“Doesn’t make it any easier,” Stack added.
Armie kept mum. Stack understood. He’d only just given himself the right to be an idiot about Vanity; Armie was still trying to pretend he didn’t have a thing for Merissa.
“Before you update us,” Cannon said to Stack, “would you mind fetching Leese? He should be in on this since he was Whitney’s initial contact.”
Stack straightened. “Sure. Why not?” Leaving the others behind, he made his way across the bar. Spotting him before he reached her, Vanity left her seat to meet him halfway. Her silly, uncertain smile slipped into place, but she didn’t touch him.
Stack didn’t understand her sudden reserve, and he’d missed her enough to ignore it. He pulled her in and put his mouth to hers. Blocking out his frustration with Whitney and Phil and his sister’s personal situation, blocking out the noise of the bar and his gawking friends, he lost himself in kissing Vanity.
An elbow clipped his ribs, and Rowdy, the bar owner, said, “There’s a hotel down the block. Hell, I’ll loan you the eighty bucks. But take it off the floor.”
Easing up, Stack laughed. Vanity ducked her face against his chest and mumbled an apology.
Rowdy, a badass of the first order, grinned at her. “I blame him, honey, not you.”
“Thank you.”
After Rowdy walked on, Stack tipped up her chin. “I’m sorry, darlin’. I didn’t mean to get carried away.”
“It’s okay. I got a little lost, myself.” Face hot, she stared into his eyes. “Is everyone looking?”
“No,” he lied. “And anyone who is, is just jealous.” Arm around her, he led her back to her table. Leese was already standing, but as they got close, Yvette, Cherry and Merissa all stood, too. Then they applauded him.
Covering her face, snickering, Vanity slumped into her seat.
Grin crooked, Stack took a bow.
The women made some pretty ribald comments to each other. Cherry pretended to swoon. Merissa patted a hand over her heart. Yvette just smiled.
Ready to get back on track, Stack said, “If you ladies will excuse us, I need to steal Leese.”
That got Vanity’s attention. “Where are you going?”
“Nowhere. I have a few things to discuss with the guys, that’s all. I won’t be long.”
The women teased her about being impatient, which worked for him because he was impatient as hell to get her alone. He’d promised her a night out, and instead he was stuck dealing with Phil’s bullshit.
On their way to the others, Leese glanced at him, saw his black frown, and said, “I was trying not to look.”
Drawing a blank, Stack said, “What?”
Leese lifted a brow, then coughed. “Never mind.”
Stopping in the middle of the floor, Stack said darkly, “No. Tell me.”
Leese eyed him, then shrugged. “Fine. You went from joking to glaring, so I figured it was over me being with the ladies. Just wanted you to know, even though Vanity dolled up extra fine tonight with—” he coughed again when Stack stiffened “—that low top, I wasn’t looking.”
Stack folded his arms. “You said you were trying not to look, not that you hadn’t.”
Unrepentant, Leese grinned. “Yeah, well, I’m not the only one, so sue me.”
Stack twisted back to take another look. Huh. She had dolled up, and damn, she looked fine.
“You hadn’t noticed.” Leese shook his head. “Hard to believe.”
“To me, no matter what, she always looks hot.” The longer he knew her and the closer he got to her, the more beautiful she seemed to him. Stack turned to Leese. “And she’s mine.”
“She’s as clear on that as you are.”
Nice. That took some of the tension from Stack’s shoulders. “Good to know you’ve been listening.”
“To both of you.” Leese looked around the room at all the available ladies vying for attention. “Besides, I’m enjoying my freedom, and Vanity’s all about settling down.”
That was news to Stack. When had Vanity discussed it with Leese? He wanted to ask more, and he would—when he talked to Vanity. If she was thinking along those lines, well...he liked it.
In fact, it filled him with a certain sort of peace. Sleeping with Vanity each night, waking with her every morning, keeping her with him when he traveled, when he took part in family gatherings...it enticed him.
Settle down with Vanity? In his heart and mind he already had.
They joined Cannon and the others, and Stack quickly updated them on what he knew. Leese offered to make his own visit to Whitney, to see if he could catch her with Phil, and if not, maybe she’d divulge more to him. Armie and Denver would keep tabs on the two men who had jumped Stack, possibly press them for more answers.