So here he was, standing in the expensive, brightly lit lobby of Aidan Rhodes’ condo, waiting to be buzzed up. Miranda had dropped him off on her way to the club, though neither of them had said much during the ride over. She’d clearly had something on her mind—something named Seth, no doubt—but Dylan hadn’t pushed her to talk. She hadn’t tried to force conversation either, which he appreciated.
Comfortable silence was so hard to come by these days, and this one had allowed him to mull over the remark Aidan had made earlier. When Dylan called asking if the offer to crash at his place was still on the table, Aidan had told him to come by whenever. He’d then added, “I’m having a chick over for dinner, but she’s always down for some variety, so if you want to join us…”
A three-way? Had Aidan been inviting him to a three-way? But why? The two of them were definitely more than acquaintances, but they weren’t quite best buds, either. In fact, the other night was the first time they’d ever been alone.
The other night… Fuck, it had been the alcohol. Had to be the alcohol. And the aborted BJ hadn’t helped either.
“Hey, Wade, come on up.” Aidan’s deep voice emerged from the intercom, and then the glass doors buzzed.
Slinging his black duffel over his shoulder, Dylan strode to the elevator bank and punched the Up button. A few moments later, the doors dinged open and he stepped into the car, riding it up to the fifteenth floor. Walking on the clean, cream-colored carpet with his scuffed up shitkickers felt wrong, so he practically sprinted to Aidan’s door, which swung open before he could even knock.
Aidan greeted him with a dimpled grin, and Dylan was struck by how damn good-looking he was. Kinda resembled a young Johnny Depp, except with the body of an action star.
“Come in. Lani and I just finished dinner. We were about to have a beer on the terrace.” Aidan opened the door wider to let him in.
Dylan toed off his boots and left them on the mat in the front hall, then followed Aidan into the living room, where Aidan’s date was waiting. She was a stunning woman, looked to be of Polynesian descent, with exotic features and long, jet-black hair.
She smiled when she spotted Dylan. “Hello,” she said in a soft voice.
“Lani, this is Dylan,” Aidan introduced. “He’s staying with me this week.” He turned to Dylan. “Lani just moved here from Honolulu.”
“Hawaiian, huh?” He offered her a warm smile. “How are you liking San Diego?”
“It’s beautiful. And the people are so nice.” Her dark eyes twinkled in Aidan’s direction.
Dylan noticed the remnants of the couple’s dinner on the glass table across the room—plates, beer bottles, candlewicks releasing wisps of smoke as if they’d just been put out.
“I should probably get out of your hair,” he said ruefully. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your date.”
But neither Aidan nor Lani acted as if his presence inconvenienced them. In fact, the beautiful Hawaiian just smiled again and said, “You can stay if you want. Have a beer with us.”
Indecision flashed through him. Shit. He wanted to stay. He wanted to have a beer with them. But if he did, he knew exactly where this would all lead—straight to the bedroom. And while normally he wouldn’t bat an eye at the notion of a threesome, indulging with this particular man probably wasn’t the most intelligent move. After his reaction to Aidan the other night, he was a touch worried that he might not be able to control himself if they somehow wound up naked together.
“It’s a tempting offer, but I’m gonna have to pass,” he told them. “I have to make a few phone calls—my older brother just got engaged. And I need to be up at dawn tomorrow, so I can’t stay up late tonight.”
Was that a glimmer of disappointment he saw in Aidan’s eyes?
Naah, wishful thinking, maybe.
“Well, make yourself at home.” Aidan joined Lani on the leather couch and slung one muscular arm over her slender shoulder. “You need a ride tomorrow morning?”
“No, that’s cool. Cash is picking me up.”
He bid them good night and headed for the guest room, where he dropped his duffel on the hardwood floor and released a ragged breath. After a beat, he dug his phone from his pocket and sank on the double bed in the middle of the room. The bedframe was a dark oak, the mattress a perfect combination of hard and soft. Dylan made himself comfortable as he dialed his mom’s number.
She picked up on the second ring, sounding delighted to hear from him. “Honey! Did you get my message?” Shanna Wade chirped.
An indulgent smile crossed his mouth. “That’s why I’m calling. So, you’re pretty stoked about this engagement, huh?”
“I’m thrilled about it! Claire is going to make your brother such a wonderful wife.”
He held back a snort.