the one to buy his basket. She was seventy if she was a day, and he’d spent the afternoon cleaning her house, doing routine maintenance, and ended with a foot rub.

No thanks.

“Uh, yeah, I get it’d be good PR, but I don’t really have time…” I began, then lost the ability to speak when Laurel came walking in.

At least, I thought it was Laurel, since that was who I was supposed to be meeting.

She was in all black. A sexy little number that should be reserved for a night out at the club, not a business meeting in the middle of the afternoon. Her hair was mussed, full, falling around her face in waves.

Her legs…

Tanned, toned and long, they were showcased in strappy sandals on thin heels, and barely covered by the silky black material that hit her mid-thigh.

She turned to close the door behind her, and I swear to God, my tongue fell out of my mouth.

Her back…

It was golden. Tanned with no lines, and I knew this, because I could see the whole damn thing. The back consisted of one string that started at the back of her neck and traveled the length of her spine, connecting to the material that hung loosely at her hips.

When she turned, my gaze traveled from the material hugging her body lovingly, up to her beautifully made-up face. Her makeup was smokey, dark liner making her eyes look sultry, and red lips begging to be kissed.

What the fuck is going on?

It barely registered that she’d cleared her throat nervously, and that her lips had opened when she realized that Gabe and Reardon were here with me, and we weren’t alone. But she squared her shoulders and moved toward me, a folder extended in her hands.

“I’m sorry, I only have a moment to drop this off,” Laurel began, her voice wavering a bit. “I forgot I have a prior engagement.”

I reached out to accept the folder, but still couldn’t find my voice.

“Wow, Laurel, you look fantastic,” Gabe said, and I swear I saw him shoot a grin at Reardon over my head.

“Yeah, amazing,” Reardon agreed. “Don’t you think so, Dillon?”

I made some sort of grunt, which was mortifying, and I vowed to punch each of them in the balls once Laurel left.

“Thanks,” Laurel said, smiling broadly at my cousins, which drew my eyes once more to those fire-engine-red lips.

“Say, aren’t you still looking for a date to that ballet fundraiser thing in Chicago this weekend?” Gabe asked, his voice full of innocence.

“Hey, yeah,” Reardon answered, trying to hide his smile. “What do you say, Laurel, are you free this weekend? You could check out Chicago with Dillon and be his plus one for the dinner. He really hates those things, you’d totally be doing him a favor.”

Laurel looked at me uncertainly, but I swear to God, I thought I saw hope in her eyes.

“Well, yeah, I’d be happy to help, if you need someone…” her voice trailed off as she waited for me to finally say some damn words.

All I could manage was, “Uh, yes, I need a plus one.”

Jesus, I need a drink. What the fuck is wrong with my mouth?

“Perfect, he’ll text you the details,” Gabe said, answering for me since I was obviously incapable of forming a complete thought.

“Great,” Laurel said with a smile that finally made her look like her normal self. “And, let me know what you think of the final product. Sorry, I can’t stay.”

Then she turned, affording me the view of that gorgeous back once again, and walked gracefully out the door, shutting it behind her.

After a few moments, I heard my cousin’s snickering behind me like children and shook my head.

“What the fuck just happened?” I asked, turning my attention to them.

“You just got played. Beautifully,” Gabe said.

“I think it was the shoes that did it,” Reardon put in.

“Nah, it was the back … Did you see that dress? I have to ask her where she got it and pick one up for Zoey,” Gabe added.

I ignored them, turning back to the vacated door, and murmured, “It was definitely the shoes,” then I reached out my hands and hit them both in the balls.