“Damon, think about it. You need someone who can evaluate the people in your life.”
“In case you forgot, the suspension means I can’t do much with anyone on the team,” he reminded her.
“Yes, but they can’t stop you from running into someone in a public place.” She put quotation marks around the words she’d emphasized. “So, if there’s anyone you want to meet, he can subtly arrange it. This is exactly what we wanted,” Bri said with excitement in her voice. “And most importantly, I trust her.”
Evie checked him with her hip. “Come on. How can it hurt? Unless you’re afraid of me?”
He gritted his teeth. “Of course I’m not afraid of you. I just don’t think we’re … compatible or that it’ll look real,” he said, scanning from her scuffed boots to her windblown hair, ignoring the fact that he thought she was gorgeous in an understated and quite unique way.
She stepped in front of him and braced her hands on her hips. A flush of red stained her cheeks.
“Embarrassed to be seen with me?” she asked, telling him he’d been right. He’d hit a nerve. “Because I promise you I can dress up and play a role as well as any one of those cleat chasers you and your buddies hang out with,” she assured him.
From across the room, Austin glared. Because Evie was Quinn’s best friend? Or because Damon was being stubborn about a plan Austin had faith in? Probably a combination of both.
“Tell you what,” Austin said. “Let’s go to Allstars tonight and test the theory of you two as a couple.”
Damon considered the idea. The upscale bar would have enough people there to see them together and for them to get a feel for whether people familiar with Damon bought the concept of Evie as his girlfriend. He could handle testing things out. “Fine.”
“Don’t sound so thrilled.” Evie scowled at him. “I’m going home. Apparently it’s going to take me a long time to pull myself together for His Highness over here.” She jerked a thumb his way, making Damon feel like shit.
He hadn’t meant to insult her, just explain why he didn’t believe this plan would work.
“I’m going with you.” Quinn picked up her purse, shot a nasty look at Damon, and followed her best friend out, leaving Damon with his siblings. And he damn well knew if Quinn was pissed at him, Austin was, too.
“Well, that went well,” he said aloud.
“Because you’re an asshole,” Bri said. “Evie didn’t deserve to be insulted, considering she was willing to help you.”
Damon stiffened his shoulders. “I didn’t think I was offending her. Just being honest.”
“You as much as told her people wouldn’t think she was your type, bro.” Austin leaned against the wall unit in the family room.
“Actually, the way he looked her over all but insinuated she wasn’t feminine enough,” Bri said.
He winced.
“Okay, look, you’re not in a position to fight this,” Bri reminded him. “A regular PI can’t talk to the people around you. She can. So suck it up and make nice.”
“I’ll see you tonight. I’ll text you the time. Want us to pick you up? You shouldn’t drive if you’re still having symptoms,” Austin said.
“I’ll take a driver.” He had a feeling Quinn would lay into him if they were alone. And the three of them might show up with Evie.
Damon needed time to prepare himself for the acting job of a lifetime.
“I’ll see you tonight. I expect you to be on your best behavior,” Austin said.
Damon frowned. “Are you speaking as my brother or my agent?”
“Both.” Austin stood up straight and started for the door. “And you could start with an apology to Evie.”
Bri smirked, liking when someone else was getting called on the carpet. “Hang in there, Damon. You can trust Evie to get the job done.” She paused. “As long as you’re not an asshole to her, that is.”
Ignoring her comment, he let his family out and leaned against the door with a groan. He was exhausted and needed to lie down if he was going to go out for an hour or so tonight. At least Allstars was quiet, known for letting athletes and famous people mingle in peace without groupies begging for autographs or signed boobs.
Speaking of boobs, he wondered how much cleavage Evie would show. Jesus, he was an asshole. Blaming the concussion, he headed upstairs to take a nap before his performance later tonight.
* * *
Evie yanked a hairbrush through her long hair, knotted from the ride in her convertible. She stood in front of the mirror on the wall in her bedroom, trying to get the tangles out while she was thinking about Damon.
“Stupid jackass,” Evie muttered. “Brainless, no-good, dark-haired, sexy, tattooed, bastard with full lips, tanned skin, and indigo-blue eyes.” She blew out a puff of air and ignored the tingling of her skin and the rush of arousal that always accompanied her thinking about Damon Prescott.
Quinn sat cross-legged on the bed and Evie could see her in the reflection. “He didn’t mean to be a jackass. He’s in pain and he’s frustrated.”
Evie turned to her best friend. “Are you standing up for him?”
“No.” She held up her hands, making it clear whose side she was on. “I just don’t want you to lose out on a good job.” She didn’t want to lose it, either.
Six months ago, she’d left her job as an investigator at the Miami District Attorney’s Office for reasons she didn’t like to think about and had gone into business for herself. Proving Damon Prescott innocent would boost her business, and as a new PI, she needed a high-profile client.
“Not to mention we need you,” Quinn went on. “Ignore Damon’s attitude. I’m sure Austin straightened him out when we left.”
“Fine but if he says anything rude tonight, he’s getting a stiletto in his foot.”
Quinn grinned, a genuine smile. Since falling in love with Austin and taking on the role of mom to the baby girl he’d found on his doorstep, she was lighter and happier than she’d ever been.
“Or we could sic your cop dad and all four of your brothers on him. That could be fun. If he wasn’t injured, that is.”
Evie rolled her eyes. “Now that you’re attached to the family, you’re no fun,” Evie said. “You’re too nice.”
“What are you going to wear tonight?” Quinn ignored her comment, slid off the bed, and headed to her closet to look through her dresses.
Evie narrowed her gaze, remembering how that handsome jerk had looked her over and found her lacking. Damon Prescott pushed all her wrong buttons. From the day she’d been introduced to him at Dare Nation, he’d treated her like an annoyance. She couldn’t deny the idea of dressing up and seeing his jaw drop at the sight of her held a lot of appeal.
“This.” She joined Quinn by her walk-in and reached for the black one-armed dress that draped her body and hit mid-thigh.
“Oooh, pretty. Reminds me of my red gown, and Austin nearly ripped that right off me.” She grinned at an obvious memory Evie didn’t want to know about.
“Keep the dirty details to yourself.”
“You know … you don’t need to cover your arm. The scar has healed and—”