“You think?” Nix asked. “You’ve got those calendars hanging up all over your shop. You’ve got every damn month memorized.”
“Yeah, that’s Gina and Trista,” I said. “I dated Gina for awhile. How does Taylor feel about you and your calendar issues?”
Clutch shrugged and filled his plate again. “I’m in a relationship. I’m not dead. You ought to try it out, King.”
“Yeah, or I could just keep hopping from calendar girl to calendar girl. I mean the three dimensional ones, of course.” I tapped my crown. “And tonight it’s Prince, Prince Charming to be exact.”
Dray laughed. Clutch ignored him and continued shoveling in tacos.
“Are Jude and Eden coming?” Rett asked.
“Not sure. Jude thought he had some art show or something. But they might make it.”
Nix stepped closer to the front room where something had caught his attention. He took a sip of his beer as he turned to us. “Some extremely hot steampunk women just walked in.” He flashed us a grin. “And they’re ours.”
We all rushed forward to get a glance. Scotlyn, Cassie, Taylor and Finley had created quite a stir as they stepped into the house. In true steampunk fashion, they were dressed in leather corsets, a variety of tan and pinstriped skirts that showed off a lot of leg, black boots and top hats fashioned with feathers and steampunk ornaments.
Dray propped his arm over Nix’s shoulder. “I’m so fucking turned on right now.”
Finley spotted us first. The girls walked toward us turning every head in the room as if they were wearing people magnets.
Finley hugged me. “Hey, big brother, nice party.” She looked at Rett. “Boy, you really stretched yourself there, cowboy.”
Rett hiked the duster up higher on his shoulders. “I think it’s pretty damn original. But not as original as what you’re wearing.”
Scotlyn, who looked like a magazine picture even in sweats, looked as if she should be in a fucking Hollywood movie. She held out her arms to show off the skirt and corset. “Didn’t Taylor do a great job? She’s so talented.”
“Great job.” Nix told Taylor. “And you, hot steampunk chick, you look just like my hot wife.” He took hold of Scotlyn’s hand, pulled her closer and kissed her. The guy had smooth down to an art.
Dray talked over a mouthful of taco. “Cass, when we get home, baby, the leather corset stays and everything else comes off.” He looked at us. “Am I right?”
Cassie smiled and held out her palm to her friends. “Told you. But you can pay me later.”
“What’s that about?” I asked.
“We had a bet to see whose guy would be the first to make some dirty suggestion about the leather corsets. I knew it was a sure thing for me. I figured Nix would be thinking about it but be too polite to say it out loud in mixed company. Clutch would be too busy trying to figure out how to use the corset to his best advantage. Rett would have it right on the tip of his tongue, but he would hold back because Finley’s brother would be in hearing range. Dray, well as you know, he has no filters when it comes to societal norms.”
Dray should have looked insulted, but, instead, he was beaming with pride.
Cassie looked pointedly at Dray’s belted coat. “Please tell me you’ve got clothes on under that?”
Dray yanked his coat open and earned some well deserved screams. He had definitely earned an A for costume effort.
“How the hell does Nix always come out smelling so sweet in these comparisons?” Clutch asked.
Nix held up his left hand with his wedding band. “You forget the power of the ring, Bilbo.”
Taylor walked to the taco bar with Finley. Her gaze drifted to the front room. “Hey, sweetie, aren’t those your calendar girls out there?”
“Yep,” Clutch answered. “And we’ve already ran this topic around the room. But while you’re over there, make me another taco. Extra cheese.”
I motioned to the taco bar and drinks. “You guys help yourselves. I’m going to go out and charm my other guests.”
The front room was filling up fast. I headed through and pushed open the back doors to the porch. A warm, late fall breeze ushered inside, instantly drawing people out toward the strands of orange lights hanging on the patio.
Denver caught up with me. “Hey, I’m going to turn off the movie and put on some music.”
“Sounds good.” I followed him back inside. I glanced through the maze of pirates, witches, zombies and other costumed guests to the front door, which now stood propped open. Kensington walked inside.
Her dark hair was swept up into a bun that was studded with rhinestones. She was wearing a satiny blue dress that was a sexy version of a princess gown with the front of the skirt cut short to expose sleek, silky thighs and a rhinestone garter. Clear slippers covered her feet. The back of the dress trailed off into a long, ruffled train. She was an incredible mix of sex and sweetness, an erotically innocent look that only a few girls could pull off perfectly. And she definitely had. The best part about her costume—I was fucking Prince Charming, and, it seemed, my Cinderella had just arrived at the ball.
I walked across the room, hoping I could make a smoother impression this time. At least I wouldn’t be flying over the handlebars of my bike. “Hey, Kensington, you made it.”
She smiled, which gave me a flicker of hope.
I pointed to the crown on my head. “Just in case you’re in need of a Prince Charming—” Right then, a guy dressed in white coveralls and a Michael Myer’s mask walked in through the door. He stopped next to Kensington and yanked off his mask. It was Nate Harkin.
He pointed at me. “Nicky King’s son, right?”
Hated him already. “Yeah, but my parents actually gave me a name, so I wouldn’t have to be called Nicky King’s son.” My sarcasm passed over him, but Kensington lifted white gloved fingers to stifle a laugh. I stuck out my hand. “The name’s Charming, Prince Charming, but friends know me as Cole.”
Harkin shook my hand, but instead of looking at me, his gaze drifted around the room. Asshole. Even standing with a gorgeous girl, he was checking out the other party guests. A grin popped up on his smug face. The Michael Myers mask was less creepy. “Hey, is that Gina and Trista from Tanix?” He waved at them before I answered.
“Sure is. You ought to go say hello, Nate.” I focused solely on Kensington. She wasn’t the type of girl you made a bet over. She was the type of girl you thought about even when she wasn’t with you. “There’s some good food in the kitchen.”
The mention of food or, possibly, the fact that I was staring with pure admiration at his date snapped Harkin’s attention back to me. “Yeah, hey, this is my girlfriend, Kensington Modante.” She flinched at the word girlfriend and, again, when he made a point of saying her well-known last name.
She glanced at Nate. “I’m your date. Not your girlfriend. Big difference. And I’ve met Cole before.”
Now I really had his attention. “Oh yeah? You never told me that.”
Kensington sighed. “Really? Because I listed it in my daily email giving you the minute by minute break down of my day. You must not have read it yet.”
He stared hard at her, and something about the way he looked at her made me curl my fingers into fists. But she shrugged off his scowl. She definitely seemed like the kind of girl who could take care of herself. Smart, savvy and extremely hot, a powerfully good combination.
“Great talking to you, King,” Nate said. “I think we’ll go get some beers. Come on, Kensie.”
“Actually, you go ahead, Nate. Cole promised me a tour of his backyard.” She cast me a conspiratorial wink.
“Yeah, if you don’t mind, Harkin, I’m just going to show her around. I know you specifically wanted to see the ramps I have out back.” She’d started the fib, and I decided to use it to my full advantage.