OFF LIMITS

EPILOGUE

JENNA

“Congratulations!” Lovey greeted me with a hug as we joined them at the table they were already seated at in the restaurant. “How did your first week go?”

We were out with Andrew’s teammate Marc and his girlfriend, Lovey, celebrating my first week at Pinnacle, who’d offered me my dream job a month ago. Lovey’s brother, Duncan Armstrong, and his girlfriend, Melissa, were supposed to be coming too.

Andrew had been right when he’d said Lovey would look after me. She was so bubbly and fun, and being the girlfriend of the team captain, she seemed to take on the role of “captain” of the Aces Ladies. I liked her a lot, and I liked Andrew’s teammates. It was fun to have “couple friends” to go out with.

“So far so good.” Andrew helped me take off my coat and I smiled at him over my shoulder, then slid into the big booth. “I think I’m going to love it there.”

We ordered drinks and then Lovey and Marc asked me questions about my job while Andrew listened too, his big hand warm on my thigh.

He leaned in to whisper in my ear, “So glad you’re happy there, Jenna. Proud of you.”

I slanted him another smile, warmth spreading in my chest, and he squeezed my leg briefly.

It was funny, him telling me he was proud of me, because I was so proud of him I could burst with it.

“I thought Duncan and Melissa were coming tonight,” I said. “Where are they?”

“Oh.” Lovey made a face. “Change of plans. They’re not coming after all. Not sure what happened.” Then she sighed, picking up her menu. “Can’t say I’m disappointed.” She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t really like Melissa much.”

“Oh.” I bit my lip. “But she’s gorgeous.” Melissa was a model and exactly the kind of glamazon I’d been worried about meeting.

“Sure she is. I just have this feeling about her. She’s all into status and clothes and shoes—”

“Babe”—Marc interrupted her with his faint but sexy French accent—“you have a style blog. Not to mention a closet stuffed with clothes. You’re criticizing her for being into fashion?”

The corners of his mouth quirked up, indicating he was totally teasing Lovey. He tugged at a lock of her red-gold hair and she nudged him with her shoulder. “Hey. I’m not like her.”

“No. No you are not.”

I glanced at Andrew. Apparently Marc didn’t like Melissa either.

“She wanted to go shopping last week with Dunc, and ended up with two new Coach purses. Two.” Lovey took a sip of her wine. “And I know she didn’t pay for them herself.”

“It’s his money.” Marc shrugged. “He has enough of it.”

“I know he does.” Lovey tilted her head. “But I hate to think he’s being taken advantage of.”

I’d met Duncan and he was pretty damn gorgeous himself, so I couldn’t see Melissa just being with him for his money. Also, he seemed like such a nice, down-to-earth guy, not someone who’d let himself be used. Then again, when it came to sexy women like Melissa, sometimes guys’ hormones took over.

“He’s getting laid by a hot chick,” Marc said. “A couple of purses might be worth it.”

“You did not just say that!” Lovey stared at Marc, then started laughing.

Marc grinned, clearly yanking her chain.

“Thinking with the wrong head?” Andrew added. “Blood can’t be in the brain and the penis at the same time.”

Now I laughed and turned to him. “Seriously?”

He smiled back at me. “Guys do stupid things over women and sex. You may remember a certain president . . . a few other politicians . . . actors . . . I mean, come on, who would cheat on Sandra Bullock?”

“Word, dude.” Marc reached out to fist-bump Andrew.

I met Lovey’s eyes and we both laughed.

“Remember Billy Derwent?” Andrew asked.

I squinted at him. “From high school?”

“Yeah. His girlfriend butt-dialed him while she was telling her friends the only reason she was dating him was because he did her algebra homework for her.”

“Ouch.” I winced.

“Okay, okay, I get your point.” Lovey frowned. “But Duncan’s not that stupid.”

“Aw.” Marc leaned closer to Lovey. “You like to give him crap, but you’re really worried about him, aren’t you?”

“He’s my brother.” Lovey bit her lip. “I’m just worried that he could be really falling for Melissa and she’s a total skank bitch who’s going to break his heart.”

I choked on a laugh at her description of Melissa.

“He’s a big boy,” Marc said. “He’ll be fine.”

Lovey looked into Marc’s eyes. They were so adorable and perfect together. I edged closer to Andrew and he slipped an arm around my waist and squeezed.

“Enough about Armdog,” Marc said. “I’m starving. Let’s order dinner.”

“Great idea.” Andrew nodded and opened his menu.

I did the same, pushing aside Lovey’s concern about her brother to enjoy the evening with our new friends and the man I’d loved forever, finally starting our new life together.