"He got everything on that long ass list you texted him." Crew wraps his arm around Ellie's shoulder. "Your pregnancy cravings are disgusting, by the way. Keep in mind, that I don't say that lightly. My sister ate olives with peaches before she popped her kid out."
"That sounds delicious." Ellie licks her bottom lip. "We have olives. I need some peaches."
"You need to go find your husband." Crew jerks a thumb toward the kitchen. "He's half-way through a package of coconut cookies. Unless you stop him at the pass, you're not getting any of those tonight."
Ellie takes off at a quick walk.
"Did you come here straight from work?" Crew settles into the chair Ellie was just in. "Or are you trying to drive the male population of Manhattan crazy with that outfit."
"I look good in this."
"You look good in anything, Ad."
I feel a blush creep over my cheeks. He looks good in anything too, especially the navy blue three-piece suit he's wearing. "I did come straight from work. I wanted to see the kids, but they're having dinner with Nolan's folks."
He looks around the dining room. "I don't see a dozen red roses anywhere. Your purse must be huge."
I'm taken aback by his admission. I know he follows the Premier Pet Care social media feeds. I didn't realize he followed them that closely. "You're talking about the roses Trey sent me."
"I sure am, Hale's Babe."
There's a hint of sarcasm in his tone or is it jealousy?
It can't be that. He reminds me often enough that I'm his best friend.
"I left them at work." I shrug. "That way I can fall in love with them all over again tomorrow morning."
His finger taps the edge of the wooden table. "Be careful, Ad. He tried to pick up my friend, Sophia, in the club right after it opened. He's a player, in more ways than one."
"What's that old saying about the pot calling the kettle black?"
A provocative smile covers his mouth. "You're on fire tonight, HB."
HB. Hale's babe.
Crew has to know how much I hate that.
"You're both welcome to stay for dinner." Ellie walks back into the dining room with a coconut cookie in her hand. "I'm making a veggie spaghetti dish. You'll love it."
"'I'll pass." Crew pushes up from the table. "I need to pack."
"Where are you going?" Ellie gets the question out before I have a chance.
"I'm heading west in the morning." He eyes me. "Back to the place it all began for the four of us."
"Vegas?" I lift a brow. "Why are you going to Vegas?"
I know he has a club there, Veil West, and there's a Matiz store there too. He has business there. I had no reason to ask him why the sudden trip to Vegas, but I want to know.
"I'm going to check in on a few things." He nudges Ellie with his shoulder. "Maybe look for a gift for a certain mom-to-be, and I'll take a day or two to hang with an old friend."
I don't bother asking who because I can guess within three tries. It's the woman he met the same night Ellie met Nolan. Lucia Turin, the co-owner of this club there. He bought controlling interest from her and re-branded the place with great success.
A few months after the deal closed, I overheard him telling Nolan on the phone how he had christened the club with Lucia. They'd fucked in one of the private rooms of the club on the night of the re-opening.
I scratch the back of my neck, suddenly feeling the need for a long soak in my tub.
"You deserve it." Ellie pats his chest. "Nolan says you've been hauling ass at Matiz lately and I know the club sucks up a lot of your time."